| Bhagamandala | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | India Karnataka#India |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Karnataka, India |
| Coordinates: | 12.4197°N 75.5218°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Karnataka |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kodagu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Taluk |
| Subdivision Name3: | Madikeri |
| Governing Body: | Grama Panchayath |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 32.51 |
| Elevation M: | 898 |
| Population Total: | 1917 [1] |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Kannada |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info2: | Arebhashe, Kodava, Malayalam |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 571 247 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | 08272 |
| Registration Plate: | KA-12 |
Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka.
Bhagamandala is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches. At this place, the Kaveri is joined by two tributaries, the Kannike and the mythical Sujyothi river. It is considered sacred as a river confluence ( or , in Kannada and Sanskrit respectively). Bhagamandala is located 133 km south-east of Mangalore. It has an average elevation of 898m (2,946feet).[2]
It is a common practice for pilgrims to take a dip in the and perform rituals to their ancestors before proceeding to Talakaveri, the birthplace of Kaveri. A temple of Lord Supremo Shiva in the name of Bhagandeshwara embellishes the place. It is the local belief that Kaveri, revered as Dakshina Ganga, comes out of the matted hair locks of Shiva here.During Tula Sankramana which falls on 17 or 18 October, pilgrims assemble here in large numbers.
A short distance from the, there is a famous temple known as Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple, where murti (sacred images) of Bhagandeshwara (Ishwara), Subramanya and Ganapati are installed. This place is also known as Bhagandeshwara Kshetra, from which the name Bhagamandala is derived. The temples in this area are built in Karavali (West Coast) style.
During 1785–1790, the area was occupied by Tipu Sultan. The temple was burnt and destroyed.[3] He renamed Bhagamandala to Afzalabad.[4] [5] In 1790 King Dodda Vira Rajendra took Bhagamandala back into an independent Kodagu kingdom.
Bhagamandala is located about 33 km from the district headquarters Madikeri and is connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet and nearby places in Karnataka and Kerala. Government and private buses are available on all of these routes.
A short distance from Bhagamandala is the temple at Padi, which houses the deity Lord Igguthappa and is one of the most sacred shrines of the Kodava people. [6] [7] [8]
There is one more temple at Aiyangeri, named "Chinnathappa", which houses the deity Lord Sri Krishna, considered by the people of the village to be the most sacred shrine in their home land. There is a festival once a year in the month of February or March, where the "Golden Flute" will be brought out from the temple.
Mt. Thavoor is a peak overlooking Bhagamandala and Mt. Koppatti (elevation 1475m (4,839feet);), which may be considered its twin peak is nearby and both these serve as trekking routes for the Shola forest range.
Bhagmandala Shri Kashi Math is a branch of Shri Kashi Math Samsthan, Varanasi located in Bhagmandala.
Bhagamandala experiences a Tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification.
Bhagamandala is the highest rainfall receiving station in the Kodagu district, every year. In 2018, it received an annual rainfall of 5585mm.[9]
In 2019, Bhagamandala received 4687mm of annual rainfall, this time falling behind Hudikeri, which received 4716mm of rainfall.[10]
In 2022, it received a total of 5163mm rainfall, making it the 4th highest rainfall receiving station in Karnataka, after Kundapura (5806mm), Ajekar (5730mm), and Byndoor (5284mm). [11]