Shimoga

Shimoga, now known officially as Shivamogga, is a town in the state of Karnataka. The name originates from Shiva-mukha i.e., face of Lord Shiva.

By train
Shivamogga can be reached by train from Bengaluru or Mysuru. There are many trains running from Bengaluru, morning till late at night, every day. If you can rush out of the station soon, you'll be lucky to hit the city service bus (auto-rickshaws are also available) which will take you to the main bus terminus from where you can take buses to other places, e.g., Sagar, and Talaguppa. Also, there is a railway station link bus to Sagar at the time of arrival of trains at Shivamogga railway station.

By bus
There are ample buses from the state capital Bengaluru during day as well as night time. There are various classes of buses which one can take as per their wallet size. It takes nearly 7 hours by bus and it traverses through Tumakuru, Tiptur, Arsikere, Kadur, Tarikere and Bhadravati before reaching Shivamogga bus terminus.

Get around
Hiring a cab is not a bad idea though, but the better choice is try to catch a person who can take you around. Autos are not metered, and the minimum fare is ₹20 for intra-city distances.

See

 * Agumbe, the 'Cheerapunji of Karnataka' gets the state's highest rainfall, is around 2 hours away from Shimoga, is an amazing village known for its forest resource, sunset spots, trekking passes, lakes, mountains. This one is a must see.
 * Linganamakki Dam is very close to Jog Falls.
 * Kodachadri, A glorious and enchanting mountain provides the perfect escape from the hectic pace of everyday life. A paradise for trekkers, the place attracts lot of trekkers around Karnataka state. Kodachadri is situated at 435 m (1411 ft) above sea level and 115 km from Shimoga. A beatific hill abode that overlooks the panoramic Western Ghats. It is clothed with splendid evergreen forests. The first portion of the hill is very steep and difficult to ascend. On the west, the hill descends almost perpendicular for about 1300 m (4026 ft), meeting the South Kanara forests that lie below. The sea appears quite close, and on a clear day, you can also see the ships go by. The famous temple town of Kollur is 12 km away. The steep hills challenge the trekkers for an adventurous trekking experience. If you want to stay, you can go to Kalyani Chowka in Nittur and from there to Nisarga Dhaama. Manjanna always will be there for your help.
 * Shivappanayaka's Fort at Nagara.
 * Sharavathi Wild Life Sanctuary.
 * Kavaledurga - Fort of Shivappanayaka very close to Thirthahalli.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Kavaledurga - Fort of Shivappanayaka very close to Thirthahalli.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.

Do
Nature photography and hiking are the best things to do in this district which houses a plethora of waterfalls, trekking passes, mountains, viewpoints, and hill stations. Also, it is home to a large variety of wild animals, butterflies, moths, snakes, and insects.

Those interested in a very different culinary experience can visit one of the local temples for lunch. (See suggested day trip below)

Kudali Sangama-14 km from Shimoga where the Tunga and Bhadra rivers merge. It also has a branch of the Sringeri Math, Chintamani Narasimha Temple, a rare Brahma temple and inscriptions on stones. There is no shade for visitors and it is also like a Land's End since two rivers are meeting, hence, even though people specifically come to this place, there is no place for them to linger. It is called Kudali Sangama and not to be confused with Kudalasangama, as otherwise this place will show up in all searches for Kudalasangama and add to confusion.

Drink
There is no nightlife in Shimoga. A few bars may be found in the commercial areas only. There are a few remote bars near Mandagadee which serve alcohol till 2AM.



Stay safe
Shimoga comes under Malenadu geographical region of Karnataka state. Dense evergreen rain forests are found at many places, be careful while venturing into these forests. There may be flood or water logging on roads and within forests during rainy season months of June, July, August and September. Take torch, water, food, rain coat, first aid box whistle, cotton wicks and other essential items with you. Petrol or Diesel must be filled up in your vehicle fuel tank before entering these forests as there are no petrol bunk or petrol pump in many rural areas.

Go next

 * Udupi
 * Dakshina Kannada
 * Chikmagalur
 * Sirsi
 * Shringeri
 * Anshi National Park
 * Dharwad
 * Lakkundi