Culture

Tirthahalli is renowned for its picturesque beauty, pleasant climate and enterprising people. It has a host of educational institutions. It boasts of having contributed many literary figures, musicians, drama artists, folklore artists, freedom fighters, social movement leaders, yakshagana artists, scientists, film directors, and journalists to India. For more information, click here

.

This place has attracted famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Chakravarthi Rajagoplachari (Rajaji) who made a visit in 1927 to gear up freedom struggle. People in this taluk speak Kannada, Hindi, English, Tulu, Konkani and a small community speaking Tamil. It has a comparatively high literacy rate of 79.59%.

An important event in Tirthahalli is the annual chariot festival or "Ellamavasye", during which the major attractions include fireworks displays on the banks of Tunga and teppotsava (boat ride) for the deity. During Navarathri, many people dress up as various gods, goddesses etc. The most favorite costume is of tigers and hence the name "hulivesha" for the celebrations

.

Sight Seeing in Tirthahalli

Tirthahalli is located in an area called the Malnad region. This region is covered by wild forests on the mountain ranges. Together they record an average of 300 cm (120 Inches) rainfall per year. The vegetation in this region are a mix of evergreen tropical and semi dry deciduous forests. These wild forests come in the category of third rank forests in the world. These mountain ranges are called Western ghats . They have peaks of approximately 3000 feet on its western and south-western boarders. Tirthahalli has many natural formations suitable for trekking and adventurous sports.

The places of interest in and around Tirthahalli are Siddheshwara betta, Ananadagiri, Kavishaila, Bheemanakatte, Chibbalagudde etc.

On the banks of river Tunga, beautiful temples (most of them in Chalukya style) and lots of "matts" (monasteries) have been built over the past. The water from this river is said to be so sweet, that there is a saying, "Tunga paana Ganga snana" (Drink from Tunga and bathe in Ganga ). The river Tunga meanders around big rocks and banks filled with small pebbles alike."Rama Mantapa" made of stone pillars stands serenly in the middle of the river, just above the "rama theertha konda". This theertha (Holy place) is surrounded by numerous sacred theerthas like "Chakra theertha", "Padma Theertha", "Shanka Theertha", as mentioned in the "Skanda purana" and "Brahmanda purana" (holy hindu historical treatises). There are several branches of various maths in Tirthahalli. One of them is Sri Ramachandrapura matt, which has a stone inscription dating back to saka 1311 (A.D 1389) reveals a relationship between the math and the Vijayanagara empire. There are maths belonging to both Shaiva and Vaishnava denominations. The over 183 meter long hanging bridge (which is supported on springs!!) across the river Tunga lends its beauty to anyone entering Tirthalli.

There are a few Neolithic sites near Thirthahalli and an iron age megalithic site, with a megalith at Arehalli which has port-holed burial chambers.

Resources and Economy in Tirthahalli

This taluk is a source of Manganese ore, iron ore, clay and granite (granites are exported too) The important crops and fruits of this region are paddy, arecanut, sugar cane, banana, cardamom, mango, jag fruits, guava, pineapple, citrus fruits, rubber, coconut, vanilla, black pepper, betel leaves, cocoa, coffee, papaya, and lots of seasonal vegetables. Arecanut and cashew plantations are visible throughout the taluk.

The other sources of income in our taluk are honey, milk, pickles and poultry. Tirthahalli taluk boasts of Sharavati and Varahi hydro electric projects. Now it assumes greater commercial importance as it is linked to National highway NH-17.