Summary
- Mangalore – the City of Temples
- 10 Most Famous Temples to Visit in Mangalore
Mangalore, the coastal city of Karnataka is known for its pristine beaches and authentic cuisine. The city is the capital of Dakshina Kannada District and is home to an amalgamation of cultures and traditions.
Mangalore is also famous as the temple town of Dakshina Kannada with some of the most divine and spiritual temples of worship. It is interesting to note that the city gets its name from the deity Mangaladevi of the Mangaladevi temple situated at Bolar.
According to the legend, a princess named Premaladevi from Malabar renounced her kingdom and became a disciple of Matsyendranath, the founder of the Nath tradition. Having converted Premaladevi to the Nath sect, Matsyendranath renamed her Mangaladevi. She arrived in the region which is now Mangalore, along with Matsyendranath.
However, unfortunately she had to settle near Bolar in Mangalore because of her ill health. She passed away here and the locals honoured her memory by building the Mangaladevi temple at Bolar. It was from this goddess that the city of Mangalore got its name.
Since time immemorial, Mangalore has been associated with temple festivals and celebrations.The fervour and passion with which temple festivals have been celebrated over the years is noteworthy.
Mangalore is among the top contenders when it comes to tourism in India. Nestled between the Majestic Western Ghats and the mighty Arabian Sea, Mangalore has a plethora of visual wonders. In addition to being a haven for nature lovers, the city draws a large number of devotees to the numerous temples that dot the coastline city.
The temples in Mangalore are known for their intrinsic designs and breath-taking architecture. Each temple in Mangalore has a deep rooted history that is associated with the grandeur of the festivals.
Here are the Top 10 Famous temples in Mangalore
1. Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Mangalore
The Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple In Mangalore is one of the best temples in Mangalore. Devotees can visit the temple easily because of its convenient location right in the midst of the bustling city.The temple is dedicated to Gokarnatha, an avatar of Lord Shiva.
The temple was constructed at the behest of Shri Narayana Guru, a spiritual leader during the early 1900s. Shri Adhyaksha Koragappa, a prosperous businessman at the time, contributed to the construction of the temple. The main idol of the temple, the Shivling, was brought by Shri Narayana Guru himself.
The temple has a gopuram structure that is typical to the temples of South India. The gopuram is decorated with idols and deities of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is one of the famous temples in Mangalore, which is situated on sprawling acres of land and has numerous mandapams and marriage halls. The white marble flooring in the temple provides a unique and beautiful experience to the visitors.
The temple celebrates a number of festivals with traditional festivities and grandeur. Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishnashtami, Nagara Panchami, Deepavali and Sri Narayana Jayanthi are all celebrated.
The Dasara celebrations is one among the most famous festivals held in the temple. This famous temple in Mangalore is known for its tableau and Sharada Procession on the 10th day of Dasara.
During Navratri, idols of the Nava Durgas are decorated and kept in the temple for public viewing. On the tenth day of the Navaratri, nava Durgas are taken out in the procession along with dance and musical tableaus. With vibrant lights and decorative banners, this festival gives Mangalore a different fervour and appearance.The beauty and grandeur of the temple is what attracts devotees to the temple.
| Distance | 2km from the heart of the city of Mangalore |
| Address | Kudroli Road, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575003 |
2. Kadri Manjunath Temple Mangalore
Among the best temples in Mangalore, the Kadri Manjunatha temple holds a special place. It is the magnificent temple of Lord Shiva or Lord Manjunatha on the Kadri hills. The temple represents early Vijayanagara architecture from the 10th and 11th centuries AD.
The temple is considered to have the oldest statue of Lord Manjunathaswamy in South India. On the pedestal there is an engraving with the date 968 A.D. (or 1068 A.D.). According to the inscription the Lokeshwara deity was set in Kadarika Vihara by King Kundavarma of the Alupa Dynasty.
The temple is believed to get its name Kadri Manjunatha where Manjunatha relates to Lord Shiva and Kadri is derived from Kadri Vihara which was a Buddhist monastery of Vajrayana cult. This temple has both Buddhist and Hindu roots.
The annual festival, Jathra Mahotsava is the most famous festival of the Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangalore. The festival starts in January on the day of Makar Sankranti and lasts for 9 days.
This festival attracts crowds from all around India and the world. Food or ‘Anna Prasadam’ is offered to the devotees during this annual festival. Also, during the festival several cultural programmes are organised in the temple premises. The Kadri Manjunath Temple is known for its exotic architecture and design.
| Distance | 5km from the heart of the city of Mangalore |
| Address | Kadri Road, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575001 |
Also Check: 10 Best Places to Visit in Mangalore
3. Venkatramana Temple Mangalore
Sri Venkatramana temple in Mangalore has considerable religious significance. This famous temple in Mangalore is located in Carstreet. Lord Sri Veera Venkatesa, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is the main deity here. It has traditionally been regarded as one of the most important temples belonging to the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (G.S.B) community.
The biggest festival that draws thousands of devotees from all over the world is the yearly Car Festival, which is observed from Magha Shudda Tadige to Ashtami.
The temple is embellished with idols, ornaments, doors, and frames made of gold and silver with generous donations from devoted followers. Everyone who visits this temple feels at peace and filled with piety.
The temple adheres to the Madhwa Vaishnava tradition professed by Sri Madhwacharya (Srimad Ananda Tirtha), which recognises Lord Vishnu as the highest Brahman and the Creator of the Universe.
The idol of Sri Moola Venkataramana Devaru was first placed at the shrine during the mid- 17th century, marking the beginning of the temple’s recorded history.
The Venkatramana temple in Mangalore is well-known for being connected to the yearly car festival, commonly referred to as Kodail Theru in local parlance. This temple festival is one of the most awaited events of the GSB community and attracts thousands of devotees from all over India and the world.
The festival typically takes place in the Hindu month of Magha, at the end of January or beginning of February.The car street festival or the chariot festival is held for a period of five days followed by a joyous festival of playing with colours or “Okkuli’.
The car festival or kodial theru is a sight to behold. The temple comes alive during this period with food being served to devotees and visitors throughout the day.
| Distance | 3km from the heart of the city of Mangalore |
| Address | Sri Venkatramana Temple, Car Street, Mangalore 575001 |
4. Kukke Subramanya Temple Mangalore
Located in Dakshina Kannada, the Kukke Subramanya temple is regarded as one of the best temples in Mangalore. The presiding deity is Karthikeya in the form of Subramanya, the Lord of Serpents.
The temple is ideally situated amidst nature with the views of mighty Kumara Parvath and Shesha Parvatha of the Western Ghat range. This holy place is a must-visit because of the grandeur of its surrounding natural environment.
According to myth, God took the form of the divine Kumara Swamy and travelled to Kumara Dhara with Lord Ganapathi to defeat the demon Tarakasura and on the occasion of Margashira Suddha Shashti, he wed Devasena (the daughter of Devendra). He was moved by Nararaju’s (‘Vasuki’) devotion who was meditating there and gave Vasuki the assurance that he would live there with Devasena as a part of the divine power.
According to a widely held belief among devotees, doing pooja at this famous temple in Mangalore will grant their requests for Santhana Bhagya, the treatment of skin conditions, and the eradication of Naga Dosha (curse of the serpent). Here, the Prasadam is the anthill’s soil. The temple is famous for religious performances or pujas like the Ashlesha Bali puja and the Sarpa Samskara. These religious practices are performed to eliminate the ‘Dosha’ or the evil eye of the Kaalasarpa and Sarpa dosha.
| Distance | 105 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Time | By car, taxi or bus it takes a minimum of 2 and a half hours to reach Subramanya Temple from Mangalore |
| Address | Sullia Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, Sulya, Karnataka 574238 |
5. Mangaladevi Temple Mangalore
The deity, Mangaladevi, inspired the naming of the city of Mangalore. The temple is devoted to the Hindu goddess Shakti, who takes the form of Mangaladevi. It is one of the temples in Mangalore which was built in the ninth century, during the reign of Kundavarman, the most popular ruler of the Alupa dynasty, in Tulu Nadu.
According to another myth the temple was constructed by Parashurama, one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars, and then extended by Kundavarman, a famous ruler of the Alupa Dynasty.
The temple was constructed by adopting Kerala style architecture, which is typical of all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala and the Western Ghat. The Vedic Brahmins execute several poojas and other rituals in this temple each day. During Navratri festival, special pujas are held in the temple. Each day of the Navratri’s nine days has a special puja. On the day of Dasara, the tenth and last day of the Navaratri festival, many worshippers gather at the temple.The Dasara festival is celebrated with great grandeur and fervour at the Mangaladevi temple. The tenth day is marked by the Rathothsava where the chariot of the Goddess is taken out on a procession and pulled in a grand chariot.
The Mangaladevi temple is a must visit temple in Mangalore. The simplicity of the temple gives a guiding feeling to devotees in the city.
| Distance | 3 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Address | Mangaladevi, Bolar, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575001 |
Also Check: 12 Amazing Mangalorean Dishes You Cannot Miss Out
6. Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple Mangalore
The Durga Parameshwari Temple situated near Kateel,is classified among the famous temples in Mangalore. The temple in Mangalore is situated on the holy banks of the river nandini and is considered as one of the holiest and most religious sites for Hindus. Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple is one of the Spiritual locations to visit in Mangalore and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and majestic hills.
The primary goddess of the temple, Goddess Durga Parmeshwari, is believed to be a self-manifesting idol that was not set up by humans.
It is said that Arunasura, the minister of demons was so powerful and he would not allow yajnas or religious sacrifices to be performed. Hurt by the actions of Arunasura, Maharishi Jabali requested Lord Brahma to send Kamadhenu to complete a ritual. However, the Lord said that he would send Nandhini her daughter instead of Kamadhenu. Nandini refused to accompany the Maharishi and as a result the Maharishi cursed Nandini that she would be mortified as a river that flowed on the Earth’s surface.
Nandini prayed to Goddess Adiparashakti to lift the curse. Hearing her request, the Goddess said that she cannot lift the curse but in due course of time she will be born from the river Nandini and be relieved from the curse. Satisfied with the answer, Nandini descended on Earth in the form of river Nandini that flowed from Kanakachala Mountain.
Meanwhile, Arunasura became more powerful on Earth and created havoc. To overcome Arunasura’s evil doings, Goddess Adi Parashakti took the form of a beautiful maiden, Mohini, to distract Arunasura who was smitten by her beauty. When he proposed to the Goddess, she refused and entered a rock. Arunasura broke the rock. This angered the Goddess who took the form of a bee and attacked Arunasura till he died.
Maharishi Jabali offered the furious Goddess tender coconut and calmed her down. Maharishi Jabali, requested her to make the place as her residing abode. Sri Adi Parashakti appeared as a Linga in the middle of the river Nandini. Thus, the mythology of the Durga Parmeshwari Temple at Kateel.
The Kateel Durga Parmeshwari temple still contains the legendary rock from which the Goddess took the form of a bee and ended the life of Arunasura.
This famous temple in Mangalore is known for its annual festivals and events. The Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple has an annual festival called Brahmakalashotsava. This festival often comes between January and February.
The Yakshagana performances by the devotees of the temple is said to be a personification of the Goddess herself.
It is one of the temples in Mangalore that offers a panoramic view, particularly during monsoon.
| Distance | 29 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Time | By car, taxi or bus it takes a minimum half hour to reach Kateel Shri Durgaparmeshwari temple from Mangalore |
| Address | SH 67, Kateel, Mangaluru, Karnataka 574148 |
7. Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple Mangalore
Located in the centre of the city is one of the famous temples in Mangalore Sri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple. It has been built for 800 years and is regarded as one of the oldest temples in Mangalore.
It is considered that Lord Ganesha is the one who frees his devotees from their problems and suffering.
Sharavu is a term that implies an arrow. Legend has it that Maharaja Veerabahu of the Tuluva region accidentally shot and killed a cow with an arrow. The monarch erected a Shivlinga, today revered as Sharabeshwara, to atone for the wrongdoing. On the southern wall of this revered temple, Sri Dhashabhuja Mahaganapathy’s celestial image with ten hands and “Siddhi Lakshmi ” on his left side is said to have manifested.
It is believed that Tipu Sultan planned to invade Managalpura and plunder the town of all its wealth. As he was resting on the ground in front of the Mahaganapathi temple, on the night before the invasion, he had a nightmare of an elephant picking him up and flinging him to the ground. He was told that the nightmare was a result of Lord Ganesha’s wrath. On hearing this tipu Sultan did not invade the town of Mangalore and in fact constructed a Ganesha temple next to his palace in Srirangapatna
The Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple shrouded in interesting legends is one of the best temples in Mangalore. The temple attracts thousands of devotees every year and is known as one of the most famous temples in mangalore.
The ideal times to visit the temple are during the yearly festival in September and the Laksha Deep Mahotsav in November. On significant festival days like Sankranthi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Dussehra, the temple is very busy. This famous temple in Mangalore is the hub of numerous cultural events like Yakshagana, Dance Drama, etc. as well as charitable and social service endeavours.
| Distance | Located in the heart of the city of Mangalore, Hampankatta |
| Address | Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple, Mangalore 575001 |
Also Check: A Detailed Guide About Linguistic Diversity in Mangalore
8. Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple Mangalore
Shri Rajarajeshwari is honoured in the Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple from the eighth century. It is another historical and famous temple in Mangalore.The biggest attraction for tourists is the idol of Sri Rajarajeshwari, which is made of a special clay with healing properties. The temple building is noteworthy for its exquisite woodwork sculptures of Hindu gods and copper plates on the roofs.
Anciently, the region where the temple is situated was referred to as ‘Pural’.
In myths the King was betrayed by his ministers, and he lost his realm in a battle. Under the direction of a wise man by the name of Saint Sumedha, he took refuge in a jungle close to where the temple is currently located. The idol of the deity is said to have been created by the King himself. He asked the Goddess to grant him the restitution of his country and offered an apology for his transgressions.
Shree Rajarajeshwari Temple is situated in the Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka State near Polali in the Kariyangala Village of Bantwal Taluk. In the centre of this village, surrounded by steep hills and expansive paddy fields, stands Shree Kshetra Polali. At a distance from the temple, on the northern side, the River Phalguni runs from the east. At the western edge of the temple’s rear, it makes a left turn and heads south.
This famous temple in mangalore was constructed with the design of a traditional South Indian temple.
Numerous ancient texts, such as the Markandeya Purana, the Ashoka inscriptions, and early travel narratives, all have mentioned this temple.
The temple organises the annual football sporting event known as Polali Chendu before the Avabritha festival. This sporting event is popular among the youth of the city of Mangalore.
| Distance | 21 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Time | By car, taxi or bus it takes less than half an hour to reach Polali Rajarajeshwari temple from Mangalore |
| Address | Polali, Bantwal Tq, Dakshina Kannada District – 574 219, Karnataka |
9. Thousand Pillar Jain Temple Mangalore
This famous temple in Mangalore, which is situated in Moodabidri, Dakshina Kannada, is also known as Saavira Kambada Basadi. It is also one of the primary Jain pilgrimage sites.
Due to the number of Jain temples found here, Moodabidri is sometimes referred to as the Jain Kashi of India. There are roughly 18 Jain Basadis in this town, one of which being the stunning Saavira Kambada Basadi. It is one of the temples in Mangalore which has approximately thousand pillars, none of which are exactly the same, and it’s the most distinctive feature of this temple
As it was built in honour of Chandraprabha tirthankara and contains his eight-foot idol, this temple also goes by the name “Chandranatha Temple”.
The then chief Devaraya Wodeyar began building the temple in the year 1430, and it took about 31 years to finish the entire structure. The temple has three floors, but the top floor is only accessible to worshippers once a year. An 8-foot-tall idol of the eighth Jain Thirthankara Chandranatha Swamy made of Panchdhatu (5 elements) can be found in the temple’s inner sanctum (5 elements).
Although there are Jain temples called basadis all over Dakshina Kannada, however these basadis are more significant and are considered to be the most ornate. Moodabidri, along with Venur and Dharmastala, is one of the prominent Jain pilgrimage sites in Dakshina Kannada.
The famous temple in Mangalore is regarded as a wonder of architecture as it is decorated and filled with intricate sculptures.The design and architecture of the temple is so intrinsic that it mesmerises the visitors.
| Distance | 34 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Time | By car, taxi or bus it takes around one hour to reach Thousand Pillar Temple In Moodabidri |
| Address | Jainpete, Moodabidri, Karnataka |
10. Karinjeshwara Temple Mangalore
Sri Karinjeshwara Temple is a famous temple in Mangalore, dedicated to Lord Shiva at Karinja, Dakshina Kannada Taluk. This temple is located in the Kodyamale Hills about 1000 feet above sea level. This is one of the best temples in Mangalore, which is located on top of a hill. The temple is known for its natural beauty and legendary history.
There are two parts to this temple, one for Lord Shiva and the other for Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha.
Hindu mythology refers to four yugas, and the Karinjeshwara temple bears witness to each one. The temple was known as “Roudra Giri” during the Krutha Yuga, “Bhima Shaila” during the Dwapara Yuga, “Gajendra Giri” during the Thirtha Yuga, and “Karinja” during the Kali Yuga. This is one of the most famous temples in Mangalore that has seen all four notable yugas.
To get to the temple, there are around 355 steps. The temple dedicated to the goddess Parvati is a bit down on the way to the Shiva temple.
One of the most significant festivals at the Sri Karinjeshwara Temple is Shivaratri. Many poojas are performed and devotees visit this temple on the day of Shivaratri. Four days are devoted to celebrating the festival.
It is said that the major Shiva temple has a history dating back a thousand years. A substantial amount of rice is offered to the Lord during the noon pooja and then placed on a rock slab in front of the Shiva temple for monkeys in honour of Sri Ramachandra, who is said to have visited this location with his younger brother Lakshman.
The temple in Mangalore is known for the monkeys that surround it. In this temple, the venerable custom of feeding monkeys still exists.The temple offers a peaceful space for devotees.
| Distance | 35 km from the city of Mangalore |
| Time | By car, taxi or bus it takes around one hour to reach Karinjeshwara temple |
| Address | Bantwal Dakshina Kannada |
Conclusion
The temples in and around Mangalore are known for their beautiful architecture and historical tales. These famous temples in Mangalore attract thousands of devotees to this coastal city every year. Religious tourism has been one of the main attractions in Mangalore. The city has gained international recognition as the location of famous temples and for hosting religious festivals. Many devotees from across the globe attend religious festivals and events organised in these temples every year.
