Shimoga is a colorful district with attractive landscape, waterfalls , green forests ,river valley , bountiful fields with areca palms and paddy fields. Situated in the center of Karnataka state. It has about 3.28 lakh hectares of forest with sandalwood , teak and other valuable trees. Forest occupies about 60% of the total land area with large forests . The rivers and water falls in the district are world famous. Tunga, Bhadra,Sharavathi, Varada and Kumudvathi rivers has made this district a rice bowl in the state. There are many places of Architectural splendor in the district. The district is known for its world famous tourist spots and also equally for its areca markets