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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Shimoga

The crowning jewel of the Western Ghats, Kodachadri is a beautiful mountain oeak with thick grassy knolls and tall elevations. One of the most breathtakingly beautidul sight of the Shimoga tourist places, it has been declared as a natural heritage site by the Government of Karnataka and holds the distinction of being the 10th highest peak of the state. Kodachadri is the tall elevation behind the famous temple of Mookambika Devi in the region of Kollur.

A small town hidden away beside the beautiful and sprawling reservoirs of the Shravathiriver, Honnemaradu is a lush green town and is one of the offbeat Shimoga Tourist places. The backwaters of the Sharavati River run calmly by this sleepy little hamlet, covering an area of 50km by 80 km.

The town also has a lake called Honnemaradu i.e. ‘Golden Lake’ which presents some of the most stunning views of the sunrise and sunset that are impossible to witness sin the city or anywhere else. You can undertake hiking, boatings, canoeing, kayaking and wind rafting alongwith with several other travel groups who will be only too happy to undertake such activities for you. 

In the TheerthahalliTalukaof Shimoga region is the delightful abode of Kundadri Hill, a solid rock structure with a Jain Temple at the top. Rising 3,200 feet above ocean level, the KundadriHills is a cool destination that is a perfect spot to visit amidst any weather condition.

Secured in rich green woodlands, this trek to Kundadri is a heavenly experience which is also a  holyplace for Jains furthermore a fine spot to do a touch of trekking and hiking, for adventure lovers. The hills are named after a Jain priest Kundakundacharya who is said to have performed a serious penance here. The seventeenth Century Jain Temple is particularly crowded amid the season of MakaraSankranthi in January. Kundadri Hills being a pilgrimage destination has a tar road that leads to the temple. 

However, the area is best explored whilst trekking in the surrounding jungles. The trail can be a bit challenging at first but quickly becomes simpler and more rewarding as you take in the stunning scenery around you. Youcan spot several streams flowing merrily by as you take amble along merrily to the top.

If the devotion in you is calling you to the tourist places near Shimoga, then Keladi is a must place to visit. This temple town is located in the SagarTaluk of the Karanatak state. This historic town is a relic of the Keladi rulers who were the feudals of the Vijayangara Empire. The main sight to vist in Keladi is the Rameshwara Temple, which is built up in the Hoysala and Dravida style. The temple, though of humble outdoors, houses a treasure trove of intricate carvings and revered deities inside.

The temple houses three deities, Lord Rameswara (Linga and Nandi), Lord Veerabhadra and Lord Ganesh. The pillars are stunningly carvedwith epic gods and goddesses as well as animals. At the ceiling you can find the legendary (imaginary) two headed bird called Garudabande.

In the event that you are searching for a quiet break for a couple of days from the tumultuous city life, far from the swarmed and popularized attractions, then this is the spot for you.

Agumbe is among the spots that get high rainfall and is rightly called the Cherrapunji of South India. On the southern coasts of Karnataka is a rainforest that is beautiful in its serenity and the receding rainfall of August make it even more exhilarating. 

It is here that you can see greens that you though would never exist! Home to numerous and diverse animal species, Agumbe also plays host to an amazing number of medicinal plants that are unique to this region. The formidable King Cobra has also made this lush woodland its home.

Located in the SagarTaluk, Heggodu is a pristine village and is one of those Shimoga tourist places that hold a little secret. It is one of the only towns that is blessed for being the location of NINASAM which is a cultural organisation that actively contributes to the world of drama, films and literature.

 A visit to this town to witness the local dance troupes, theater acts and art groups perform is surely warrante don your trip to Shimoga. In fact so famous is this little town, that artists from all over the world come here to contribute to the cause of local art and many more to attend the residential workshops. You can reach Heggodu from Hosangara via a local transport or taxi from Shimoga.

Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is extraordinary and situated amidst thick forests  at a distance off 15 km on the Banavasi Road in Gudavi in Sorabtaluk of Shimogadistrict. Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is encompassed by rural fields on the west and north, and by wet deciduous forests on the east and south. The Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is spread over a territory of 0.73 sq km and offers various impeccable varieties of birds to explore and view. 

Different sorts of birds move to Gudavi for reproducing in monsoon season i.e., in the middle of June and December. A characteristic lake and the trees offer asylum to these feathered creatures.

Guduvi is one of the 5 popular birds parks of Karnataka. As indicated by the overview done in 1993, it is informed that 191 assortments of winged animals are found at Gudavi Bird Sanctuary. Some prominent  feathered creatures that are found at Gudavi include White Pebis, Stone Bill, Egret, Cormorant, Snake fowl, Heron and so forth. A stage is assembled here for a more intensive look of winged animals. 

Ikkeri is asmall historical place located at about 3km from the Shimoga Town in the SagarTaluk. The main attraction at Ikkeri is the Aghoreshwara Temple which was constructed by the Keladinayakas. The temple has been dedicated to Lord Shiva and is surrounded by a vast open space. 

Located on a slightly higher elevation, the temple can be entered into via a small but splendid cubical that has been made out of granite. The image of the Nandi at the entrance of the temple is what grabs eyeballs because of its glassy finish.The surroundings of the temple are intricately carved reflecting the skill of the masters bygone!