Bhadravathi

Bhadravathi ( ಭದ್ರಾವತಿ) is one of the recognized industrial town of India. This is a taluk in the Shivamogga District. It is located at 255 kilometers apart from silicon city Bangalore and at about 20 kilometers from the Shivamogga city. Bhadravathi lies in the central part of the State, in the south-east part of the district.

            The town has an area of around 67 square kilometers  and has a population of 160,392 as per the 2001 census .  Bhadravathi has the literacy rate of 74%, much greater than the average of 59.5%; with 76% of the males and 74% of the females literacy.

The river Bhadra  flows through the city, then into the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. The taluk borders five other taluks, the Shivamogga Taluk, Honnali Taluk, Channagiri Taluk, Tarikere Taluk, and Narasimharajapura Taluk.

 Two national highways pass through the city are NH-206 and NH-13. These two highways conver a short length starting in Bhadravathi and ending in Shivamogga. Two state highways also pass through bhadravathi. Buses and trains that go from Bangalore to Shivamogga passes through Bhadravathi.

The two most important factories that takes the large part of the city are Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant factory, started by Sir M.Visvesvarayya, and the Mysore Paper Mills Limited factory, popularly known as MPM.

                 Veera Narasimha, The Grand Son of Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala Dynasty has built the Lakshmi Narasimha temple in the 13th Century A.D. This temple has carvings of Lord Srikrishna, Lord Purushottama, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Sharadamba along with lord Narasimha.

All India Radio (AIR) has built a radio station Bhadravathi. It broadcasts radio programs using medium wave signals at 675 kHz.

Vishvesharayya Iron & Steel Plant play ground is situated in Bhadravathi. This ground was built in 1960. It has the capacity of 25,000 spectators. 

Shimoga and Wildlife

            Being part of Prosperous Malnad region, Shimoga district is placed in one of the biodiversity hotspots of the globe. The regions have few confined areas classified as wildlife sanctuaries to make sure the security of these species:

Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is situated in Soraba Taluk. It has an area of 0.74 km², it comprises a large water reservoir covering 0.30 ha and a dense wet forest.

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Sagara Taluk. It has evergreen forests beside the Linganamakki reservoir.

Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is located very nearer to Shimoga city and has dry deciduous to semi-evergreen forests and has a region of 395.6 sq km.

Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is positioned on the National Highway 13, 30 km. apart from Shimoga city on the way to Thirthahalli. Mandagadde is actually a tiny island bounded by river Tunga and the birds sited here are median egret, cormorant, darter and snakebird.

Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari lies about 10 km. from Shimoga city on the way to Sagar town. Lions, tigers and deer are housed in an enclosed area and a safari is well organised.

Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is 14 km. far from Shimoga city in Thirthahalli road. This is a training camp where elephants experience training from mahouts.

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary was started in 1951 covering a region of about 252 sq km. It was united with the surrounding Lakkavalli forests and got its name of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It now covers an area of 492 km². It has two section areas Muthodi and Lakkavalli. Wild animals found in this sanctuary are tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, elephant, gaur, sloth bear, sambar deer, spotted deer, monitor lizard, barking deer, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, slender loris and the Malabar giant squirrel. Some of the birds housed here are shama, Malabar whistling thrush, bulbuls, woodpeckers, hornbills and pigeons, drongos and Asian paradise flycatcher. This place has been adopted under a tiger protection project called 'Project Tiger' which is an program from the Indian Government. Best time to visit is from October to February.

Python, cobra, king cobra, rat snake and marsh crocodile are among the reptiles. Dangerous King Cobra is found in forests near Agumbe.

Animals in this sanctuary comprise tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, elephant, sloth bear, sambar deer, spotted deer, Wild pig, Common langur, Striped-necked mongoose, Porcupine, Malabar giant squirrel and pangolin. 

Shimoga and education

JNN college of engineering

Shivamogga is a main center for education. Students from neighboring districts come here for studies. Shimoga provides a very good High school and Pre-University education in Karnataka.  Today the notable institutions of city for PUC Education are Sri Vidya Bharathi PU College, Sri Aurobindo Pre-University(Ind.)college, DVS P.U. Independent college, DVS Composite College, PACE College, National College, Vidyanikethan College, Sacred Heart, Adichunchangiri P.U. College, PES P.U. College. The city have a  importance in the district coz of lack of good quality institutes in other towns of the Shivamogga district, So students of nearer towns and villages have no option other than studying their pre-university education in shimoga city. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, or central school, which is a boarding school is in Gajanur village near shimoga city. Kuvempu University is in Shankarghatta, near Shimoga.

Notable schools of Shimoga are: D.V.S , Sarvodaya, Jnanadeepa, Saandeepani, Vikasa, Swami Vivekananda, Oxford, Adi Chunchanagiri, Rotary, Mary Immaculate, Sacred Heart, Vasavi, Ramakrishna, St. Paul's, Educare, Mahaveer.

Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences(SIMS)  is the prominent Medical College at Shimoga. Shimoga also providing Engineering education, Colleges like Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering managed by the National Education Society and PES Institute of Technology and Management. Sharavathi Dental College is providing dental education. Sahyadri College for Science, Commerce and Arts is one of the oldest colleges in Karnataka. 

Shivamogga, crown of Malnad

Shivamogga is the crown of Malnad. The name Shivamogga came from the words Shiva-Mukha, which means lord Shiva’s face. Some people say the name is derived from Sihi-moge (Sweet Pot).

Shivamogga is the biggest city of Malnad (land of hills). Most of the hills are situated in Western ghat. Arecanut and rice are the main occupation of the district.

          Shivamogga was in the hands of Mauryan empire, later it was ruled by many empires such as Gangas, Chalukyas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas. Shimoga got its own individuality in the times of Keladi Nayaka. The very popular ruler of all time was Shivappa Nayaka. Later city came under the control of Mysore wodeyars until independence of India. In 2006, on the day of Kannada Rajyotsava Shimoga was renamed as Shivamogga.

          The river Tunga is the main source of water for Shivamogga city. The other rivers flow in Shivamogga district are Badra, Sharavathi, Kushavathi, Kumudavathi, Vedavathi and Varada.