Sogal

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Sogal is a place in Belgaum district, Karnataka, India. The place name is ascribed to a sage, Sugola Muni, who is believed to have lived in the area, but one inscription speaks of "Sovala." Located on a fine quiet hill, Sogal has a number of big and small temples, including the Someshwara temple. It is of great antiquarian interest, and once had thick forests.

The record says that tigers came to Sogal to listen to the religious teachings. Nearby is a Kalyanmantapa, now renovated, where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is said to have taken place. There is an old statue of Panchanana Shiva and Parvati, Shiva with basinga and other traditional ornaments.

There are Ashtadikpalakas like Yama, Agni, Ishanya, Indra—all broken—lying near this building, all fine examples of artistic accomplishments of the period.

On the hill nearby to the east, is an old fortification called locally as Kadambarayan Kote—may be of a later Kadamba King. Now, it has a fallen brick structure. To the east of this temple is the Ajjappana Gudi (recent) across a small stream. A Surya-Chandra shrine of stone is also seen here.

On the way to Someshwara temple in the midway is a small shrine called Girija Temple in a dilapidated condition. The small waterfall here is of the height of about 18 meters, and there is another smaller waterfall, near Kalyanamantapa atop the hill. These are caused by a small flow from the hill.