Famous Temples in Karnataka: Pilgrimage Guide, Timings Advice and a Temple Circuit

Famous temples in Karnataka at a glance

Coastal Karnataka temples

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha

The Krishna Matha in Udupi was established by Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school. Devotees view the deity through a silver-plated window with nine small openings, called the Navagraha Kitiki. The temple is also the origin of the traditional Udupi style of vegetarian cooking. For more about the town, see the Udupi guide.

Kollur Mookambika Temple

Set at the foot of the Kodachadri hills, the Mookambika temple is among the most important Shakti shrines in South India. It is busiest during Navaratri and on weekends. You can combine it with the coastal drive using our coastal road trip guide.

Murudeshwar

A tall gopura and a very large Shiva statue overlook the Arabian Sea at Murudeshwar. The setting makes it one of the most photographed temples in the state.

Gokarna Mahabaleshwar

According to legend, Ravana brought the Atmalinga to Gokarna, where it was installed at the Mahabaleshwar temple. It is also one of Karnataka’s great pilgrimage towns. Read the Gokarna beaches guide if you plan to add the beach.

Western Ghats temples

Dharmasthala

The Sri Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala is known for its service tradition, with free meals offered to visitors every day, and for its administration by a Jain family while the priests are Hindu. It is one of the busiest pilgrimage sites in the state. Plan your visit for weekdays to avoid long queues.

Kukke Subramanya

The Subramanya temple stands beside the Kumaradhara river and is famous for serpent worship rituals. The Kumara Parvatha trek starts here. See the Kumara Parvatha trek guide.

Sringeri

Sringeri is the seat of the first matha established by Adi Shankaracharya. The Vidyashankara temple, with its zodiac pillars, and the Sharadamba temple on the Tunga river are the main attractions. The town is calm and well organised.

Horanadu Annapoorneshwari

Set among forested hills and coffee estates, the Annapoorneshwari temple at Horanadu is known for the free meals it offers to visitors. It is a peaceful place and pairs well with a Chikkamagaluru trip. See the Chikkamagaluru guide.

Heritage temples

• Virupaksha Temple, Hampi: A living temple from the Vijayanagara period. See Hampi 2-day itinerary.
• Chennakeshava and Hoysaleswara: Belur and Halebidu, UNESCO-listed. See the Hoysala temples guide.
• Pattadakal and Aihole: Chalukya temples. See the Chalukya heritage guide.
• Ranganathaswamy, Srirangapatna: A large Vishnu temple on a Cauvery island.
• Shravanabelagola: A Jain pilgrimage site. See the Shravanabelagola guide.

Temples in the Mysuru region

• Chamundeshwari Temple: On Chamundi Hills above Mysuru, associated with the Dasara festival. See Mysore Dasara 2026.
• Nanjundeshwara Temple, Nanjangud: A large Shiva temple on the Kapila river.
• Biligiriranga Swamy Temple: On the BR Hills ridge in a tiger reserve landscape.
• Talakadu: A town where the Cauvery buried a historic temple complex under sand, with special darshan periods held at intervals.

A suggested temple circuit

This route links the Western Ghats and coastal pilgrim towns in a single trip from Mangaluru.

• Day 1: Mangaluru to Dharmasthala, then to Kukke Subramanya.
• Day 2: Kukke Subramanya to Sringeri.
• Day 3: Sringeri to Horanadu, then drive to Udupi or the coast.
• Day 4: Udupi Krishna Matha, then Kollur and Murudeshwar.
• Day 5: Gokarna.

Allow extra time for queues, and expect winding ghat roads between the hill temples. For more on the area, see the Mangaluru guide and the Uttara Kannada guide.

Temple visiting etiquette and tips

• Dress modestly. Some temples require traditional attire, and some ask men to remove shirts at the inner sanctum.
• Remove your footwear. Use shoe racks provided by the temple.
• Check photography rules. Many sanctums prohibit photos.
• Visit early. Mornings are less crowded.
• Respect queues. Special darshan tickets, where offered, are available at the counter.
• Follow temple rules on food. Prasada and meals are served in designated halls.

Best time to visit Karnataka temples

October to March is the most comfortable for travelling. Festivals such as Navaratri, Maha Shivaratri and Karthika Masa draw large crowds, so book accommodation early. See our festivals in Karnataka calendar and the best time to visit Karnataka.

Frequently asked questions