| Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Udupi & Shivamogga districts, Karnataka, India |
| Nearest city | Hebri, Udupi district |
| Coordinates | 13°29′N 74°50′E / 13.483°N 74.833°E |
| Area | 314.25 km2 (121.33 sq mi) |
| Established | 1974 |
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected wildlife sanctuary in the Western Ghats of Karnataka state in India. It is named after the presiding deity "Lord Someshwara" of the famed Someshwara temple located within the sanctuary. The sanctuary lies in Udupi & Shivamogga districts of Karnataka, below Agumbe. The sanctuary houses Sitanadi nature camp run by Karnataka Forest Department. Udupi to Agumbe road passes through this wildlife sanctuary. The nearest town is Hebri which is connected by bus service to Udupi, Mangaluru and Bengaluru on a daily basis.
The sanctuary was established in 1974 with an area of 88.40 km2 (34.13 sq mi).
It was subsequently expanded to 314.25 km2 (121.33 sq mi) in the year 2011 vide gazette notification "No: FEE302 FWL2011-(V), Bangalore, dated:27-12-2011".[1] Post expansion the sanctuary spans across Udupi, Kundapura, Karkala, Thirthahalli taluks of Udupi and Shivamogga districts. The sanctuary was expanded by adding Balehalli Reserve Forest, Agumbe State Forest, Someshwara Reserved Forest and Tombatlu Reserved Forest areas, to the existing sanctuary. The expanded sanctuary forms a contiguous stretch of protected area that includes Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park.
The perennial Sita River flows through the sanctuary.