SHIMOGA, one of the twenty five districts of the Karnataka State, is situated roughly in the mid-south-western part of the State. It had an eventful history and has rich cultural traditions. It is bestowed with abundant natural resources. The western area of the district consists of a mountainous terrain, while on the eastern side, there is a striking transition from malnad and semi-malnad to maidan. The western part is replete with fascinating natural beauty, being clothed with dense tropical forests stimulated by heavy rainfall. The eastern area consists of an open country with some fine lakes and stony making this part also attractive to the eye.

Like most of the districts in the State, this district also got its name form its administrative headquarters town, Shimoga. Various traditional derivations are current about the origin of the name of Shimoga. It is difficult to say which of them is correct or whether any of them is correct. At least, three of them pertain to God Shiva, viz., ‘Shivana-mukha’ (the face of Shiva), ‘Shivana mogge’ (the nose of Shiva) and ‘Shivana-mogge’ (buds of flowers meant for Shiva). The place has several old shrines dedicated to Shiva. According to a legend, the place had the ashram of the famous sage Durvasa who was noted for his sharpness of temper. He used to keep on the oven a pot boiling with sweet herbs. Once, some cowherds, who chaneed upon it, tested the beverage out of curiosity and called the place ‘Sihi-moge’ (sweet pot), which was later called as Shimoge. In some epigraphs, the place is referred to as Sheemoge and Seemoge (vide Shimoga-10, 108 and 3 of 1085 (?) and 1671 A.D. respectively in Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol, VII, 1902). The name is written and pronounced in Kannada as Shivamogge. Its anglicised form is ‘Shimoga’.