The Government Museum in central Shimoga is a modest but worthwhile stop if you want context on the region's history before heading into the countryside. The collection covers the Keladi Nayaka period (16th–18th century) that shaped much of the district's temple architecture, with stone inscriptions, sculptures, bronze figures, coins, and exhibits on the natural history of the Western Ghats.
The Keladi Nayakas were a dynasty that held out against the Mughal and Maratha incursions longer than most of Karnataka, and the museum does a decent job of tracing their rule and the cultural legacy they left across the Malnad region. Entry is cheap and the visit takes about an hour. It's located near the bus stand, making it easy to fit in before or after catching a bus out to Jog Falls or Agumbe.