PILGRIMAGE · UDUPI DISTRICT · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
Kollur Mookambika Temple Guide: Darshan Slots, Dress Code, Room Booking and Kodachadri
Kollur is where Adi Shankara is said to have installed the goddess Mookambika, at the foot of Kodachadri beside the Sauparnika river. This guide gives the darshan slots and ritual breaks, the dress rule, how to book the temple’s guest rooms, the Kodachadri link, and the best way to reach Kollur from Udupi, Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
The short answer
The Mookambika temple at Kollur is open from 5 am to 9 pm with short breaks at ritual times, entry is free, photography is not allowed inside, and the temple's guest house rooms are booked online only against a confirmed darshan booking. Reach by 6 am for the shortest queue, wear traditional clothes, and keep half a day free to see Kodachadri or the beaches near Kundapura.
Kollur is a small temple town in the Byndoor taluk of Udupi district, tucked against the Western Ghats at the foot of Kodachadri hill. The goddess Mookambika is worshipped here as a form of Shakti, and the temple is counted among the seven sacred Mukti Sthalas of coastal Karnataka. In front of the goddess stands a swayambhu lingam with a golden line running across it, which is visible only when light falls on it in a certain way. Tradition holds that Adi Shankaracharya installed the goddess here about 1,200 years ago, and that he composed the Soundarya Lahari in a room near the sanctum.
The legend connected to Chottanikkara in Kerala says that the goddess agreed to follow Shankara to Kerala on the condition that he would not look back. When he did, she stayed at Kollur, and she is said to appear at Chottanikkara in the morning and return to Kollur by midday. That is why the temple draws so many pilgrims from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For the coast around Kollur, read our Udupi district guide, the Udupi Krishna Matha guide and the Murudeshwar guide.
Darshan slots, pooja times and dress code
| Slot | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning darshan | 5:00 am to 7:15 am | Quietest slot |
| Morning ritual break | 7:15 am to 7:45 am | Danta Dhavana Mangala Aarti and Panchamrutha Abhishekam |
| Morning darshan | 7:45 am to 11:30 am | Busiest on weekends |
| Noon rituals | 11:30 am to 12:00 pm | Darshan paused |
| Short midday darshan | 12:00 pm to 12:20 pm | Then a short closure |
| Late morning darshan | 12:45 pm to 1:30 pm | Last slot before the afternoon break |
| Afternoon darshan | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | No sevas or rituals |
| Evening darshan with sevas | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Evening aarti around 6:30 pm |
Men wear a white dhoti with an upper cloth; shirts, vests, shorts and lungis are discouraged. Women wear any decent traditional outfit and avoid short or revealing clothes. Footwear stays outside the sanctum. Entry is free, there is no online darshan, and photography is not allowed inside the temple. The last sevarthi at 9 pm ends with a herbal decoction called kashayam, given as prasada, and the evening Pradosha Pooja is considered the most auspicious ritual of the day.
A normal darshan takes 20 to 30 minutes outside peak days. On weekends and festival days, allow 45 to 60 minutes in the line. The temple has few eateries nearby, so carry water and a snack when you go for the midday slots.
Rooms, bookings and contacts
The temple’s guest houses are the easiest place to stay. The main one, Lalithambika Guest House, is about 400 m from the shrine and has 141 rooms: 2 suites, 54 AC rooms, 8 non-AC three-bed rooms and 77 non-AC double rooms, all with attached bathrooms. Jagadambika and Yatri Nivas hall accommodation are also listed, and Yatri Nivas can host up to 20 people. All are booked on the Karnataka Temples Accommodation portal.
The rules are the same as at other temples run by the Endowments Department. You need a confirmed darshan booking whose date and time fall within your stay, one room is allowed per registered user for a maximum of two days, and bookings cannot be cancelled, postponed or refunded except when a government emergency cancels them. Check in from 9 am with the original ID used for the booking, a printed reservation and the payment receipt; without the receipt the room is not given. A caution deposit is paid in cash to the manager, children under 12 stay free, and food cannot be brought into the rooms. For help, the portal lists 08254-200200 for Kollur and 080 2670 9689 in Bengaluru.
Private lodges and small hotels cluster near the temple and in Kundapura, and they fill during Navaratri, Sankranti and school holidays, so book ahead.
Kodachadri and what else to see nearby
| Place | Distance from Kollur | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Kodachadri | About 38 km by road | Hill with the Sarvajnapeetha shrine on top; the temple sits at its foot beside the Sauparnika river |
| Someshwara Beach, Byndoor | About 30 km | Quiet beach on the coast |
| Maravanthe Beach | About 39 km | Road runs between the sea and the Souparnika river |
| Sigandur Chowdeshwari temple | About 45 km | Temple on the Sharavathi backwaters |
| Nagara Fort | About 46 km | Hill fort of the Keladi rulers |
| Jog Falls | About 88 km | See the Jog Falls guide |
Kodachadri is the natural side trip. A rough jeep track climbs from Nittur, and the summit has a small stone shrine dedicated to Adi Shankara, which tradition links with his meditation here. Kodachadri is one of the great monsoon landscapes of the Ghats, and for trails and permits see our treks in Karnataka guide. For beaches on the same route, see beaches in Karnataka, and for the Shivamogga side of the ghats see the Shivamogga district guide.
How to reach Kollur
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kundapura | About 35 km, 50 minutes | Nearest big town; taxis and buses |
| Mookambika Road (Byndoor) station | About 30 km | Nearest railway station on the Konkan line |
| Udupi | About 75 km, 2 hours | Frequent state and private buses |
| Mangaluru | About 135 km, 3 to 3.5 hours | Mangaluru airport is the nearest |
| Bengaluru | About 430 km, 8 to 9 hours | Via Shivamogga and Agumbe, or via Mangaluru; overnight KSRTC buses |
From Bengaluru, many pilgrims take an overnight bus to Kollur and arrive for the early darshan. If you are driving the coast, Kollur sits well on the route between Udupi and Murudeshwar, and the whole stretch is described in the Mangaluru to Gokarna road trip. The ghat roads need extra time in the rains; see Karnataka in monsoon.
Festivals, best time and cost
| Months | Conditions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October to March | Cool and dry | Best season; Navaratri falls in September or October |
| April to May | Hot, humid | Early morning darshan is comfortable |
| June to September | Heavy rain, very green | Slow roads; Kodachadri is at its best |
| Navaratri, Sankranti, Ratholsava | Peak festival days | Rooms book out; the Ratholsava chariot festival and Vidyarambha for children are the big draws |
Darshan is free. The figures below are our own estimate for two people driving from Bengaluru for one night, with the assumptions in the last column. See also festivals in Karnataka and the best time to visit Karnataka guide.
| Item | Estimate (Rs) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | About 7,000 | 860 km round trip, 15 km/l, Rs 100/l |
| Tolls | 1,200 to 2,000 | Estimate for Shivamogga or Mangaluru routes |
| Temple guest room | Fixed by the portal | Booked online with a confirmed darshan |
| Meals | Budget Rs 300 to 600 | Few eateries; temple meals on festival days |
Mistakes to avoid
- Turning up in a shirt, shorts or lungi. Wear traditional clothes.
- Planning a midday visit. The 11:30 am and 1:30 to 3 pm gaps are closed or limited.
- Expecting to get a room on arrival. Rooms are booked online and need a confirmed darshan.
- Forgetting the printed reservation and ID. Without the receipt, the room is not given.
- Taking a camera into the sanctum. Photography is not allowed inside.
- Combining Kollur and Kodachadri in a rush. Allow a full day for the hill.
- Driving the ghats after dark in the rain. Allow extra time.
Kollur Mookambika FAQ
What are the Kollur Mookambika temple timings?
The temple is open from 5 am to 9 pm. Darshan runs from 5 to 7:15 am, 7:45 to 11:30 am, 12 to 12:20 pm, 12:45 to 1:30 pm, 3 to 5 pm and 5 to 9 pm, with breaks for rituals.
What is the dress code at Kollur Mookambika temple?
Men wear a white dhoti and upper cloth; shirts, vests, shorts and lungis are discouraged. Women wear decent traditional clothes. Footwear stays outside.
How do I book a room at Kollur?
Book the Lalithambika, Jagadambika or Yatri Nivas rooms on the Karnataka Temples Accommodation portal. A confirmed darshan booking is required, one room per user for up to two days, and bookings cannot be cancelled.
Is there an entry fee or paid darshan at Kollur?
Entry is free. There is no online darshan, and photography is not allowed inside the temple.
How far is Kollur from Udupi, Mangaluru and Bengaluru?
About 75 km from Udupi, about 135 km from Mangaluru and about 430 km from Bengaluru. Kundapura is the nearest large town, about 35 km away.
What is the nearest railway station to Kollur?
Mookambika Road station at Byndoor, about 30 km away, on the Konkan Railway line.
Is Kodachadri close to Kollur?
Yes. Kodachadri is about 38 km by road, and the temple sits at the foot of the hill.
When is the best time to visit Kollur?
October to March is the most comfortable. Navaratri, Makara Sankranti and the Ratholsava festival are the busiest periods.
How long does a visit take?
Darshan takes 20 to 30 minutes on ordinary days and up to an hour on weekends and festivals. Add half a day if you plan to see Kodachadri or the beaches.