Between 1785 and 1790, the area was occupied by Tipu Sultan, who set fire to and destroyed the temple. He also renamed Bhagamandala to Afzalabad. However, in 1790, King Dodda Vira Rajendra regained control of Bhagamandala, restoring it to the independent Kodagu kingdom.
Bhagamandala is situated approximately 33 km from the district headquarters, Madikeri, and is well-connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet, and other nearby areas in Karnataka and Kerala. Both government and private buses operate on these routes, making the area easily accessible.
Bhagamandala is located at the upstream stretches of the Kaveri River, where it is joined by two tributaries: the Kannike River and the mythical Sujyothi River.
Bhagamandala is considered sacred due to its significance as a river confluence (kudala or triveni sangama in Kannada and Sanskrit, respectively). Located 133 km southeast of Mangalore, it sits at an average elevation of 898 meters (2,946 feet).