Mystical Temples in Mangalore for a Spiritual Getaway

This temple was built by Sri Narayana Guru for the Billava community, who were prohibited entry into any other temple in the area. The deity in this temple is Gokarnanatheshwara, Lord Shiva.

Mangaladevi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Mangaladevi, a form of Goddess Shakti or Goddess Durga. The grand temple is visited by devotees of Durga and also draws tourists visiting the city in large numbers for its ancient architecture. Goddess Mangaladevi is believed to be highly powerful and fulfils all the wishes asked with a clean soul.

Kateel Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple is one of the holiest temples in the region. The dominant feature of the temple that attracts people in large numbers is that it is situated on an islet in the middle of River Nandini amidst serene natural landscape. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari and is located at a distance of 27 kilometres from Mangalore.

Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple is a famous ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. The temple is about 800 years old and has been an important part of the religious belief system in Mangalore ever since. The name Sharavu is derived from the word 'Shara' which means arrow and has an interesting legend attached to it.

Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple is an 8th-century temple dedicated to Shri Rajarajeshwari. The most important feature that draws visitors is the idol of Sri Rajarajeshwari which is made of a type of clay that has medicinal properties. The temple architecture is worth a mention with exquisite wooden carvings of the Hindu Gods and copper plates on the roofs.

Kalikamba Temple or Sri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple houses several deities of the Indian mythology, including Goddess Kali, Lord Ganesh and Lord Vishwakarma. A large number of devotees who cater to the temple are those of the Vishwakarma Brahmana community such as goldsmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. Devotees look forward to Ugadi, which is the chief festival, celebrated most grandly with great pomp and splendour, for a period of ten or more days. Once in every 5 years, Samoohika Upanayana or Mass Thread ceremony is held for the Vishwakarma Brahmins of Kannada and Udupi districts.

Located in the heart of Mangalore city, this temple has been where it stands today for 300 years and is famous for Rathotsava or the annual car festival. The 6 days festival celebrates the sacred wedlock of Venkataramana and Padmavathi. Although the temple is dedicated to Veera Venkatesh, it is also the divine abode of Hanuman, Lakshmi, Ganapati and Garuda. The interior is marvellously adorned with woodworks that narrate the two great epics- Mahabharata and Ramayana. Most of the devotees belong to the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community. Despite stalls and eateries in the vicinity, the temple promises the most serene ambience.

Shri Nandaneshwara Devasthana Temple is a monument of historical significance. It is believed to have been constructed before the 13th Century by King Nandana Hegde, who built the temple at the insistence of his younger daughter, Sreedevi. It is 12 km away from the Udupi road and is close to the Panambur beach. Although the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, there are shrines for other deities like Ganesha, Dhoomavathi and Kodamanithayya. Out of the many festivals celebrated every year, Rathotsava or the annual car festival is the most cherished one and is celebrated with the greatest zeal.

Shri Surya Narayana Temple, which is 15 to 20 minutes away from the Mangalore city, is the divine abode of Lord Surya, the only God visible to us. The centre of the temple holds a stone structure, which is carved on all sides with numerous life forms, which is perhaps indicative of the lives that are dependent on the sun. True to its name, the premises of the temple get heaps of sunlight throughout the day. The interior has a modern touch to it with tiled roof and marble flooring. It is made more mesmerizing by spectacular wood and stone carvings.

The sacred abode of Lord Jagannath is stationed at Kudupu, a very serene place near the highway, which is 8 km away from the city of Mangalore. The shrines of Baladev and Subhadra are also present in the temple. Every Sunday classes and programs on Bhagavad Gita are held in the afternoons. People of all ages gather at the place to be enlightened spiritually and to find mental peace. Devotees from far off areas face no inconvenience as a large area is provided for parking. The prasad distributed to the people present is equally divine to one's palate.

Shri Gopalakrishna Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple is built by the Shakti Groups of Institutions and is at Shakti Nagar. A person visiting the temple has to climb 108 steps to reach the Garbha Gruha, the steps symbolizing the 108 names of Lord Krishna. The interior of the temple is spacious and has 3 different halls. They are well-maintained by devotees and trustees and ceremonies such as marriage and others often take place in them. Midday Annaprasada is distributed to everyone present. A huge parking area is provided to make things easier for commuters.

The Temple of Mariamma was built by the Mogaveera community around 800 years back. It is dedicated to Goddess Mariamma, also called the Goddess of Wealth. The temple lies 5 km away from the temple of Mangaladevi, who was believed to be the sister of Mariamma. In March every year, Mari pooja is held. During this time, the idol of Mariamma is decorated with a kg of gold. It is the most awaited time of the year because special poojas are performed and people from far and near flock to the temple to be a part of the auspicious ceremonies.

The temple dates back to the 7th or 8th Century AD. It was very popular when the area, where it stands today, was under the reign of the Chola dynasty. Historians claimed that the Pandavas were behind the creation of this magnificent structure. The Hoysala style is mirrored in the architecture of the temple. Despite a series of renovations, the beauty of the structure remains intact. Lord Shiva is the embodiment of Vamadeva, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Sadyojatha and Ishana. The most awaited festival is the Rathotsava and the Okuliyata, which is the function performed on the morrow of Rathotsava.