Tumkur consists mainly of elevated land intersected by river valleys. A range of hills rising to nearly 4,000 feet (1,200 m) crosses it from north to south, forming the watershed between the systems of the Krishna and the Cauvery.
The principal streams are the Jayamangala and the Shimsha. The mineral wealth of Tumkur is considerable; iron is obtained in large quantities from the hillsides; and excellent building-stone is quarried. The taluks of the district include Koratagere, Gubbi, Chikkanayakana Halli, Tumkur, Pavagada, Sira, Turuvekere, Kunigal, Madhugiri and Tiptur
Devarayanadurga is a hill station near Tumkur. The slopes of the hills, are full of forests, in which large game abounds, including tigers, leopards, bears and wild hog.
The rocky hills are surrounded by forests, and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoganarasimha temples at an altitude of 3940 feet. It is also famous for Namada Chilume, a natural spring considered sacred and is also considered the origin of the Jayamangali river. Another famous temple in the area is the Mahalakshmi Temple at Goravanahalli. The place was originally known as Anebiddasari, then as Jadakana Durga after a chief named Jadaka and finally as Devarayana Durga subsequent to its capture by Mysore king Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar. Tumkur district is also famous for Kaidala, known for the temple with sculpture of the legendary Jakkanachari.
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