Shimoga(Shivamogga)

Karnataka > Shimoga

Jog Falls in Mansoon Season

Shimoga a district headquarters, 274 km. from Bangalore is on the bank of the Tunga river. It was a notable centre under the Keladi Nayakas. Their palace now houses a museum of State Archaeology Department. The Kote Seetharamanjaneya temple and Sri Raghavendra Matha are the oldest in the town. Shimoga is a centre of paddy and areca trade and there is a Govt. sandal oil factory here. It is a cool place near the ranges of the Western Ghats. The place has the Bhimeshwara, Lakshminarayana and Guddekal Siddheshwara temples and the Sacred Heart Church of the Catholics.

History of Shimoga

Shimoga (meaning Face of Shiva), established by the Keladi rulers, enjoyed its golden days during the rule of Shivappa Nayaka in around 1600 AD.

The history of the Shivamogga region is very much the history of Karnataka itself, considering that all the great kingdoms that came to power here have vied for control of and ruled this land of rich resources. Prior to the beginning of the first millennium, the Shivamogga region formed a part of the Maurya empire. The Satavahana then came to control in central India and Shivamogga must have formed one of the southern most provinces of the kingdom.

After the fall of the Shatavahana empire around 200 C.E., after a brief interlude of confusion that existed, the area came under the control of the Kadambas of Banavasi around 345 C.E. The Kadambas were the earliest kingdom to give administrative status to Kannada language. Banavasi is just across the border from Shivamogga inside Uttara Kannada district. Later the Kadambas became feudatories of the Badami Chalukyas around 540 C.E.

Shivamogga passed into the hands of the Rashtrakutas in the 8th century. It was only under the Kalyani Chalukyas who overthrew the Rashtrakutas did Shivamogga come into prominence in Southern India. Balligavi in Shivamogga district had its greatest and grandest time during there rule. Later in the 12th. century with the weakening of the Kalyani Chalukyas the Hoysalas annexed this area. Shivamogga continued to play an important role in the development of Kannada culture and arts during this time. After the fall of the Hoysalas to the invasion of the Khilji dynasty around 1343 C.E. the entire region came under the Vijayanagar Empire without any bloodshed. The Saluva kings of the Vijayanagar empire find their roots in this region. After the defeat of Vijayanagar empire in 1565 C.E. in the battle of Tallikota, Shivamogga had one more last surprise in that the local Keladi Nayakas who were originally feudatory of the Vijayanagar empire took control, declared sovereignty and ruled mostly as an independent kingdom for about two centuries, often waging wars with the Mysore Kingdom, the Sultans of Bijapur and finally the Maratha. In 1763 they were finally absorbed into the Kingdom of Mysore and remained a part of it till independence from the British

Culture in Shimoga

Poetry and literature

Kuvempu is the short form of the famous Kannda poet and writer, Kuppalli Venkatappagowda Puttappa; Kuppalli being his native village located in Thirthahalli Taluk. Kuvempu has been conferred the title of Rashtrakavi (National poet laureate) and is also the winner of the Jnanpith award, which is highest literature award of India.

G S Shivarudrappa Born in Shikaripura, he is the third person from Karnataka to be conferred the title of Rashtrakavi. Other awards won by him are Soviet Land Nehru Award, Central Sahithya Academy Award and Pampa Award.

Drama

Any description of the culture in Shivamogga district would be incomplete without the mention of the cultural organisation called Nilakanteshwara Natya Seva Sangha, better known as NINASAM. Located in a tiny village called Heggodu in Sagar Taluk, NINASAM has made tremendous contribution to the Kannada drama and culture. NINASAM was the result of an experiment by the renowned dramatist, K V Subbanna where he started to screen classical films and hold dramas at Heggodu. Slowly, this became popular and attracted lot of people from all over Karnataka. This popularity prompted the Ford foundation to provide a grant for a rural film and drama project called as Janaspandana, in which similar drama/film festivals and courses were held in other regions of Karnataka. An estimated 200,000 people were exposed to the best of cinema and around 5000 people attended the courses. The Ninasam Theatre Institute started in 1980, offers a 10-month long diploma course in theatre. Another cultural troupe related to NINASAM is Tiruguta (started in 1985 and means moving around in Kannada) where three major productions are taken around Karnataka and shown to the public. For his efforts in promoting Kannada culture, K V Subbanna won the Magsaysay Award

Cuisine

Rice is the staple food for majority of the people in Shivamogga district. The cuisine in this district is very similar to the Udupi Cuisine.

The cuisine in the Malnad region of Shivamogga district includes items like midigayi-uppinakai (tender-mango pickle), sandige (similar to pappadum), avalakki (beaten-rice) and akki rotti. Havyaka people have their own cuisine consisting of such varied items like genesale (sweet made of jaggery, rice and coconut), thotadevvu (sweet made of rice and sugarcane juice) and thambli (a curd preparation containing other ingredients like ginger, turmeric root, jasmine and rose sprouts.)

Climate and Temperature of Shimoga

Shivamogga district being a part of the Malnad region receives good monsoon rainfall; the months from June to October being the rainy season. In the years 1901-1970, it received an average annual rainfall of 1813.9 mm with an average of 86 days in the year being rainy days.

The average annual temperature of Shivamogga District is around 26^oC. The average temperature has increased substantially over the years and the trend can be viewed here.

In some regions of Shivamogga district, the day temperature can really soar to about 40oC during summers, leading to water crisis and other problems.

Best Time To Visit to Shimoga

Climate in Shimoga remains cool round the year. For a Tour to Shimoga, the best time to visit is between the months of October and March.

Fairs And Festivals of Shimoga

1. Sahyadri Utsava: This ten-day event is inaugurated with a three-day intercollegiate cultural festival. Students dressed in Kodava apparel participate in the procession taken out on this occasion.
2. Ganesh Festival: Black marble idol of Lord Ganesh is worshipped every year at nearby Sirsi.

Where to stay in Shimoga

Enjoy a comfortable stay while on a Tour to Shimoga at the hotels in Shimoga, offering a remarkable blend of tradition and modernity. Some of the major hotels in Shimoga are, Jewel Rock Hotel, Hotel Navarathna International, Sundar Ashraya, Hotel Mathura Residency, etc.

How To Reach Shimoga

• By Air: The nearest airport is the Mangalore Airport (200 km).
• By Rail: Shimoga is connected by rail to Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli.
• By Road: Shimoga is well-connected by a network of roads to all major cities and towns of Karnataka, and important cities of nearby states.