Mrugavadhe
Mrugavadhe is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district. It comes under Mrugavade Panchayat. It is 86 km from Shivamogga in the district. It is 26 km from Thirthahalli.
Mrugavadhe is a place with limited awareness yet of historical and mythological significance. According to the Indian Hindu scripture “Ramayana”, this mangrove is the place where the demon Maricha, who came in the form of a golden deer to take away Lord Rama from Sita, was killed.
After slaying the demon, Rama installed a Shivalinga here. Worshiped here in an ancient and beautiful temple. This temple, originally named Malahanikareshwar, is today known as Mallikarjuna Temple. Mallikarjuna Swamy is in Tunga river. A special feature of this place is the four and a half feet Shivalinga.
Thirthahalli is surrounded by beautiful natural spots including waterfalls, forests and hills, making it a favorite destination for nature lovers and trekkers. The serene atmosphere and pleasant climate of this region attracts tourists from different parts of the country.