19 Best Pilgrimage sites near Mangalore

About Melukote

At a distance of 50 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore, Melkote, or Melukote is a historical town located in the Mandya district of Karnataka. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, it is one of the popular pilgrimage sites in Karnataka, and among the best places to visit as part of Mysore tour.

The town is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Cauvery valley. The town derives its name from two words, Melu means top and Kote means fort. There are two popular temples reside in this town, one is Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the other one is Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple. Many more shrines and ponds are located in the town. Melukote is home to the academy of Sanskrit Research, which has collected thousands of Vedic and Sanskrit manuscripts.

History of Melukote

According to the history, the great Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya lived here for about 14 years in the 12th century AD and thus it became a prominent center of the Srivaishnava sect of Brahmins. The Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, also known as Thirunarayana or Cheluvaraya, who was installed by Lord Krishna. The utsavamurthy, or procession idol, of the deity is referred to as Cheluvapille Raya, with its original name believed to be Ramapriya. This idol was lost during the invasion of the Moghuls but was later ...

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About Kalaseshwara Swami Temple

At a distance of 7 km from Horanadu,53 km from Sringeri, and 86 km from Chikmagalur, Kalasa is known for its natural beauty, surrounded by hills, coffee plantations, and the Bhadra River. The town is home to the famous Kalaseshwara Swami Temple. It is one of the popular pilgrimage towns in Karanataka, and among the must include places in Sringeri tour packages.
Situated along the banks of the Bhadra River, the Kalaseshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is referred to as Dakshina Kashi in the Skanda Purana.

History of Kalaseshwara Swami Temple

It is believed that Sage Agasthya established the Kalaseshwara Temple. Researchers have identified several inscriptions dating back to 1154 CE within the temple. The sanctum is thought to have been established by King Shruth Bindu of Vidarbha. Subsequently, in the 16th century, the temple underwent renovations by the Keladi and Karkala Nayakas. Much later, the Maharaja of Mysore contributed to the creation of an ornate silver door, while Somashekhar Nayaka presented a golden crown.

Mythology

According to legend, during the wedding of Shiva and Parvati in the Himalayas, the presence of all the deities led to a disruption in the earth's rotation. In response, Lord Shiva asked Sage Agasthya to journey southward to restore balance. However, the sage expressed his desire to attend the wedding and witness ...

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At a distance of 25 km from Udupi, 86 km from Mangalore & 70 km from Murudeswar, Anegudde Vinayaka Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kumbhashi between Udupi & Karwar. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in the region, and among the popular places to visit as part of Udupi Tour.

Anegudde Vinayaka Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Anegudde is rewarded one of the seven 'Mukti Sthalas' of Karnataka or Parashurama kshetras, which are believed to be created by sage Parashurama. Anegudde is the combination of two words - 'Aane' meaning 'Elephant' and 'Gudde', which stands for 'hillock' as it is the abode of the elephant-headed god, Lord Vinayaka.

Anegudde is also popularly called Kumbashi. The name Kumbhashi is said to be derived from the demon Kumbhasura. According to the mythology, when drought hit this area, Sage Agasthya performed penance to appease the Rain, God. During the penance, demon Kumbhasura started troubling the sages. Bheemasena gets a weapon from Lord Ganesha to kill Kumbahasura and assassinate him at this place. The temple at Anegudde is dedicated to Lord Vinayaka (Ganesha).
According to Legend, Sage Agasthya arrived from heaven to perform Yagna (religious offering) to please the Devas for rain. Kumbasura, an Asura troubled the sages and disrupted the yagna. At this time Lord Ganesha blessed Bheema of Pandavas, with a sword. Bheema fought Kumbasura and slays him.

The main sanctum ...

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About Talakaveri

At a distance of 9 km from Bhagamandala & 44 km from Madikeri, Talacauvery is the origin of the Cauvery River in Karnataka. It is situated on the slopes of the Brahmagiri mountain ranges near Bhagamandala at an altitude of 1276 m. It is one of the best places to visit in Coorg and is among prime place to visit on a Coorg trip.

At Talacauvery, there is a square tank called Cauvery Kundike or Brahma Kundike, which is considered to be the birth place of River Cauvery. Here, River Cauvery emerges as a perennial spring and disappears underground. River Cauvery again emerges at Nagathirtha near Bhagamandala and joins with Kannike and Sujyoti at Triveni Sangam. Bhagamandala is the meeting of three rivers and is also referred to as Triveni Sangam.

History of Talakaveri

According to legend, Cauvery was held captive by sage Agasthya in a Kamandala, a pot carrying sacred water. Lord Ganesha in the form of a crow made the Kamandala to topple at this hill when Sage Agasthya was meditating. There is a shrine dedicated to Kaveri Amman near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees baths before offering prayers. The temple was renovated by the state government in 2007.

Talacauvery also consists of shrines dedicated to Lord Agastheeshwara and ...

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At a distance of 17 km from Agumbe, and 96 km from Shimoga, Kundadri is a beautiful hill top located near Agumbe in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, India. It is one of the top places of trekking in Karnataka, and among the must-visit places as part of Agumbe tour packages.

Rising at an altitude of 3,200 feet, the Kundadri hill is known for the 17th-century Jain temple dedicated to Parshwanath Tirthankara. The name Kundadri is believed to be derived from the name of Acharya Kundakunda, a popular 4th century Jain Monk, who is said to have taken shelter in these hills. The small temple, along with two small ponds form the only building on top of Kundadri hills. The Jain Temple is particularly crowded amid the season of Makara Sankranti in January.

Boasting dense jungles of the Western Ghats, Kundadri is a trekker's haven and a paradise for nature lovers. A rough, 7 km rugged narrow path leads to the top of the hill and is a moderate trek. The trail can be a bit challenging at first but quickly becomes simpler and more rewarding as you take in the stunning scenery around you. One can also reach the top by driving your way up, except for the last fifty steps or so. However, the area is best explored whilst trekking in the surrounding jungles. From the top of the peak, you can have a panoramic view of the distant backwaters of the Varahi Dam. Camping in the ...

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At a distance of 45 km from Sirsi, the Tarakeshwara or Tarakeshvara Temple is a Hindu temple complex located in Hangal, Karnataka. It is one of the ancient temples in the Malnad region of Karnataka, and among the top places to visit near Sirsi.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Tarakeshwara Temple dates back to the 12th century AD and is considered to be an architectural marvel. The temple was the most significant contribution of the Kadambas to the history of the town. However, the town and the temple came into prominence during the rule of Kalyani Chalukyas who were the most powerful in the Deccan region during their period. They made massive architectural innovations and additions to make it into the present form. It is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.

Built with grey-green chloritic schist, the temple is a fine example of the typical Chalukyan style of architecture with influences of Dravidian and Nagara styles. The main temple consists of a Garbhgriha or sanctum with adjoining enclosures like the Antarala, Navaranga, Sabhamandapa, and Mukhamandapa. The sanctum sanctorum houses Lord Tarakeshwar is in the form of a linga along with sculptures of Vishnu, Brahma, Karthikeya, and Nandi.

The major attraction of the temple is the main hall which has a large domical ceiling in the form of a lotus. The elaborately-carved structure is 9 m in diameter, and a huge stone, 6 m in diameter, forms the ceiling of this structure. The stone, cut ...

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At a distance of 26 km from Bankapura, 34 km from Hangal, 72 km from Sirsi, and 78 km from Hubli, the Siddheswara Temple, locally called Purada Siddeshwara, is an ancient Hindu temple located in the town of Haveri in Haveri district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular temples in Karnataka built by the Western Chalukyas, and among the top places to visit near Sirsi.

The SiddheshwarIt is considered an ornate example of 12th century Western Chalukyan architecture and is well known for the many loose sculptures of Hindu deities that exist in it. However, the inscriptional evidence within the temple suggests that the temple was built in the late 11th century. Initially, the temple was constructed as a Vaishnava temple, but later in the years, the Jains removed the images, and thus the Shiva temple was created since it came under the possession of Shiva devotees.

The Siddheshvara temple is built of soapstone and faces west, instead of facing the rising sun in the east like all Chaluyan temples. The temple bears a close resemblance to a few other Chalukyan temples in the vicinity of Haveri- the Mukteshvara temple at Chavudayyadanapura, the Someshvara temple at Haralahalli, and the Siddharameshvara temple at Niralgi. The entire basement of this temple has sunk by a few feet, making it necessary to descend into the open mandapa (hall). The Siddhesvara temple boasts of 1300 stone carvings.

The mantapa (hall) in the temple contains sculptures of Uma Maheshwara, Vishnu ...

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At a distance of 13 km from Benne Hole Falls, and 28 km from Sirsi, Sri Venkataramana Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated at Manjuguni in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Uttara Kannada, and among the must-visit places in Sirsi.

Located in the Sahyadri Hills, the Manjuguni Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkataramana and Goddess Padmavathi. According to Sri Venkatesha Mahatmya, the founder of this temple is Sri Tirumala Yogi, a saint. It is believed that the Lord of Tirupati settles down here in this temple while traveling around the globe hunting wild animals. Thus the temple is also referred to as Tirupathi of Karnataka or Chikka Tirupathi. During winter, this place will be covered by thick fog, and hence this place is called Manjuguni.

The Venkatramana Temple at Manjuguni is a huge complex built in Vijayanagara style. The temple has a huge Dwaja Sthambha, Bali Peetha, and then the entrance to the main shrine, which includes the facade, the hall, and the Navaranga, Sukhanasi, and sanctum sanctorum of the original temple. The main idol here is assumed to be more than 1000 years old. The special feature of the idol here is that the Lord is holding an arrow and bow as symbols of assurance and protection to the devotees. His consort Goddess Padmavathi is on the right side. Navaranga hall has several pillars decorated with beautifully carved figures of gods and goddesses that attract the attention of every visitor. ...

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At a distance of 44 km from Chitradurga, Sri Teru Malleshwara Temple is Hindu temple situated in Hiriyur near the historical city of Chitradurga. It is one of the must-include places in Chitradurga pilgrimage packages.

Sri Teru Malleshwara Temple is a revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, constructed around 1466 CE during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. Located along the banks of the Vedavati River, it is popularly known as Dakshina Kashi. This temple is now recognized as a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

According to local legend, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, Belavadi Hema Reddy Mallamma, resided in this town. Each year, she undertook a pilgrimage to Varanasi on foot. As she grew older, Mallamma prayed to Lord Shiva, expressing her inability to continue this arduous journey. In response to her unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared in her dreams, assuring her that she need not travel to Varanasi to experience his presence. He promised to dwell in Hiriyur, manifesting as a cylindrical grinding stone, known as Oralukallu, commonly found in households. Mallamma devoted herself to worshipping this stone, which came to be known as Teru Malleshwara, symbolizing the presence of Lord Shiva.

Exhibiting the Dravidian architectural style, the temple faces west and features a five-tiered rajagopuram on the ...

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