Sri Sigandhur Chowdeshwari Devi Temple - Sigandhur

Sigandhur is a small place situated in the Sagar taluk of Shimoga district which is near to Jog Falls. The main attraction of this place is the Choudeshwari devi temple.

As you enter the Sagar town, take a left turn towards Ikkeri (in Kannada, it means two streets). There is a temple for Shiva, Aghoreshwara, built by the Keladi rulers in 16th century AD. It’s a very beautiful temple and has a Nandi in the front. It’s has got a very smooth finish which makes it shiny and the temple has good carvings on the walls.
We had to drive another 30 kms from this point to Holebagilu.


The gram panchayat will collect some money for vehicle parking. If you want to take your own vehicle, you have to wait till the barge/launch arrives, otherwise you can park the car at Holebagilu and walk till the launch and the barge/launch will sail you to the other side immediately.



Sigandhur got surrounded by the backwaters of Sharavathi River when the dam was built. If one needs to cross over, they had to wait for specific timing of the launch. Launch ( ferry ) service is available from this bank to the other bank to cover a distance of 2 Km. Service available upto 5.00 pm only. The other side of the river is a small village called Kalasavalli belonging to the main place called Tumari. From this place Sigandur is nearly 5 KMs. The goddess Chaudamma ( Chowdamma ) temple is located at Sigandur. During Sankranti (in the month of January ) a festival is celebrated here. Tourist from all part of visits this place during the festival.
There are frequent bus and jeep/tempo plying to and fro. The temple opens daily for darshan at 4.30 and closes at 6 pm.


Choudeshwari devi temple is small in built and the construction appeared fairly new.
After washing our feet, we had to go through a small queue to the temple interior.

Photography of any kind was not permitted inside the temple. After buying a ticket for pooja, we are divided into groups. There were no queue inside; instead people were let in batches. Devotees were made to sit while the other batch moved ahead. Priests collect any offerings made by the devotees and wrote down their names.

The priest announced that the Choudeshwari deity was very powerful and devotees come to her when they lose all hopes. He added that if a devotee seeks her blessings with full bakthi, their aspirations would be fulfilled. Those who had paid for pooja were given prasada (kumkum and sugar candy). Priest announced that after the aarathi, nobody should kneel down or prostrate before the goddess and aarathi would be made available to them outside the garbhagudi.

Location:


This place is located in the other side of backwater of river Sharavathi ( before Jog falls ). To reach this place people have to come to the main city Sagar. Sagar is nearly 350Kms from Bangalore city. Frequent buses are available from Bangalore to Shimoga city and to Sagar. It is not possible to go and come back from Bangalore in one day as the launch service (for crossing the river Sharavathi) is limited and the distance is more. From Sagar private vehicles or private buses are available (mud road). Vehicles reach one side of the bank in the river Sharavathi.

Temple Address:
Pradhana Archaka
Sri Sigandur Chaudamma temple
Kalasavalli
Post: Tumari
Taluk: Sagar
District: Shimoga
State:Karnataka