Shivamogga

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Shivamogga | ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ type = city | latd = 13.9167 | longd = 75.5667
locator_position = right | state_name = Karnataka
district = Shimoga District
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 569
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 474105| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone = 08182
postal_code = 577201 - 577204| vehicle_code_range = KA 14
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = shimoga.net|www.shimoga.nic.infootnotes =

Shivamogga {formerly Shimoga, Kannada:ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ); city is located in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. It lies on the banks of the Tunga River and is the administrative headquarters of the district.

History

The name of the city is derived from the term Shiva-Mukha, meaning Face of Shiva. An alternative etymology is that the name is derived from the term Sihi-Moge, meaning Sweet Pot. The district formed the southern tip of Emperor Ashoka's Mauryan Empire in third century BC. It was ruled during later centuries by the Kadambas (4th century), Chalukyas (6th century), Gangas, Rashtrakutas (8th century), Hoysalas (11th century), and the Vijayanagara rulers (15th century). The city got an independent identity under the Keladi Nayaka rule during 16th century, reaching its pinnacle under the rule of Shivappa Nayaka. From the late 17th century onwards, the city was a part of the Kingdom of Mysore until the independence of India in 1947, when Mysore merged into the Republic of India.

On November 1, 2006, the government of Karnataka announced the renaming of Shimoga to Shivamogga, along with nine other cities in the state but the locals still refer to the city as "Shimoga".

Geography

Shimoga is located 13°55′18″N, 75°34′12″E. According to the Shimoga City Municipal Corporation., [cite web|title=Shimoga Municipal corporation|url=http://www.shimogacity.gov.in/|] the city has a total area of about 50 km² (19.31 square miles). The climate of Shimoga is tropical wet and dry (Koppen climate classification). This means that the winter and the early part of summer are typically dry periods. Majority of the rainfall occurs between June and early October. Shimoga is a part of a region vernacularly known as Malnad (land of hills) in Karnataka. Most/All these hills are part of Western ghat, a region famous for plentiful rainfall and lush greenery.

Main Occupation: Aracanet & Rice

Education

Shivamogga is an important center for high school and Pre-University education (classes 11th and 12th) in Karnataka, along with many other major cities in Karnataka. At present, prestigious [citation needed] institutes in Shivamogga for Pre-University Education are Sri Aurobindo PU College, Vidya Bharathi PU College,D.V.S Institutes,"SACRED HEART PU COLLEGE" and many more.The city gains its importance in part because of lack of good institutes in other parts of the district, whereby students are forced to study their pre-university education in the city.The village of Gajanur hosts a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, or "central school", which is a boarding school.
Kuvempu University is located in Shivamogga at Shankarghatta.

Shivmogga also holds an Engineering College- Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering [JNNCE] run by the National Education Society (NES). And Newly PES group of institutions also have started Engineering and management institute [PESITM] in city. Shivmogga also hold the distinction of a new government medical college - Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences which was inaugurated in 2007, and is operating henceforth.

Others

Shivamogga is known as cultural capital of Karnataka [citation needed] . It’s a modern, progressive city with strong cultural roots and warm hearted people. Shivamogga is the biggest areca nut market and famous for producing high quality areca nut. Shivamogga‘s economy is directly linked to areca nut price and demand.Simple life style, frequent cultural activities, low cost of living and less pollution made Shivamogga as retired people's paradise

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Shimoga had a population of 274,105. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shimoga has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 70%. In Shimoga, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.Kannada is widely spoken in the city.

Getting there

By Road

From the state capital Bangalore, Shimoga can be reached on road by car or bus by taking the National Highway, NH-206 via Tumkur, Arsikere, Banavara, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere, Bhadravathi. KSRTC, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has recently introduced Volvo buses which are a comfortable and fast way of reaching Shimoga from Bangalore. Shimoga is around 274 km on road from Bangalore state capital territory. And by Coastal side, one can reach Shivamogga by Bus / car. From Udupi, there are number of Mini buses which take four hours. Car journey from Udupi and Shimoga may be around three hours. This route passes through Agumbe Ghat with sharp hairpin curves, but this road is quite popular among the tourists coming from Mangalore, Udupi. There is one more road from Kundapur, another coastal town, which takes about four and half hours. From Sringeri (famous tourist place, also popular among Kerala tourists and devotees) it is four hours journey by bus. Hubli, another important city of Karnataka State is also connected to Shimoga by road with number of buses, and the journey is around six hours. Shimoga is better connected with Roads from all directions and as such, it is important bus junction.

By Rail

Shimoga has a railway station and there are frequent trains that run to Shimoga from Bangalore and Mysore. However, direct trains to Shimoga from other parts of India are non-existent or infrequent. Birur junction which is well connected to most parts of India by rail (specially from Mumbai), is approximately at a distance of 60 km from Shimoga and can be used as an alternative to reach Shimoga. Umpteen buses run from Birur to Shimoga. Currently under construction are railway lines connecting Shimoga to Honnaver & Goa at Konkan region (This is Shortest route from Bangalore to Goa). Most popular train from Shimoga to Bangalore are Shimoga Express (leaves night and reaches Bangalore early morning and paraller train from Bangalore to Shimoga also exists daily) and Inter City Connection train (Hubli - Bangalore) at 8.15 am.

By Air

An Airport is under construction in sogane 6km from shivamogga city. Airports at Bangalore (275 km), Mangalore (180 km) or Hubli (165 km) can be used as transits to Shimoga. [cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/08/stories/2006040810350300.htm
author= Special Correspondent |publisher= 2006, The Hindu|title= The Online Edition of the Hindu - ePaper, 2006-04-08,|accessdate=2007-07-26]

Nearby attractions

* Gajanur lies 15 km to the southwest. The dam built across the Tunga River here is ideal for picnics.
* Sakrebyle is a nice Elephant Camp 2km far from Gajanur Dam on the way to Thirthahalli
* Agumbe 90 km south-west, is unforgettable for its glorious sunset.
* Jog Falls are a spectacular series of waterfalls, located 105 km away from Shimoga. The *Sharavathi River takes a spectacular jump from a height of 292 m in four distinct falls to form the highest waterfalls in India. The best time to visit these falls is soon after the monsoon season during July and August.
* Kodachadri is a beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats. It is 120 km from Shimoga.
* Ikkeri near Sagara town is known for huge rock temple of Aghoreshwara. Keladi is also having rock temple; both of these temples belong to Shivappa Nayaka period. Sagara town is known for wood carving articles particularly of sandal wood, which can be handy for presentation/memonto.
* The village of Ambuthirtha is about 16 km north-west of Thirthahalli. The Sharavathi River originates here and a Shivalinga is installed at the spot.
* Kemmannagundi is a popular hill station near Shimoga though it lies in Chickmagalur district."Chibbalagude", Thirthahalli, The famous place for Siddivinayaka temple & Fish in tunga river, (like Shringeri). For all these places, one should find rooms in Shimoga or Sagar only, as other places are almost villages."Shiva Statue" made of concrete is installed at Harakere, near Shivamogga looks good."Sacred Heart Cathedral", the second biggest church in Asia, is situated in the center of the city.

Lion safari is 6 km from Shimoga. Safari drives are conducted in cage vans to get closer glimpse of wild animals.

Other Information

Entertainment

At Shimoga Circuses and fairs are held at regular intervals. Many film theatres premiere celebrated movies. Some of the theatres in Shimoga are Lakshmi, Veerabhadreshwara, Mallikarjuna, HPC, Manjunaatha, Modern, Vinayaka, Durga and Manoranjan.

Shopping

Many shops at Shimoga's widely laid boulevards are a Shoppers paradise. The Nehru Avenue [Road] , Shivappanayaka Market, Gandhi Bazaar are the major commercial centres of Shimoga. Cloth and other related items like dresses, saaris etc., are available at cheaper rates than other places. Most of those, though not of international recognition are of very good quality.

Religious Centres

There is no shortage of temples at Shimoga though there only a few large, quiet and magnificent temples. The Guddekal temple, Kote anjeneya temple, Bheemeshwara temple, Mailareshwara temple, Ramana Shreshti park Ganesha Temple, Ravindra Nagar Prasanna Ganesha Temple,Laxmi temple(vinobanagar) Shankar Mutt are notable ones and Basaveshwara tample in gandhi bazar, shivalaya near park, veerabhadreshwara temple in chowki matt are religious centres.

Many Mosques are present at Shimoga. One near the Railway station, another at Mahavir Circle, one at Tank mohalla are the notable ones.The Sacred Heart Cathedral church is touted as the second largest Church in Asia. The other churches are the Ragigudda church, the Sharavathi Nagar Church and the Sagar road church.

Local Attractions in the City

The city has a large spacious park called the Gandhi park where a toy train and an aquarium is housed. Nearby is the Kuvempu Rangamandira where frequent cultural programmes are held. The Shivappanaika palace provides a historical touch to the city. The old Tunga Bridge which is more than a 100 years old was commissioned and supervised by Bharat Ratna Sir M Vishveshwaraiah. Many more attractions attract tourits to the city.

Local transportation

Local transportation includes City bus facility which are mostly run by privates. Auto rickshaws are convenient as long distance travelling is not required. Private taxis can be hired for long journeys or for local transport for more than a day. City Taxi service is not available.There was also near by Jog Falls (in Sagar tq) which is very fomous for its water down fall.

See also

* Shimoga District
* Karnataka"'

References

External links

* [http://www.kuvempu.ac.in/ Kuvempu University]
* [http://www.kiruthik.com/Jog+Falls+And+Shimoga.aspx Shimoga from Kiruthik.com]
* [http://www.leadersindia.com/index.html Profiles of all the Districts in Karnataka]
* [http://kar.nic.in/zpshimoga Shimoga Zilla Panchayat]
* [http://shimoga.nic.in Shimoga Profile]
* [http://www.shimogaonline.com ShimogaOnline]
* [http://www.westernghats.org Western Ghats]
* [http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/karnataka/districts/shimoga.htm Map of Shimoga District]
* [http://www.shimoga.net Shimoga results]
* [http://www.shimogacity.gov.in/ Schimoga City Website]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Shimoga.html Shimoga, India Page]
* [http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sudarshan_bhat_trekker/album?.dir=6e5fscd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sudarshan_bhat_trekker/my_photos Photos of Shivappa Nayaka's palace]