Located
on the banks of Tunga River, the fertile land of Shimoga had been a
coveted booty for most of the great kingdoms of Karnataka. The name of
the city is derived from the term Shiva-Mukha, meaning Face of Shiva.
Throughout its history Shimoga had played host to most of the great
kingdoms of South India including the Kadambas (4th century),
Rashtrakutas (8th century), Kalyani Chalukyas (9th century), Hoysalas
(11th century) and the Vijayanagara rulers (15th century). Shimoga rose to prominence during the patronage of the Kalyani Chalukyas who overthrew the Rashtrakutas. When the Kalyani Chalukyas faded into oblivion, the Hoysalas annexed this area. After overpowering the Vijayanagar Empire in the battle of Tallikota, the native Keladi Nayakas ruled as an independent kingdom for about two centuries until they were finally absorbed into the Kingdom of Mysore.
Due to the copious agriculture production, Shimoga is known by the sobriquet 'the rice bowl of Karnataka.' The meandering streams originating from the Western Ghats and the numerous lakes, ponds and water bodies make the Shimoga land very suitable for agriculture.
