The Shimoga district is also known as the ‘Gateway to Malnad’ (‘Malenaada Hebbagilu’ in Kannada)

Population – 1,755,512 (2011 Census)

Geography – lies between the latitudes 13°27′ and 14°39′ N and between the longitudes 74°38′ and 76°04′ E at a mean altitude of 640 metres above sea level

Geology – soils: red gravelly clay soil; red clay soil; lateritic gravelly clay soil; lateritic clay soil; medium deep black soil; non- saline and saline alluvo-colluvial soil; and brown forest soil. Minerals: limestone; white quartz; kaolin; kyanite; manganese.

Economy – primarily agrarian economy: foundry, agriculture and animal husbandry. Crops – rice, arecanut, cotton, maize, oil seeds, cashew nut, pepper, chilli, ginger, paddy, ragi, vanilla and jatropha.

Industries – agriculture, iron, automobiles, engineering, carpentry, blacksmith, leather, pottery, beekeeping, stone cutting, handlooms, agarbathi, and sandalwood carving.

Education – Literacy rate of 80.2%. 1106 lower primary schools; 1185 higher primary schools; 116 pre-university colleges; 12 colleges.

The school student population in Shimoga is approximated at over 2,57,000 students. The expected footfall at the SARA Centre is approximately 200 a day (or approximately 73,000 a year).