Topography

Thirthahalli taluk is located in Shimoga district of Karnataka on the banks of river Tunga. It was called "snow less Kashmir " in the olden days by travelers and visitors. For the geographically minded, its coordinates are 13°.41' north latitude, 75°.71' longitude, and 610 M altitude.

Mythology

Tirthahalli is one of the various holy sites in India . Its name is derived from the numerous theerthas (holy water) of Tunga river. It was earlier called "Thirtharajapuram". Legend has it that Sage Parushurama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), on his father Sage Jamadagni's orders, chopped off his mother Renuka's head. However on Parashurama's pleas, Jamadagni gave life back to his mother. Later a guilt-ridden Parashurama tried to wash off the blood-stains from his axe. It could not be removed even after being washed in most of holy rivers and seven seas. But on his visit to Tirthahalli, a dip in the holy water removed the blood from the axe magically. Since then, people believe that "all human sins" can be removed by a dip in the Tunga river.