Malenadu Temples

What are the famous temples in Malenadu?

The famous temples in Malenadu are Sringeri Sharadamba, Horanadu Annapoorneshwari, Kollur Mookambika, Kukke Subramanya, Dharmasthala Manjunatha, Banavasi Madhukeshwara, Idagunji Ganapati and the shrines of Keladi, Ikkeri and Talakaveri. At the edge of the hills stand the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu. Most Malenadu temples are tied to a river, a hill or a forest. Many are centuries old.

Malenadu temples are spread across several districts, so it helps to know the map first. Our guide to Malenadu in Karnataka explains the region. The list of Malenadu districts and taluks shows where each town sits.

These are the 14 temples this guide covers:

1. Sharadamba temple, Sringeri
2. Vidyashankara temple, Sringeri
3. Annapoorneshwari temple, Horanadu
4. Kaleshwara temple, Kalasa
5. Rameshwara and Veerabhadra temples, Keladi
6. Aghoreshwara temple, Ikkeri
7. Mookambika temple, Kollur
8. Madhukeshwara temple, Banavasi
9. Mahaganapati temple, Idagunji
10. Subramanya temple, Kukke
11. Manjunatha temple, Dharmasthala
12. Chennakeshava temple, Belur
13. Hoysaleshwara temple, Halebidu
14. Talakaveri and the Triveni Sangama at Bhagamandala

Malenadu temples at a glance

This table lists the Malenadu temples in this guide with their district and what each one is best known for.

Temple	District	Known for
Sharadamba, Sringeri	Chikkamagaluru	Goddess of learning, on the Tunga
Vidyashankara, Sringeri	Chikkamagaluru	14th century stone temple, zodiac pillars
Annapoorneshwari, Horanadu	Chikkamagaluru	Goddess of food, meals for all, on the Bhadra
Rameshwara, Keladi	Shivamogga	First capital of the Keladi Nayakas
Aghoreshwara, Ikkeri	Shivamogga	Granite temple, large Nandi
Mookambika, Kollur	Udupi	Goddess temple below Kodachadri
Madhukeshwara, Banavasi	Uttara Kannada	Old Kadamba capital, honey coloured linga
Mahaganapati, Idagunji	Uttara Kannada	Standing two-armed Ganapati
Subramanya, Kukke	Dakshina Kannada	Serpent worship, on the Kumaradhara
Manjunatha, Dharmasthala	Dakshina Kannada	Shiva temple on the Netravati, free meals
Chennakeshava, Belur	Hassan	Hoysala carving, UNESCO listed
Hoysaleshwara, Halebidu	Hassan	Hoysala carving, UNESCO listed
Talakaveri	Kodagu	Source of the Kaveri river

Temples in Chikkamagaluru: Sringeri, Horanadu and Kalasa

The best known temples in Chikkamagaluru are the Sringeri temple of Goddess Sharadamba, the Horanadu temple of Goddess Annapoorneshwari and the Kaleshwara temple at Kalasa. All three sit in deep green valleys reached by winding ghat roads. Many pilgrims visit these Malenadu temples together in one trip.

Sringeri temple: Sharadamba and Vidyashankara

The Sringeri temple of Goddess Sharadamba stands on the banks of the Tunga river in Sringeri taluk. Sharadamba is worshipped as the goddess of learning and tradition links Sringeri with the saint Adi Shankara. Navaratri is the biggest time of the year here, with daily processions of the goddess.

Next to it stands the Vidyashankara temple, a stone temple from the 14th century that mixes Hoysala and Dravidian styles. According to Karnataka Tourism, its twelve inner pillars line up with the sun’s position in the twelve solar months. The steps down to the Tunga are a calm place to sit after darshan.

Horanadu temple: Annapoorneshwari, the goddess of food

The Horanadu temple of Goddess Annapoorneshwari sits on the banks of the Bhadra river at about 831 m, in a small village of the Western Ghats. Annapoorneshwari is the goddess of food. The main image of the goddess is cast in gold.

The Horanadu temple is known for feeding every visitor. Karnataka Tourism notes that all three meals, with tea or coffee, are offered free to devotees of any religion or caste. Navaratri and Akshaya Tritiya draw the biggest crowds.

The road to Horanadu climbs through coffee estates and areca gardens where pepper vines wind up the trees. Our black pepper grows on vines in gardens like these.

Kalasa Kaleshwara

Kalasa, about 10 km from Horanadu, is home to the Kaleshwara temple, a Shiva temple many pilgrims add to the same day. The town sits in the Bhadra valley and makes a good halt between the two goddess temples.

Temples in Shivamogga: Keladi and Ikkeri

The most important temples in Shivamogga for history lovers are at Keladi and Ikkeri near Sagara, the old capitals of the Keladi Nayakas. These Malenadu temples are smaller than the big pilgrim centres, quieter and full of fine stone carving.

Keladi Rameshwara and Veerabhadra

Keladi was the first capital of the Nayakas, who later moved to Ikkeri and then to Bidanur in 1639. The Rameshwara temple here dates to the 16th century and is dedicated to Shiva, with a Nandi facing the shrine. The Veerabhadra temple shares its halls. Look up at the ceiling of the Veerabhadra sanctum for the carved Gandaberunda, the two-headed bird that later became a symbol of Karnataka.

Ikkeri Aghoreshwara

Ikkeri, about 6 km from Sagara, was the next capital of the Keladi Nayakas. Its name means “two streets” in Kannada. The Aghoreshwara temple is a 16th century granite temple that mixes Vijayanagara and Dravidian styles, with three shrines, one of them for Goddess Parvati. A large, polished Nandi sits under a porch at the entrance.

Sagara is also the base for Jog Falls and other falls of the Sharavathi valley. Our guide to Malenadu waterfalls can help you plan a day around them.

Kollur Mookambika at the foot of Kodachadri

Kollur Mookambika is the temple of Goddess Mookambika at Kollur in Udupi district, at the foot of Kodachadri hill. Though it lies in a coastal district, the village sits in thick Western Ghats forest beside the Souparnika river, which rises in the Kodachadri hills. Tradition holds that Adi Shankara did penance here and consecrated the goddess.

Kollur Mookambika is open from early morning till night, with short breaks for rituals. Kodachadri is about 38 km away and many visitors take a jeep up the hill from Kollur. Our guide to Malenadu trekking covers the walk to the summit.

Kollur is one of the busiest Malenadu temples during Navaratri. Come on a weekday outside festival time if you want a quiet darshan.

Malenadu temples of Uttara Kannada: Banavasi and Idagunji

The Malenadu temples of Uttara Kannada include the ancient Madhukeshwara temple at Banavasi and the Mahaganapati temple at Idagunji near Honnavar. One is deep in the hills near Sirsi and the other sits where the Sharavathi nears the sea.

Banavasi Madhukeshwara

Banavasi, about 22 km from Sirsi on the Varada river, was the capital of the Kadambas, the first royal family to rule from Karnataka and use Kannada in government.

The Madhukeshwara temple, one of the oldest Malenadu temples, stands at the heart of the town. It is dedicated to Shiva and is known for its honey coloured linga. Madhu means honey. The temple was added to by several later dynasties, so you see many styles in one place.

Banavasi holds the Kadambotsava, a yearly festival of music and literature. October to March is the best time to visit.

Idagunji Mahaganapati

Idagunji, about 15 km from Honnavar near the Sharavathi river, is one of the best known Ganapati temples of the region. The black stone image shows Ganapati standing, with just two arms, holding a lotus in one hand and a modaka (sweet dumpling) in the other. Many families visit before starting something new, such as a wedding, a journey or a harvest.

Ganapati is fond of sweets made with jaggery and coconut, which is why such sweets fill the stalls outside many temples in the hills. Our coconut jaggery burfi is made with the same two ingredients.

Murudeshwar, with its tall Shiva statue by the sea, lies on the coast south of Idagunji. It is a coastal temple rather than one of the Malenadu temples, but many people combine the two in one drive.

Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala

Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala are the two great pilgrim towns of Dakshina Kannada, about 55 km apart at the foot of the ghats. Most visitors from Bengaluru see both in one trip.

Kukke Subramanya

The Kukke Subramanya temple stands on the banks of the Kumaradhara river. Here Lord Subramanya is worshipped as a serpent, together with Vasuki, the king of snakes. Families come for rituals linked to serpent worship, which makes it one of the busiest Malenadu temples on special puja days.

Kumara Parvatha, one of the hardest treks in Karnataka, starts close by. Bisle Ghat is about 20 km away.

Dharmasthala Manjunatha

The Dharmasthala Manjunatha temple stands on the Netravati river in Belthangady taluk. Manjunatha is a form of Shiva. The town is known for serving free meals to all pilgrims and for its Laksha Deepotsava in November and December, when about one lakh lamps are lit. A 39 ft stone statue of Bahubali stands on a hill nearby.

Meals at Malenadu temples follow a simple pattern: rice, saaru, a vegetable dish and a sweet payasa made with jaggery. To make payasa at home, liquid jaggery stirs in easily.

Belur and Halebidu: Hoysala temples at the Malenadu edge

Belur and Halebidu in Hassan district hold the finest Hoysala temples, built in the 12th and 13th centuries just where the plains meet the Malenadu hills. In 2023 the Chennakeshava temple at Belur and the Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebidu joined the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, with the Keshava temple at Somanathapura.

Strictly, these are plains temples at the gateway to the hills rather than Malenadu temples, but almost every trip to the hills passes them.

Both are built of chloritic schist, a soft grey stone that allowed carving of amazing detail. Every outer wall is covered with gods, dancers, animals and scenes from the epics. Belur and Halebidu are 16 km apart, so you can see both in half a day. They also sit on the way between Bengaluru and the temples in Chikkamagaluru.

Talakaveri and Bhagamandala in Kodagu

Talakaveri, in the Brahmagiri hills of Kodagu at 1,276 m, is where the Kaveri river begins. A small tank marks the source and steps lead up the hill for views across the Western Ghats. Talakaveri is about 48 km from Madikeri and is the highest of the Malenadu temples in this guide.

Below it lies Bhagamandala, where the Kaveri meets the Kannike and the hidden Sujyoti at the Triveni Sangama. Pilgrims bathe here before going up to Talakaveri. The biggest day is Tula Sankramana in mid October, when the river is believed to rise from the tank. Our guide to Malenadu festivals explains this and other festival days.

How to plan a Malenadu temples route

The easiest way to plan Malenadu temples is in four circuits, each built around one base town. Pick one circuit of Malenadu temples for a weekend or join two for a longer trip. Our guide on Bangalore to Malenadu covers the drive up.

Circuit	Temples in order	Base	Days	Known distances
Chikkamagaluru	Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri, Horanadu, Kalasa	Chikkamagaluru or Sringeri	2 to 3	Belur to Halebidu 16 km, Kalasa to Horanadu 10 km
Sagara and Sirsi	Keladi, Ikkeri, Banavasi	Sagara or Sirsi	2	Ikkeri 6 km from Sagara, Banavasi 22 km from Sirsi
Kollur and coast	Kollur, Kodachadri, Murudeshwar, Idagunji	Kollur or Kundapura	2	Kollur to Kodachadri 38 km
Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu	Dharmasthala, Kukke, Bhagamandala, Talakaveri	Dharmasthala, Kukke or Madikeri	3	Dharmasthala to Kukke 55 km, Kukke to Madikeri 75 km

For more places to see between temples, browse the Malenadu travel guide.

When is the best time to visit Malenadu temples?

The best time to visit Malenadu temples is October to March, when the rain has stopped, the roads are dry and the hills are still green. Mornings are cool and the crowds are lighter on weekdays.

• Navaratri (September or October): Sringeri, Horanadu and Kollur are at their busiest. Expect long queues.
• Mid October: Tula Sankramana at Talakaveri.
• November and December: Laksha Deepotsava at Dharmasthala.
• June to September: The monsoon is beautiful but ghat roads to Malenadu temples such as Horanadu, Kukke and Sringeri can see landslides. Read our guide to the Malenadu monsoon before planning a rainy season trip.

Dress and darshan tips for Malenadu temples

Malenadu temples expect modest, traditional dress and a quiet, patient manner. These general tips work at most temples in the hills:

• Dress simply. Cover shoulders and knees. A dhoti, kurta, saree or salwar is ideal. Avoid shorts.
• Men may be asked to remove shirts before entering some inner shrines. Follow the notice at the entrance.
• Leave footwear outside at the counter or near the gate.
• Do not photograph the sanctum. Many Malenadu temples ban photos inside. Ask before using your phone.
• Go early. The first darshan of the morning is calmer than midday.
• Carry small change for offerings and footwear counters.
• Eat the temple meal if offered. Sit in the row, eat what is served and do not waste food.

Where to go next

After the Malenadu temples, slow down in the villages around them. Our guide to Malenadu food shows what to eat on the way. For a sweet to share at home after your trip, browse the jaggery sweets and spices from these hills.

Frequently asked questions about Malenadu temples