Shivagange (പ്രണയമാണ് യാത്രയോട്)

 SHIVAGANGA

Shivagange is a mountain peak with a height of 804.8 meters or 2640.3 feet.and Hindu pilgrimage center located near Dobbaspet, in Bengaluru Rural district India. It is situated 19 km from the town of Tumakuru and 54 km from Bengaluru.The sacred mountain is shaped as a shivalinga and a spring flows near locally called "Ganga", thereby giving the place its name. It is also known as Dakshina Kashi (Kashi of the South) and place is having various temples such as Gangadhareshwara temple, Sri Honnammadevi Temple, Olakal Teertha, Nandi Statue, Patalagange.

Sri Honnammadevi Temple is inside the cave. Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple is also inside the cave. Gavi means Cave, Gangadhareshwara means Parameshwara having Gange on the top. Every year in the month of January on the day of Sankranthi festival, the marriage function of Sri Gangadhareshwara and Sri Honnammadevi (Parvathi) is conducted. At that time Ganga holy water will come from the rock at the top of hill and that holy water is used for the dhare ritual (solemnise) of the marriage function.

The place was under the control of Hoysala kings and the queen Shanthala, wife of Vishnuvardhana committed suicide in this hill out of depression as she did not give birth to a son and the place is identified as Shantahala drop.^[3] The hill was fortified during the 16th century by Shivappa Nayaka which is in ruins.^[4] The founder of Bengaluru, Magadi Kempegowda also improved the fort and kept a portion of his treasure in this fort.

The area is a popular site for rock climbing in the Karnataka state.The entire trail to the peak is well marked and the presence of man-made steps (often carved into the rocky landscape, but sometimes made from rocks) makes the trail suitable for beginners. There are frequent rest opportunities with stalls serving food and drinks. The trekking path to reach summit from foothills is of 2.3 km in a pre-defined path, much of which is climbed towards the end of the path where the trail becomes steep and narrow - safety rails are provided in such areas. Monkeys are the main fauna inhabiting the hill.