Mangalore - Kadri Manjunatha Temple

Mangalore Sri Kadri Manjunatha Temple

Temple of Manjunatheshwara which is on the hills of Kadri is a very beautiful and popular temple in Mangalore. It has been built during the 10th century (1068 A.D).   The idol of Lord Manjunathaswamy of the temple is called as the oldest of the South Indian Temples.

The scenic beauty of the Kadri hills, the presence of the pre-historic caves cut into the laterite mounds and the historical and religious importance of the Manjunatha temple lend particular enchantment to this centre. On the Kadri Hill is situated the biggest centre of the Natha Pantha (cult) in South India. The caves of Kadri hill have to be archeologically examined.

  The Kadri Manjunatha temple was built with nine water tanks nestling at the foot of the highest hill at Kadri in Mangalore. This Temple on Kadri hills is dedicated to Lord Manjunatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The idol of Lord Manjunatha is the oldest among the south Indian temples. The idol of Lord Manjunatha is made of bronze. The sub-deities in the temple here include Lord Ganesh, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Durgaparmeshwari, Lord Shasta, Vyasa Muni and Gomukha Ganpathi.

The Lakshadeepotsava is the main attraction celebrated here on which day devotees offer prayers and wait to visit Lord Shiva. On top of the hill King Kundavarma Bupendra built a mutt which came to be called Jogi Mutt. The main unique attraction of Kadri are the temples, the seven sacred ponds, Jogi Mutt and caves of Pandavas. 

How to Reach : Kadri Sri Manjunath Temple is situated 4 kms away from  Mangalore Bus Stand.There are frequent bus facility and auto rickshaws are available to reach the temple.

Kadri Shri Manjunatha Temple,

Kadri, Mangalore - 575 002.

Phone: 91-824-214176 (office)

Kumaran Kundram - Murugan Temple

The Kumaran Kundram (குமரன் குன்று) Temple is located in Chromepet, Chennai suburb. The hillock is situated between the localities Hastinapuram, Chromepet, and Chitlapakkam. On the foothill, a  separate temple dedicated to Vishnu and Hanuman. 

At the base of the hill Vinayaka, Sri Kaliswari, Idumban and navagraha shrines are there.  After few steps above is a small temple for Meenakshi-Sundareswarar with niches for Nataraja, Sarabeswarar and Chandikeswarar. Nataraja has his right foot up in the classic Cosmic dance pose.

The steps, 108 in number, are well-laid to reach top of the murugan temple. The Deity of Lord Murugan (Swaminatha Swami) in Kumaran Kundram is believed to be equivalent to the one in Swamimalai. One should not miss the panoramic view of Pallavaram and Chrompet from the temple.

கார்த்திகை தீபம் (Karthigai Deepam) in Kumaran Kundram  Captured on 2008

How To Reach : The temple is near Nehru Nagar bus stop which is between Chromepet bus terminus and Hastinapuram bus terminus. (Many Share Autos available from Chrompet bus stop , railway station)

Arulmigu Balasubrahmanyar Thirukkovil, 

Kumaran Kundram, Chromepet,  Chennai- 600 044.

+91 - 44 - 2223 5319, 93805 10587.

Check this link for more temples in and around Chennai - Temples Around Chennai

Koteshwar - Kotilingeshwar Temple

Koteshwar Sri Kotilingeshwara Temple

Koteshwar (Dhwajapura), a small town, located at a distance of around 35 kms from Udupi, Kundapur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District has an important and ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The main attraction of Koteshwara is Kotinatha or Kotilingeshwara temple. Gigantic Brahmaratha, vast Car Street and Kotitheerta, which is about 4-5 acre wide, are the speciality of the Kotilingeshwara temple.

Lord Shiva known as Kotilingeswar and is one  one of seven muktistala’s of Karnataka. 

(One of the 7 Parashurama Srishti kshetras of this region, i.e., creation of sage Parashurama, See below to see the list of 7 temples)

7 Mukti Sthalas/Parashurama Kshetras.

1.       Udupi

2.      Kollur

3.      Subrahmanya

4.      Kumbasi

5.      Koteshwara

6.      Sankaranarayana

7.      Gokarna 

The temple is built in typical Kerala type temple architecture.  The main shrine has a big idol of Shiva Linga. The Shiva Linga has face with two large eyes - a typical style how Shiva Linga is found in this region. There is a hollow inside the main shrine with a lot of small Shiva Linga idols. To view these idols, you may have to get the permission from priest to get inside the main shrine.

Legends say that it is the place where Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva as Kotilingeshwara. During the full moon, in the month of Vrischika, the annual festival is celebrated. It attracts a large number of devotees.

Nearby Temples :

Kollur Mookambika Temple is about 45 km from here.

Udupi Krishnan Temple 35 kms from koteshwar.

Sri Siddhi vinayaka Temple Kumbashi 3 km from Kundapur.

How to reach:  Koteshwar is well connected by road from Kundapur, Udupi and Mangalore.

Shri koteshwar kotilingeshwara temple, Koteshwara, Karnataka, Pin - 576222 .

Kudroli - Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

Kudroli - Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, otherwise known as Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, is in the Kudroli area of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. (which is about 3 Km away from the main city area of Hampankatta in Mangalore).  It was consecrated by Narayana Guru. It is dedicated to Gokarnanatha, a Hindu deity also known as Shiva. 

Sri Narayana Guru (A social reformer and a saint) consecrated the Shivalinga in this temple in 1912. The original temple structure was in Kerala style, which was replaced, by Chola style during the renovation in 1991. Sthapadi K. Dakshinamoorthy was the architect who designed and built the present temple in the Chola style of architecture. 

View of the temple pond

Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Kshethra is a temple with magnificient features which stands out like a heavenly abode on earth in the beautiful coastal town of Mangalore. The temple combines the modern architecture with traditional science of sculpturing. The temple has an entry porche of the elephant - Gajaraja and has an expance of 2 Lakh sq. ft. complete with marble flooring.

Address :  Shree Gokarnanatha Kshethra, Kudroli, Mangalore - 575003

Karnataka INDIA.  Phone: 91-(0) 824-2494040, 2495740

How to Reach : Although many city buses stop near the temple, the quickest mode of transportation is by auto rickshaws or taxis from mangalore bus stand.