mynameGENERAl,
S HIMOGA, one of the nineteen districts of the Karnataka State, is situated roughly in the mid-south-western part of
the State. It had an eventful history and has rich cultural traditions. It is bestowed with abundant natural resources. The western area of the district consists of a mountainous terrain, while on the eastern side, there is a striking transition from malnad* and semi-malnad* to maidan*. The western part is replete with fascinating natural beauty, being clothed with dense tropical forests stimulated by heavy rainfall. The eastern area consists of an open country with some fine lakes and stony hills making this part also attractive ·to the eye.
Like most of the districts in the State, this district also got Origin of name its name from its administrative headquarters town, Shimoga. Various traditional derivations are current about the origin of the name of Shimoga. It is difficult to say which of them is correct or whether any of them is correct. At least, three of them pertain to God Shiva, viz., 'Shiva-mukha' (the fa.ce of Shiva), ' Shivana moogu' (the nose of Shiva) and' Shivana-mogge' (buds of flowers meant for Shiva). The place has several old shrines dedicated to Shiva. According to a legend, the place had the ashram of the famo11s sage Durvasa who was noted f01· his sharpness of temper. He used to keep on the oven a pot boiling with sweet herbs. Once, some cowherds, who chanced upon it, tasted the beverage out of curiosity and called the place 'Sihi-moge' (sweet pot)',
* M aln'ttl-A largely forested, hilly region of heavy rainfall.
*Sami·m'tlnaa-An area having natural characteristics, to some extent; of both ma1nar1 and maiaan.
* Maiaan-An open region (a levelland)
Location
2 KARNATAKA STATE GAZETTEER
which was later called as Shimoge. In some epigraphs, the place is referred to as Sheemoge (~~'i::L<;Jr'\) and Seemoge (~eo:3v'<lr'l) (vide Shimoga-10, 108 and 3 of 1085 (?) and 1671 A.D. respectively in Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. VII, 1902). The name is written and pronounced in Kannada as Shivamogge. Its anglicised form is ' Shimoga '.
The district is situated behveen U~ 027' and 14°39' nolrth latitude and between 74038' and 76°4' east longitude, in about the mid-south-western part of the State. Its greatest length from east to west is 152.9 kilometres and from north to south 128. 8 kilometres.
It is bounded on the east by the Chitradurga district, on the south by the Chikmagalur district, on the west by the North and South Kanara districts and on the north by the Dharwar and Chitradurga districts.
The geographical area of the district as per the provisional figures computed by the Survey of India is 10,548 square kms., while the reporting area of the district for land-utilisation purposes as worked out by the State Depa!rtment of Survey, Settlement and Land Records and local bodies is 10,504. 2 square kms. The slight difference is due to the different methods employed by them in measuring the areas. In 1961, the population of the district was 10,17,368 (5,36,103 males and 4,81,265 females), and by 1971, it had increased to 13,01,485 (6,73,976 males and 6,27,509 females). In respect of area, the district occupies the ninth place, while in regard to population, it gets the twelfth place in the State. It accounts for 5. 5 per cent of the total area, and 4.44 per cent of the total population of the State (as in 1971). In point of density of population, the district ranked twelfth among the districts of the State in 1971. During that year, it was recorded that there were 123 persons per square km. in this
·district and this was below the State average which was 153 per square kilometre.
The region was perhaps a part of the dominions of the Mauryas. In about the third century A.D., a branch of th'O) Satavahanas held sway over the district. Some time later, about fourth century A.D., the Kadambas of Bana vasi rose to power in the region. While the Kadambas ruled the western portion of the district, the Gangas of Talakad administered the eastern part. In the 6th century, the Chalukyas .of Badami subdued both the Kadambas and the Gangas who, however, continued as the feudatories of the former. Later, the Gangas lost a major portion of their territory in the district. In the seventh century, a princi­ pality was established at Humcha by Santara Deva, a Jaina chieftain. During the next century, the Rashtrakutas of Malakhed established their suzerainty over this and other regions.
SHIMOGA DISTRICT 3
In the lOth century, the Danavasi-1~,000 region along with some other parts were added to the Ganga kingdom by ·the Rashtrakutas in recognition of the help rendered by the Gangas in defeating the Cholas. In the 11th century, the Hoysalas became powerful and ruled over the district. As a result of several wars between the Hoysalas and the Sevunas (Y&davas) of Devagiri, the northern parts of the district were held by the latter for some time. The Kalachuris were in power for only a short period during the l~th century. Belagutti in this district was the capital of a principality during this time and also later. After the Hoysala power came to a.n end in the 14th century, the district became a part of the Vijayanagara empire. Araga in this district was the capital of a province under Vijayanagara. About the beginning of the 16th century, the house of the Keladi Nayakas (also sometimes called Ikkeri or Bidnur Nayakas) established themselves in the a;rea. There was also a small principality of Basavapatna in the east of the district. In 1763, Haidar Ali captured Bidnur, the capital of the Keladi Nayakas, and as a result, this district along with other areas of their kingdom was annexed ·to My sore.
After 1799 A.D., during the early per~od of the W odeyars of Territorial Mysore, the Nagar Faujdari included the present Shimoga and changes Kadur (now called Chikmagalur) districts. In 1862, the Shim0ga, Kadur and Chitradurga districts were formed into the Nagar Division which was, however, abolished in 1879. The Kumsi lwbli (revenue circle) was made a separate sub-taluk under the Shimoga taluk in 1862. N yamati was made the headquarters of the Honnali taluk in 1869. The headquarters of this :aluk was again transferred to Honnali in 1882.
In 1882, Davanagere taluk was transferred to this district, but it was reverted to Chitradurga in 1886. T'ill 1882, the 'firtha­ halli taluk was called Kavaledurga taluk. The area of the Nagar taluk was extended in 1832-33 by amalgamating with it the Anantapur (now Anandapuram) taluk, but the latter was re­ established as a taluk in 1857-58 and continued as a taluk till 1875 when it was merged in Sagar taluk. The headquarters of the Nagar taluk was transferred to Kallurkatte (now called Rosa­ nagar) in 1893.
Twenty-three villages, which formed a part of the Shikaripur taJuk, were transferred to the Sagar taluk on the 1st of October 1923. Between 1941 and 1950, the Kumsi sub-taluk was merged with the Shimoga talu.k, and a separate new taluk of Bhadravati with the Bhadravati hobli (excluding five villages) and Kudlagere hobli and twenty villages of the Hole-Honnur hobli of the old Shimoga taluk was constituted. Between 1941 and 1951 three villages, namely, Kote-Shirur, Nagodi and Hebbige of South Kanara district which was in the erstwhile Madras State were transferred to the Hosanagar taluk.
4 KARNATAKA STATE GAZETTEER
For administrative purposes, the district is divided into two sub-divisions, viz., Shimoga Sub-Division and Sagar Sub-Division. While the former sub-division consists of Shimoga, Bhadravati, Channagiri, Honnali and Tirthahalli taluks, the latter comprises Sagar, Hosanagar, Sorab and Shikaripur taluks. The follo:wing table indicates the area of each taluk and the number of its inhabited villages and population of each taluk as per the 1971 census:-
No. of Sl. N arne of taluk* .Area in in1tabited Popul~tion
No. Sq. krns. villages
1. Bhadravati 686.9 143 2,03,438 2. Channagiri 1,212.0 190 1,75,979 3. Honnali 856.7 139 1,36,762 4. Hosanagar 1,423.3 200 79,120 5. Sagar 1,938.4 228 1,33,752 6. Shikaripur 896.4 141 1,30,467 7. Shimoga 1,104. 7 194 2,08,337 8. Sorab 1,138.7 261 1,19,153 9. Tirthahalli 1,247.1 245 1,14,477
Total 10,504.2* 1,741** 13,01,485
*The taluk-wise figures are reporting area for land-utilisation purpo>cs, as
worked out by the State Survey Department and local bodies.
The provisional geographical area of the district as computed by the Survey of India is 10,548.0 sq. kms. The slight difference is due to different methcds employed in measu.ring the areas.
** In addition, there were 259 un-inhabited villages in the district as per the 1971 census.
The nine taluks of the district have been further sub-divided into 52 hoblis (revenue cricles), each of which, in turn, consists of about 30 to 50 villages. The sub-joined statement shows the number and names of hoblis, grouped under each taiuk in the district for purposes of revenue administration :-
Sl. No.
4
Bhadravati Kasaba I and II Circles, Kudli­ gere, Hole-Honnur I, II and III Circles.
Channagiri Kasaba, Basavapatna I and II Circles, Santhebennur I and II Circles, Ubrani.
Honnali Kasa ba, Govinkovi I and II Circles, Sasuvehalli I and II Circles; Belagutti.
1 2
4. Hosanagar
5. Sagar
6. Shikaripur
7. Shimoga
8. Sorab
9. Tirthahalli
Sagar Kasaba, Avinhalli, Talaguppa, Bha­ rangi, Karur, Anandapuram.
Shikaripur Kasaba, Anjanapura, Hosur, Udugani, Talagunda.
Shimoga Kasaba I and II Gircles, Kumsi• Holalur I and II Circles, Harnahalli• Nidege I and II Circles.
Sorab Kasaba, Chandragutti, Ulavi, Kuppa­ gadde, Jade, Anavatti.
Tirthahalli Kasaba, Agrahar, Agumbe, Muthur, Mandagadde.
Total 52 Hoblis.
TOPOGRAPHY
The greater part of the district lies in the nwlnad; it is the Natural area all to the west of a line drawn from Shikaripur to Gajanur divisions
(the latter in Shimoga taluk). The eastern portion lies in the maidan region (bailu-seeme) which is an open country. While the Tirthahalli, Hosanagar, Sagar and Sorab taluks come under the malnad, the taluks of Shikaripur, Shimoga and Bhadravati form a semi-malnad area. The Channagiri and Honnali taluks lie in the maidan region. The western portion with its tropical forests and mountain wilds presents superbly enchanting natural scenes. " The view from the head of the descent to the falls of Gerusoppa is probably one of the choicest bits of scenery in the world"*. There are three ghats, namely, the Agumbe ghat in Tirthahalli taluk and the Hulikal and Kollur ghats in Hosanagar taluk. They provide outlets through the picturesque hill country down to South Kanara.
The features of the open country are the absence of rich forests and far less rainfall than in the malnad region ; but there are several picturesque spots like those around Shantisagar (Sulekere) lake, river valleys and stony hills which have their own charm.
The district slopes from west to east. The general elevation along the watershed is about 640 . met!res above the sea-level in the west, falling to about 529 metres in the east. The 640 metres contour runs near about Sorab, Sagar, Talaguppa,
*The Mysore Gazetteer, Vol. V., 1930, p. 1,206.
Hills
6 KARNATAKA STATE GAZETTEER
Hosanagar and Nagar, while the 529 metres contour runs near about Shimoga, Holalur and Honnali. The following statement gives the altitude of each of the taluk headquarters towns in the district:
Sl. Name of place .Altitude Sl. Name of place .Altitude No. (Metres) No. (Metres)
1. Bhadravati 594 6. Shikaripur 603 2. Channagiri 671 7. Shimoga 571 3. Honnali 549 8. Sorab 579 4. Hosanagar 572 9. Tirthahalli 610 5. Sagar 579
(1 foot-0.3048 metre)
The western side of the district rests upon the ·western Ghats, called the Sahyadri. It is a very mountainous area. The raise towards the crest of the ghats is very rapid, a height of 1,343 metres (4,405 feet, according to the Survey of India) being attained at Kodachadri, a mountain on whose summit meet the two boundaries of Shimoga and South Kanara districts. Koda­ chadri is a fine peak situated about 16 .1 kms. north-west 'of Nagar.
The interior part of the district is crossed by a chain of hills running from 1\Iandagadde on the Tunga northwards between Anandapuram and Kumsi, and by a range from Alhawadi (Sagar taluk) westwards through Ikkeri to Talaguppa. Near Humcha, Bileshvara-betta or Agast.ya-Parvata is 864.41 metres high. The other conspicuous hills are Govardhanagiri on the western border of Sagar taluk (overlooking the old town of Gersoppa) , and Chandragutti in Sorab taluk with a height of 848 metres. The south-western part a1round Nagar and Kavaledurga is full of hills. Kavaledurga, which is also· called Bhuvanagiri, in Tirthahalli taluk, is 969 metres high.
On the east of the district., there are two lines of low and stony hills stretching from the south of Channagiri to the border of the district. One line follows the course of the Tungabhadra north­ wards and the other crosses the same river n1ear Hole-Honnur and passes near Shikaripur. The Kalva-Rangan peak, the most con­ spicuous hill in Honnali taluk, is 1,031 metres high.
Along the 640 metres contour, one finds that the Sorah taluk except the Chandragutti hobli is gently undulating. The Chandra­ gutti hill is the principal hill in the west. The Sagar taluk occupies the most westerly projection, being at one point not more than 1~.9 kms. from the sea. The Nagavally valley, which i~ only 66 .14 metres above the sea-level, is the lowest point in the tnluk. The western parts and greater parts of the north and south of this taluk are bounded by the ghats. The south-western portion
SHIMOGA DISTRICT 7
of Sagar taluk presents the appearance of a rolling stretch of bare hill-tops, the sides and valleys of which are densely wooded. The Hosanagar taluk is enclosed on three sides by hills, the drainage of which ffows north-west into the Sharavati. But the streams in the south-west of the taluk run directly down the ghats.
Along the 529 metres contour, the Shimoga taluk is surrounded on all the sides by hills, while the interior does not have hills. The Honnali taluk is crossed from south to north by the Tunga­ bhadra and bounded on the east and west by lines of stony hills at which is the Kalva-Rangan peak which is the highest point in the interior of the district. The southern and western parts of Channagiri taluk alre crossed by Iill'es of hills, the streams from which unite to form Shantisagar (Sulekere). In Shikaripur taluk, there are lines of low hills on all sides and the malnad and the maidan meet here.
VVATER REsouRCES
The important rivers that flow through the Shimoga district Rivers are the Tunga, Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Sharavati, Kumudvati and Vara.da. The Tunga and the Bhadra unite to form the Tunga­ bhadra at Kudali in Shimoga taluk, 14 kms. from Shimoga. The Kumudvati and the Varada are tributaries of the Tungabhadra. Every river in the district has its own mythological association.
The .river Tunga rises in the VV estern -Ghats at Gangamula The Tunga (1,199 m. high) in the Varaha-Parvata in Chikmagalur district, close to the twin stream, the Bhadra. At first, its course is north- east past Sringeri 'to Baggunji, where it turns north-west and continues in the same direction 'till it reaches Tirthahalli taluk. N ea:.r Tirthahalli, it is joined by the Begarahalla. from Sringeri. Minor streams numbering about 75 run into the Tunga. Bending down for some distance to the east, it eventually flows north-east past Shimoga to Kudali where it unites with the Bhadra. Near Mandagadde, it branches for a short distance into seven streams and it is called " Y elukallu Seelu ". Its banks are not so steep as· those of the Bhadra. Across the Tunga, an arnicut has been built at Gajanur, which is a beauty spot. It flows in the district for a length of 64.4 kms ..
The Bhadra is one of the two main streams (the other being The Bhadra the Tunga), the union of which forms the Tungabhadra. Like its sister stream, the Tunga, it also rises in the VV estern GhaJs at Gimgamula in the Varaha-Parvata in Chikmagalur district, as already mentioned. It flows along the western base of the Baba- Budan mountains and enters the Shimoga district in the south of the Shimoga taluk. From there, it runs north past Bhadravati and Hole-Honnur and unites with the Tunga at Kudali in Shimoga taluk. Across the Bhadra, ·a magnificent reservoir has been con-
The Tunga.. bhadra
Its mythologieal association
8 K.ARNATAKA STATE GAZETTEER
structed near Lakkavalli. The distance this river traverses in the district is 51.5 kms. ·
The river Tungabhadra is formed ()f the union of the Tunga and the Bhadra at Kudali, 14 kms. from Shimoga city. Fl'Om the point of the confluence of the united streams, the river runs north to the border of the district and therefrom takes a north-eastern direction past Harihar, receiving on the left bank the Kumudvati (Choradi) and on the right the Haridra. From there, it runs north until joined on the left by the Varada. Then, again it turns north­ east forming the boundary of the Bellary district along the whole of its western and noirthern sides. It joins the Krishna a few kms. below Kurnool town in Andhra Pradesh. In Shimoga district, it flows for a distance of 48. 3 kms.
The ancierrt name of the river is Pampa by which it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the puranas and which still survives in the name of the village Hampi which was originally known as Pampateertha. The Mahabharata refers to the Tunga­ veni along with the Jahnavi (the Ganga) and the Krishnaveni (the Krishna) as a sacred .'civter.
A puranic legend says that Hiranyaksha, son of Kashyapa Rishi by Diti Devi, seized the earth and bore it down to the lower world. As a result, Brahmanas had to discontinue their usual rites and sacrifices. The gods and goddesses complained to Vishnu, who assuming the form of a varaha (boar), plunged into the ocean, entered the lower world, destroyed the demon and brought up· the earth again. The perspiration arising from this exertion of the boar trickled down its tusks as it rested on the Varaha­ Parvata and that from the long left tusk, which he had used as his weapon, issued one stream (the Tunga) and that from the firm and strong right tusk, with which he had borne up the earth, issued another stream (the Bhadra) and a third stream, the Netravati, from the netra; or the eyes of the boar.
The Tungabhadra is never dry, but when the water is low, it does not admit of floats in summer. In the rainy season, it swells prodigiously and forms an extremely rapid and muddy stream. It is easily fordable in the dry season ; at other times, ferry boats are used for crossing at favourable spots, where the width of the river becomes nar'rower and the water is deep. The waters of the Tungabhadra are reputed to have a peculiar ' sweetness ' or ' taste ' which has given rise to the saying " Tunga paana, Ganga snaana" (drink of the Tunga, bathe in the Ganga) .
The Sharavati rises at Ambuteertha, near Kavaledurga in Tirthahalli taluk. It flows in a north-westerly direction and receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne-hole on the left above Barangi. Near the border of the district, it bends to the west and hurls down the ghats near Jog
SHIMOGA DISTRICT 9
where it is harnessed for generating electricity (see Chapter V). It discharges into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara. Its length in the district is 3~. ~ kms. According to a legend, the name Sharavati…