Sri Bheemalingeshwara Temple Bheemeshwara

Sri Bheemalingeshwara” located in Bheemeshwara near Kargal town, which is in Shivamogga District of Karnataka.Bheemeshwara or Bheemalingeshwara is an ancient cave temple of Lord Shiva nestled in a serene and secluded forest area in the Western Ghats.

Next to the temple, there is a waterfall that plunges from a height of 50 feet,
which is more beautiful during rainy season.The uniqueness of this waterfalls is, this waterfall flows down very lightly from above, but when many devotees visit, the water falls with great force. It is considered nothing short of a miracle and is believed to be the power of Lord Bhimeshwara.

Bheemeshwara temple was constructed by Bheema by bringing Shivlinga at the place during their agnatavaasa.

The history of this temple is intertwined with mythology, according to which the Pandavas, during their period of exile, installed the Shiva linga here, which Bhima had brought from Kashi. When they needed water to perform the abhisheka (ritual bathing) of the Shiva linga, Arjuna shot an arrow into the ground, causing a stream of water to gush forth. That same stream now flows as a simple river near the temple. Over time, the local rulers, and later Chennabhairadevi of Gerusoppa, who was famously known as the Pepper Queen, carried out the renovation of this temple, as evidenced by historical markers.

This place then fell into the hands of the Keladi Nayakas before getting passed over to the Wodeyars of Mysore. The Wodeyars donated some jewelleries which is still used to deck up the deity for Maha Shivaratri. There will be a big celebration every year for Maha Shivaratri (which normally falls in the month of Feb-March). The festivities run for 4 days attracting a lot of people every year.