The beauty of the Western Ghats cannot be described by words; one has to experience the picturesque views and also the most curvaceous route in the Western Ghats. Everything here looks divine and spending a weekend in the “Gateway of Malnad”, Shimoga can be quite enticing.
Located in the central part of Karnataka, from a travelers eye, this place is an abode of scenic beauty. Loaded with areca nut plantations this roads enroute Shimoga offers quite a charming view. With the effervescent Tunga river flowing flawlessly and the majestic Western Ghats on either sides makes this place celestial.
Shimoga has quite a number of tourist places and these are quite cliché, there are a lot of other places within Shimoga which are a true abode of the Mother Nature.
1. Teertahalli
This is one such place which every explorer must visit atleast once to understand the beauty of river Tunga. Located on the banks of river Tunga this is a small Panchayat town. One may feel that there aren’t any tourist attractions here but, if you are a solitude seeker this is a must-go-to place.
Enjoy sitting by the banks of the river Tunga listening to one of those vintage melodies and let yourself drown into a surreal world. The trees here form beautiful canopies which transforms into green tunnels after a point and this is one of the best things to experience when you are here.
2. Mahishi
A small village which is at a distance of 19.7 km from Teertahalli. This place is surrounded by thick and dense forests again on the banks of the Tunga River. The Tunga River is clean and tidy and one can see their reflection in the water. There is also a temple dedicated to one of the saints of the Dwaita philosophy called Sri Satya Sandharu. The temple gets sabotaged when the river is full during the rainy season. Swimming here can be quite dangerous because Tungabhadra is a river with strong current. Letting yourself lose in this tranquil nature can kindle your soul and leave you at peace.
3. Kavaledurga Fort
Located at a distance of 19km from Teertahalli, this is one of the hidden treasures of Shimoga. The fort belongs to 9th century this is one such places made exclusively for the young hikers. You must visit this place during the monsoon to go high on nature. This has become one of the most sought out destinations for trekkers these days. A 2.5 km trek is worth to take if you are a sucker for some adventure.
4. Gajnur Dam
Gajnur dam is built on the Tunga river with 22 Crest gates, with trees surrounded everywhere, the river looks endless. There isn’t any parking or camera fee which has to be paid here but an entry fee of 5 INR/- is applicable. The place is opened to everyone between 8 AM to 5 PM. The lovely music of water and the birds chirping adds to the serenity of the place and makes it worth the visit.
5. Sakrebailu Elephant Camp
Entry fee of INR 30/- per person with no parking fees, it is at a distance of 2.3 KM from Gajnur dam. This place is an abode and a school for lot of elephants. You can also see some of the elephants from Mysuru Dasara also being part of this camp. You just cannot miss to admire the huge yet cute giants showering water on each other in a playful mood.
6. Sringeri
The Shrine of Sringeri invites everyone who wants to steal a glance of the beautiful goddess Sri Sharadamba The Goddess of Learning. The temple premises are grand and Torana Ganapathi here attracts a lot of devotees. Also, the temple has a unique structure and a temple dedicated to planets which is one of its kinds. When you are here, you must not miss to eat the food from the temple.
7. Sirimane Waterfalls
Sirimane falls in Kigga is located at 15.3 km away from Sringeri and on the way seek blessings from the Kigga Narasimha Swamy. The curvy roads and the hair pin bends are breath-taking. Water is an ally to almost all of us and none of us would mind spending time here because there aren’t many people around yet, the waterfalls is on the verge of losing its charm because of littering.
These are some of the places which are hidden in the chest of the Western Ghats safe yet, visible only to those who love to explore. Apart from these, you could also visit the Kundadri hills, Agumbe Sunset point and the famous poet Kuvempu’s house while you are here.
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