Sagara, India
Encyclopedia
Sâgara is a city located in Shimoga district
Shimoga District
Shimoga District is a district in the Karnataka state of India. A major part of Shimoga District lies in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats, a hilly area known for its green forests, plentiful rainfall, and as the source of many of the area's rivers. Shimoga City is the administrative centre...

 in the Indian state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

. Located within the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...

 range, it is known for its proximity to Jog Falls
Jog Falls
Jog Falls , created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India Located in Sagara, Karnataka Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction...

 and to the historical places of Ikkeri
Ikkeri
Ikkeri is situated in Shimoga district of Karnataka state at about 6 km to the south of Sagara. The word Ikkeri in Kannada means "Two Streets". It was, from about 1560 to 1640 AD, the capital of the Keladi chiefs, afterwards removed to Bednur...

 and Keladi
Keladi
Keladi is a temple town in Shimoga district of the state of Karnataka in India.Located about 8 KM from Sagara town.-History:It is interesting as the place whence the Ikkeri chiefs derived their origin, which is thus related :-...

. Varadamoola, the origin of the river Varada
Varada
The Varada River is a river in central Karnataka, India.- Geography :The Varada river originates in Vardamoola in sagar taluk , shimoga district of karnataka state of India . It flows through the Western Ghats and enters the central districts of Karnataka . The river joins the Tungabhadra river at...

, is also near Sagara. Honavara is the nearest sea port to this place nearly 85 km from sagar.

City Municipal Council SAGAR

Sagara city is one of the 74 KMRP cities in the Karnataka state. The Website of this city was Launched on August 2007. Sagar ULB was started in the year 1931 and became CMC grade two in the year 2007.The ULB consist of 31 wards with the respective number of coucilors.The total population of the city 50131 as per 2001 census and total area of the city is 19.21 km2.

Etymology

Sagar derives its name from Sadashiva Sagara, which is a lake. Sadashiva Nayaka, ruler of Keladi dynasty built a lake in between Keladi and Ikkeri
Ikkeri
Ikkeri is situated in Shimoga district of Karnataka state at about 6 km to the south of Sagara. The word Ikkeri in Kannada means "Two Streets". It was, from about 1560 to 1640 AD, the capital of the Keladi chiefs, afterwards removed to Bednur...

. The lake Sadashiva Sagara is now called "Ganapathi Kere" (Ganapathi Lake). and Varadahalli, Kalasi, varada river, It is a sub divisional headquarters headed by a Sub Divisional Magistrate.
SAGAR-577401

Geography

Sagar is located at 14.17°N 75.03°E. It has an average elevation of 580 metres (1902 ft).

Sagar is surrounded by water bodies and forest regions. The Varada river serves the people in this region with its springs. A dam is constructed on it that provides the basic water requirements of the city. Apart from this, there are lot of historical places surrounding the city. Being surrounded by the western ghats, Sagar attracts nature lovers.
Sagar is 73 km from shimoga & 87 km from honnawar on nh 206 & from Mangalore 220 km & from bangalore 349 km.

Economy

The economy of Sagar is mainly driven by Arecanut or Beetlenut, rice (paddy), spice and forest products trade. Beetlenut is the major cash crop grown in the area. Along with beetlenut, spices like Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and cocoa are also grown. The economy of the city is highly volatile and is dependent on the variation in the pricing of these agriculture products.Sagar APMC is one of the main market for Arecanut in Karnataka

Sagar has a relatively high number of the Gudigars - families that for generations have been engaged in sandalwood and ivory carving. While the Gudigar men make idols, figurines and knick-knacks like penholders, agarbathi stands, cuff links, photo frames and paper clips, the women are adept at making garlands and wreaths out of thin layers of scraped sandalwood.

The Gudigars make some of the most exquisite pieces using simple tools like knives, screwdrivers, hand drills and saws. They work in the verandas of their houses. The items they make are sold through government emporiums and licensed private dealers. For a brief period during the 1990s and the early 2000s, Sagar was the hotspot for Sandalwood smuggling. This eventually led to several feuds between the smugglers and the smuggling activities almost stopped after the death of a smuggler called Udaya, who was hacked to death by the rival gang.

Transport

Bus service is provided by private bus operators and KSRTC
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation or KSRTC is the state owned road transportation company in Karnataka.-About:KSRTC was set up in the year 1961 under the provisions of Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. The Government of India is also...

 runs buses that connect Sagar to other places in Karnataka and a few buses to other states. Sagar is well connected by road with Shimoga, Bangalore, Mangalore and Hubli.
Sagar also has its own railway station. Sagar train station is known as Sagar Jambagaru. Only one train is running between Sagar and Mysore. Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, which is approximately 200 km.

(16206-16205) Mysore-Talguppa-Mysore (Intercity), via Sagar, Anandapuram, Shimoga Town, Birur, Arsikere, Hassan, KR Nagar.
Arrives at 1:30 pm from Mysore. Departs at 3:10 pm to Mysore.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

, Sagar had a population of 50,115. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sagar has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 75%. In Sagar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.(according to 2011 Sagara had a population of 85000 and more (aprox)

Religion

The majority are Hindus, with sizeable Christian and Muslim populations as well. The City also has mosques, jain basadis and churches. Apart from a few communal clashes in the early 2000s, the city is known for its communal harmony.

Culture

Ninasam
Ninasam
Ninasam is a cultural organisation located in the village of Heggodu in Sagar Taluk of the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Ninasam is the short form of Sri NIlakanteshwara NAtyaseva SAMgha, an organsiation dedicated to the growth of drama, films and publishing...

, the famous cultural organisation is located at Heggodu
Heggodu
Heggodu is a village located in the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is located in the Sagar Taluk. It is famous for being the location of Ninasam, a cultural organisation which contributes significantly in the areas of drama, films and publishing. NINASAM stands for...

, which is about 10 km from the city. It is a stage for all those aspirants who are eager to learn stage activities like dancing, drama, acting, direction, music, etc.
A peculiar thing about the city is that a Ganapathi Temple and a Mosque share a common wall. This is believed to be so because of the attack of the kings Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...

 and Tippu Sultan on the kingdom of Keladi
Keladi
Keladi is a temple town in Shimoga district of the state of Karnataka in India.Located about 8 KM from Sagara town.-History:It is interesting as the place whence the Ikkeri chiefs derived their origin, which is thus related :-...

.

Education

St. Joseph's Higher Primary School and Pragati Bal Bhavan
Pragati school
Pragathi composite school or Pragathi Bal Bhavan is a school located in Sagar, Shimogga district, Karnataka, India. Previously located in an old building in the town center now is shifted to a new building on the Jog falls road....

, Seva Sagar are the local schools for primary and higher primary education. Then, there are the Nirmala Girl's High School, MGN Pai (Janatha) H.Shivalingappa High School and Hongirana School of Excellence,which is CBSE School. The Government Pre-University College is in the heart of the city, LB and SBS College . LB and SBS College offers both Pre-University and Degree courses. There is also a girls college offering degree courses next to the Government PU College. There is a Sagar Gangotri law college in Sagar.There is also a Sagar Gangotri nursing college.There is a Sagar Gangotri arts and commerce college. There is a diploma college, the Sanjay Memorial Polytechnic.There is a residential PU college is situated 7 km from sagar city towards hosanagara, called Hongirana Independent PU college.There is also a MDF Independent PU College.

Rare disorders

Handigodu Syndrome
Handigodu joint disease
Handigodu Syndrome
Handigodu Syndrome is a rare and painful osteoarthritic disorder endemic to the Malnad region in the state of Karnataka, India. Also known as Handigodu Joint Disease, it derives its name from the village of Handigodu in the Sagara taluk of the Shimoga district of Karnataka where it was first...

 (HJD) is a familial skeletal disorder. Handigodu, near Sagara is one of the only two places in the world where this disorder is to be found - the other being northern Zululand, South Africa. Severe precocious, progressive degenerative osteoarthropathy causes marked physical handicap by adulthood. The clinical and radiological manifestations are very similar to MJD (Mseleni joint disease) and they are sometimes believed to be the same entity.

Kyasanur Forest Disease
Kyasanur forest disease
Kyasanur forest disease
Kyasanur forest disease is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia. The disease is caused by a virus belonging to the family flaviviridae, which also includes yellow fever and dengue fever.-History:...

, also known as Monkey Disease is a rare endemic tick-borne
Tick-borne disease
Tick-borne diseases are diseases or illnesses transmitted by ticks. As the incidence of tick-borne illnesses increases and the geographic areas in which they are found expand, it becomes increasingly important that health professionals be able to distinguish the diverse, and often overlapping,...

 viral hemorrhagic fever
Viral hemorrhagic fever
The viral hemorrhagic fevers are a diverse group of animal and human illnesses that are caused by four distinct families of RNA viruses: the families Arenaviridae, Filoviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Flaviviridae. All types of VHF are characterized by fever and bleeding disorders and all can progress...

 which was first noticed in Kyasanur village, near Sorab
Sorab
Sorab anglicized version of Soraba is a panchayat town in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka.-More on Sorab:Sorab is located at . It has an average elevation of 580 metres ....

.

Tourism

Sagar is surrounded by places of historical importance and natural beauty including the Marikamba Temple and the Mahaganapati Temple within the City. One can find these places with the help of milestones and hoardings which are usually in Kannada.

Keladi
Keladi
Keladi is a temple town in Shimoga district of the state of Karnataka in India.Located about 8 KM from Sagara town.-History:It is interesting as the place whence the Ikkeri chiefs derived their origin, which is thus related :-...


A Shiva temple of historical importance is located here. It is located at a distance of 6 km from the City. One has to take a diversion at Sorab Road. There is a museum conatining old manuscripts written during the times of the Keladi dynasty.

Ikkeri
Ikkeri
Ikkeri is situated in Shimoga district of Karnataka state at about 6 km to the south of Sagara. The word Ikkeri in Kannada means "Two Streets". It was, from about 1560 to 1640 AD, the capital of the Keladi chiefs, afterwards removed to Bednur...


This place is of historical importance due to the presence of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. One has to take a diversion at B. H. Road and travel 6 km.

Kalasi
This is another historically important place with a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated at a distance of 8 km from the City and one has to travel along Sorab Road for 6 km and take a diversion.

Varadapura
Varadapura
Shri Shri Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram at Varadapura also known as Varadahalli is one of the holy and famous hill shrine located at the Sagara taluk, Shimoga District, North Karnataka, India...

 (Varadahalli/Vaddalli)
This place is situated 6 km from the City where one has to take a diversion from Jog Road soon after the end of the City limits. It is famous for the samadhi of His Holiness Sri Sridhara Swami who was among the great saints of 20th century.

Honnemaradu
Honnemaradu
Honnemaradu is a tourist place situated on the back waters of River Sharavathi. It is popular among watersports enthusiasts as a site for kayaking, windsurfing and other similar sports....


Honnemaradu is situated on the banks of the backwaters of the Sharavathi river. A big water mass extends up to the Chakra dam. It is about 35 km from Sagar City towards Jog and 10 km from Talaguppa. Indian Institute For Adventure Applications is a training institute situated here which uses adventure as a platform for learning.

Holebaagilu
Holebaagilu is situated on the banks of the Sharavathi River at about 30 km from Sagar. One has to take a diversion from B. H. Road towards Ikkeri Road to get there. The Sharavati backwaters of Linganamakki dam has submerged acres of land here. It is a place of natural beauty. It is situated in Kolur Grama Panchayat Limits. One has to take a "launch" (flatboat) to get across the backwaters to reach the other side where Sigandooru is located. The ride is really enjoyable. The first priority is given for localites and their vehicles in this launch since they are the affected ones due to this submersion. Madenur Dam which was submerged due to the construction of the Linganamakki Dam is at a short distance from here. It can be seen only during summer.

Sigandooru
Sigandooru is a holy place of Goddess Chaudeshwari. A large temple of Goddess Chaudeshwari is situated here. This Goddess is a highly believed deity in Sagar and the surrounding taluks as a protector against theft and robbery. Coupons for entry will be distributed on first come first serve basis.

Jog Falls
Jog Falls
Jog Falls , created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India Located in Sagara, Karnataka Shimoga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction...


The world famous Jog Falls ís in Sagar Taluk, Shivamogga District. It is approximately 30 km from Sagar if we go by national highway 206.Sharavati, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, near Nonabar, in the Tirthahalli taluk and takes the north-westerly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, and precipitating itself down the celebrated Falls of Gersoppa and passing that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is really some 29 Kilometres distant, discharges into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara. The name Sharavati, arrow-born, is in allusion to its flowing from the Ambutirtha, which was formed by a stroke of Rama's arrow. The stream is crossed by 70 anicuts, from which small channels are drawn having an aggregate length of 42 Kilometres.
The magnificent Falls of Gersoppa or Jog, that is, the waterfall, are unquestionably the grandest natural beauty in Karnataka, rich as it is in splendid scenery. They eclipse every other Fall in India and have few rivals in any part of the world. "While excelled in height by the Cerosoli and Evanson cascades in the Alps, and the Falls of the Arve in Savoy, the Gersoppa cataract surpasses them in volume of water precipitated ; and while much inferior to Niagara in volume, it far excels those celebrated falls of the New World in height. L.Bowring says:- "It may truly be called one of the wonders of the world, for though the volume of water is less than that of the Cauvery, the immense height of the chief fall is almost without a parallel."
Jog Falls during monsoon
Their existence appears to have been unknown at the time of Buchanan's journey in 1900. The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 960 ft (290 m) in depth, and "performs (as Captain Newbold has expressed it) this stupendous lover's leap from the chains of the giant Ghats into the arms of his ocean-rescued mistress- prolific Kanara." This is in allusion to the legend of the formation of the western coast by Parasu Rama.
The water comes down in four distinct falls, presenting a scene of transcendent grandeur and sublimity, whose effect is greatly heightened by the wild and beautiful country around, covered with a wealth of luxuriant vegetation. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Half way down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet its famous compeer. A third fall, the Rocket shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, called the Rani (Dame Blanche), is an Undine-like cascade gliding quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam.
The most favorable time for visiting these glorious works of nature is in the Monsoon season, though it is enveloped in a dense cloud of vapour, through which rises the thunder of the invisible mighty waters in their fearful descent.There are good bungalows on both sides of the falls. Close by the side of Bombay Bungalow is a slab of rock projecting over the verge of the gulf, by lying down on which and peering over, the best view is obtained of the appalling abyss from above, rendered more striking by the continual flight across it of myriads of rock pigeons, which find a congenial home in the face of the cliffs.
Says a visitor in the month of August about 130 years ago " I lay down flat on this shelf and drew myself up to its edge, over which I stretched my head. A sight burst on the view which I shall never forget and can never hope to describe. I have since looked down the fuming and sulphurous craters of Etna and Vesuvius, but have never experienced the sensations which overwhelmed me in the first downward gaze into this (hibernice) volcano of waters; for so it looks ; a chaotic scene that rivets with basilisk fascination the gaze of the spectator. It was with great reluctance and with an intense feeling of depression that I withdrew my head, drenched in spray, from the brink of the precipice. One might almost gaze for ever on this abyss in which a mighty mass of water appears eternally burying itself in a mist-shrouded grave. The clouds of spray which continually ascend heavenwards in slow and majestic wreaths appear to typify the shadowy ghosts of the entombed waters."
The Falls are seen to greatest advantage from the selected points of view which have been cleared on the Mysore bank, the most popular being Watkin's platform. From this side a descent may be made to the pool below, the water in which is 130 ft (40 m) in depth.But this is a difficult undertaking and the re-ascent extremely laborious. The view looking upwards from below is generally considered far less impressive than from the other points, as regards the Falls themselves, but the grandly rugged features of the chasm and the winding gorge in which it is prolonged are more clearly seen in all their savage nakedness.
The varying effects of light and shade at different hours are extremely beautiful. A lovely rainbow spans the waters in the afternoon, rising with the declining sun, and even lunar rainbows are said to be formed in certain aspects of the moon. Rockets and blazing torches or bundles of straw, cast over on a dark night, throw out a fitful glare upon the jaws of the abyss, producing weird and solemn effects as viewed from the Raja's Rock. No words can suffice to adequately describe the charms of a scene replete with every element of the sublime, combining in one superb panorama so many varying aspects both of terror and of beauty, all instinct with the life, the force and play of moving waters.

Soraba
Soraba anglicized version of Soraba is a panchayat town in Shivamogga district
Soraba is also nearest town to Banavasi other than Sirsi, Karnataka which was capital of Kadambas during 9th century, and has pachalingeshwara temples in a small village of Heche karnataka
Heche karnataka
Heche is a small village and has ancient archeological findings which is located in Sorab panchayat town of Sagar, Karnataka Taluk in Shimoga district in the Indian state of Karnataka.-More on Heche:...

and is more of historical interest to many enthusiasts who come under archeological survey.Soraba comes under Sagara Sub Division.

Sharavathi wildlife sanctuary
Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary is in Sagar taluk, Karnataka. It is 350 km from Bangalore. Located near Jog Falls, the sanctuary covers the Sharavathi Valley Region, near the western border of Karnataka. It is spread over an area of 431 km.
The sanctuary is nourished by the Sharavathi River. Linganamakki reservoirspread over an area of 128.7 km is a part of this sanctuary.
The remaining area has been divided into core zone 74.33 km, buffer zone 170.67 km and tourism zone 57.53 km. The Sanctuary is cloaked in evergreen, semi-green and moist deciduous forests.

The forest is home to a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. The sanctuary is a refuge of the endangered Lion-tailed macaque. Other mammals include tiger, leopard (black panther), wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, porcupine, otter and pangolin.
Reptiles include king cobra, python, rat snake, crocodile and monitor lizard.
Some of the avian species found in the sanctuary include three species of hornbill, paradise flycatcher, racket-tailed drongo, blue-throated barbet and Indian lories and lorikeets. It is an excellent location for spotting horn-bills, woodpeckers, minivets and herons
There are many butterflies in the sanctuary.

•Danaids
•Glassy Tiger
•Dark Blue Tiger
•Common Crow
•Tree Nymph

The backwaters of the Sharavati Wildlife Sanctuary offer excellent opportunities for water sports. Some of the water sports possible here are canoeing, kayaking and wind surfing. Bird-watching enthusiasts also visit this place.
Best Season : The best seasons are Nov-May. It is open through out the year.
How to get there
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