The name of the city is derived from the term “Shiva-Moga”, “Moga in Kannada means Face hence meaning Face of Shiva”. An alternative etymology is that the name is derived from the term “Sihi-Mogge”, meaning “sweet pot”. The district formed the southern tip of Emperor Ashoka’s Mauryan Empire in the 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 the 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.
Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences is the medical sciences college at Shimoga and managed by Government Departments. Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences is newly opened private owned medical college. It started intake from year 2012-23. Sharavathi Dental College is also located in Shimoga. Shimoga also has two engineering colleges, Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering and PES Institute of Technology and Management. Sahyadri College for Science, Commerce and Arts is one of the oldest in Karnataka, run by the Government. TAMES Ayurvedic medical is in nearby Bhadravathi. It has also a veterinary college, which is one among the 4 colleges present in Karnataka.
Shimoga 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. Bhadravathi is also a major education centre of the district. Notable institutes in Shimoga for pre-university (PU) education include: Sri Aurobindo Pre-University (Ind.) college, PACE Ultra Modern PU College, Vidya Bharathi PU College, National College,JPN High School, Vidyanikethan College, Sacred Heart, Adichunchangiri P.U. College, DVS P.U. Independent college, DVS Composite College, PES P.U. College. The city gains its importance in part because of lack of good institutes in other parts of the district.
Shimoga Town has a railway station, and there are trains that run to and from Bangalore and Mysore. Direct trains to Shimoga from other parts of India are non-existent. Birur Junction, which is well-connected to most parts of India by rail (especially from Mumbai), is approximately 70 kilometres (45 mi) from Shimoga and can be used as an alternative. The most popular trains from Shivamogga to Bangalore are the Shimoga Express and the Inter City Express Connection train. Intercity train has been introduced between Mysore and Talaguppa via Sagar city (about 98 km or 61 mi from Shimoga and about 12 km or 7.5 mi from famous Jog Falls).
Industries like Pearlite Industries, Malnad Alloys, Shanthala Sperocast, Perfect Alloys, are some foundries manufacture quality castings, supply to major Original Manufacturers in India and also exporting their products to many countries and several other Industries are located in Shimoga. APMC of Shimoga is main marketing point of arecanut, the major commercial crop grown in the district and well as in neighbouring districts like Uttara Kannada. Shimoga has the biggest areca nut market, and known for procuring high quality areca nuts. Other agricultural produces like rice, chili, coconut etc. are also marketed in APMC.
From the state capital Bangalore, Shivamogga can be reached on road by on NH-206. (via Tumkur, Arsikere, Banavara, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere, and Bhadravathi.) KSRTC, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, runs several buses from Bangalore,including Hitech and night services. Shimoga is around 274 km (170 mi) by road from Bangalore. From coastal side, Shimoga is accessible by bus or car. This route passes through Agumbe Ghat or Balebare Ghat roads. Sringeri,Dharmastala, Hubli are connected by Road to this city. Shimoga is better connected with roads from all directions and as such, it is an important bus junction.
Bhadravathi is 20 km from Shimoga and a four-lane road connects the twin cities. Both are well connected by Road and Rail.There is a 20-year-old plan to make Shimoga and Bhadravathi twin cities and to establish Shimoga-Bhadravathi Mahanagara Palike and thereby develop both cities. Bhadravathi can be called as industrial town and factories like Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited, Mysore Paper Mills etc. are located in Bhadravathi. Bhadravathi-Shimoga Industrial area, established at Machenahalli, in between the twin cities hosts several Industries. Companies like Xchanging have opened their units in Shimoga.
According to the Shimoga City Municipal Corporation, the city has a total area of about 50 km2 (19 sq mi). The climate is tropical wet and dry (Köppen climate classification) summer average temperature 20–35 °C (68–95 °F). This means that the winter and the early part of summer are typically dry periods. The majority of the rainfall occurs between June and early October. Shimoga is a part of a region known as Malnad (land of hills) in Karnataka. Most/all these hills are part of the Western Ghats, a region known for plentiful rainfall and lush greenery and declared during 2012 as a World Heritage site.
The population of Shimoga is 322,428,Lingayath and kuruba Majority, consisting of 161,978 males and 160,450 females, as per 2011 census. It is known as kingdom of kurubas. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shimoga has an average literacy rate of 88.02%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 91.32%, and female literacy is 84.70%.Total children (0-6) in Shimoga city are 31,626 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 16,130 boys while 15,496 are girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 961 per 1000 boys.
Jog Falls are a large series of waterfalls, located 105 km (65 mi) from Shimoga in Sagar taluk. The Sharavathi River takes a spectacular jump from a height of 292 metres (958 ft) in four distinct falls to form the highest waterfalls in India. The best time to visit is soon after the monsoon season during July and August.
The new bus station is spacious and can cater to 882 departures per day and it is one of the biggest bus terminals in the state. It offers facilities like parking bays, waiting lounges, restaurants, etc. This terminal, spread over five acres, has police outpost, computerized reservation counter and waiting rooms.
The city of Shimoga is sorrounded by lush green Paddy fields, Arecanut and coconut groves. Being the gateway for the hilly region of the Western Ghats,the city is popularly known as Capital of Malnad. The population of Shimoga city is 322,428, consisting of 161,978 males and 160,450 females, as per 2011 census.
Ha. Ma. Nayaka, well-known columnist and winner of Central Sahitya Academy Award (for his columns) and personally responsible for the development of Kannada department at the University of Mysore. He was the vice chancellor of Gulbarga University.
Yakshagana, a dance drama, is popular in Thirthahalli, Hosanagara, Sagar, and Sorab Taluks of the district and this art is also performed in Shimoga. There are some professional and amateur troupes from Malnad region, performing this dance drama across Karnataka.
Notable schools of Shimoga are Enchara, Jnanadeepa, Saandeepani, Vikasa, National Public School, Swami Vivekananda, Oxford, Adi Chunchanagiri, PES, Sarvodaya, Mary Immaculate, Vasavi, Sanjos,Sacred Heart, Loyola, Ramakrishna, Rotary, Educare, Mahaveer, DVS.
Shimoga (popularly known as Shivamogga) is a city in Shivamogga District 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 Shimoga district.
Sigandooru is 108 km (67 mi) from Shimoga in Sagar taluk. This place is famous for Sigandhoor Sridevi temple and to reach this place one has to go in a launch (due to backwaters of river Sharavathi) run by the state government.
On 1 November 2006, the government of Karnataka announced the renaming of Shimoga to “Shivamogga”, along with nine other cities in the state, but the renaming is yet to get approval from the Central Government.
Balligavi, 21 km (13 mi) from Shikaripura, was the capital of Banavasi rulers. It is also known as ‘Dakshina Kedara’ and it has many historic temples like the Kedareshwara temple made out of soap stone.
The village of Gajanur hosts a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (central school) which is a boarding school. Kuvempu University is located in Shankarghatta, at a distance of 20 km from Shimoga.