Koodli is the temple town that sees the confluence of two major rivers in Karnataka - Tunga and Bhadra. Ambutheerta, Balligavi and Varadamoola are other prominent temple tourism spots here.

The most prominent temples you can visit on your tour to Shimoga are:

Balligavi

Balligavi a town in Shimoga is also known as Belagami. Its ancient names are Dakshina Kedara, Valliggame and Valligrame. A place of antiquity, it is known for its ancient monuments.

It is also famous as the birth place of the great Veerashaiva saint Allama Prabhu. Balligavi is located 72 km from Shimoga city and 12 km from Shikaripura town in Shikaripura taluk.  

And it is closely associated with Vachana poetess Akka Mahadevi who was born in nearby Udugani.  She was a contemporary of Allama Prabhu and Basavanna, the founder of the Veerashaiva movement.

Balligavi is also the birth place of Shantala Devi, queen of Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. Many famous Hoysala sculptors like Dasoja, Malloja, Nadoja, and Siddoja hailed from here.

Today, Balligavi (Balli in Kannada means creeper or vine) is a quite town which houses the 11th century Kedareshwara and Tripuranthakeshwara Temples.               

Legend has it that Balligavi was the capital of an Asura king (demon) and hence was called Balipura (city of Bali).

The Pandavas later arrived here while on their Vanavasa (forest dwell) and installed the Panchalinga (five lingas) and hence the name Panchalingeswara to the well known temple here.

The Linga is the universal symbol of Shiva. Archaeologically Balligavi dates from the Shatavahana-Kadamba era and the Chaturmukha linga (four faced linga) here is in their style.

The earliest mention of the name Balligavi is in Badami Chalukya inscription of 685 A.D.

Koodli Sangama

Koodli is located 16 kms from the Shivamogga City. Tungabhadra is one of the largest tributaries of the Krishna River. The Tunga and Bhadra Rivers meet here form Tungabhadra river.

Koodli also houses two temples of the Hoysala era, one dedicated to the Hindu God, Rameshwara and the other to Narasimha.

An inscription in the temple indicates that in the year 1313, the Hoysala king, Veera Ballala III provided grants to the temple. Koodli also contains a religious institution called Koodli Shankar Mutt.

Ambuteertha

Ambutheetha is at a distance of about 10 km. from Thirthahalli on the Thirthahalli-Hosanagara Road. It is the is the source of the River Sharavathi.

Starting from here, Sharavathi travels westwards to reach the Arabian Sea near Honnavar, 132 km. away.

Varadamoola

Varadamool is located 6 km. from Sagar town, Varadamoola is the source of the River Varada.

Varada flows through the town of Banavasi before joining Tungabhadra. 

Also see:

Shimoga Waterfalls

Hills and adventure destinations in Shimoga

Dams and reservoirs in Shimoga

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Shimoga

or Return to tourist attractions in Shimoga