Sigandur

Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From Jog Falls): 40 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day

Transportation Options: Bus / Cab / Boat

Travel Tips: None

At a distance of 40 km from Sagara, 40 km from Jog Falls, 46 km from Kollur, and 105 km from Shimoga, Sigandur is a small village in Sagar Taluk of Karnataka state. Surrounded by the backwaters of Linganamakki Dam, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Karnataka, and among the best places to visit as part of the Jog Falls holiday packages.

The small town of Sigandur is famous for the Chowdeshwari Temple. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Choudeshwari who is called 'Sigandureshwari'. The Goddess Chowdeshwari at Sigandur temple is very powerful and punishes thieves for stealing and protects her devotees from losing items to thievery. People who lost their valuables or who are facing property disputes reach Sigandur for the solution. It has also evident that many financial and personal issues are being resolved here. It has been believed that the name board from the temple with a noticing message 'Shri deviya rakshane ide' had been glued or stuck in front of their disputed land to solve their issue.

The temple has around 300 years of history. Legend says that once upon a time a person called Sheshappa went hunting in Jungles near Sigandur and lost inside the jungles. When he was resting below a tree, a goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple for her. He went and told his experience to a Brahmin named 'Duggajja' in his village. Both of them finally built a temple and Duggajja became the priest of the temple and Sheshappa became the Managing Trustee.

During Ashada month (June - July), special poojas and worship are held. Thousands of people travel to join this pooja, resulting in frequent stampedes and injuries to devotees due to a lack of crowd management. It is a common holy practice for visitors to bathe in the sacred river Sharavathi, during the annual festival held in January. Accommodation is available only at temple premises for a limited number of persons only. Since food is not provided by the temple and there are no private hotels, it is recommended that you may need to carry food.

Sigandur is surrounded on three sides by water and linked on one side by a road that can be reached via Kollur and Nagode. The ferry is the main transportation to this location. There are two ferries that carry vehicles as well as people from one end of the shore to the other. It takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to reach Sigandur from Sagar from local busses. So choose any of these choices to suit your needs.

Timings: 5 AM - 2 PM & 3.30 PM- 7 PM

Ferry Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free

1 Must Visit Places in Jog Falls