Hindu Temples in Udupi for a Perfect Religious Trip

Considered to be one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in South India, the Krishna Temple or the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha is quite a huge name associated with the worship of Lord Krishna. The fascinating idol of the Lord is adorned with jewels and a golden chariot. What makes the temple unique, is its worshipping pattern. The prayers and process of the whole worship take place only through a silver-plated window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki.

Devoted to Lord Shiva, this temple must be visited by all devotees before visiting the Krishna Temple.

Mookambika Temple is dedicated to Aadiprakarshakti who is believed to embody the powers of three goddesses, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Mahakali and Maha Lakshmi. The sanctum sanctorum houses a Linga represents Purusha as well as Shakti and is called the Udbhavlinga.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ananteshwar Temple is an ancient 8th century temple believed to be the oldest in the region. The temple complex also houses Chandramouleshwara and Krishna Temples. The main shrine is made of stone and has a recently installed silver door frame. A Hindu philosopher, Madhavacharya, trained and taught his disciples in the temple complex.

Anegudde Vinayak Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh, who helped Sage Agasthya kill a demon named Kumbhasura, when he was performing penance to help the draught struck village. The idol of the deity is a stunning 12-foot tall naturally found in the form of an elephant. The vibe of this religious attraction is divine and peaceful which makes it a perfect place to contemplate in silence.

Sri Brahmi Durga Parameshwari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Parameshwari who is worshipped in the form of Linga. The Linga is also believed to be the convergence of Maha Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Mahakali. The temple has an evening mangalarti, called the Salaam Mangalarti, dedicated to Tipu Sultan to commemorate his visit to the shrine.

Located on the beautiful banks of River Sita, Anantha Padmanabha Temple is a 7th century temple dedicated to Lord Anantha Padmanabha. The temple is said to be built by Krishna Hebbar after a fire destroyed most of the shrine along with the temple car. The new structure now also houses an idol of Lord Ganesha and Rudralinga.

The Kadiyali Sri Mahishamardini Temple is located in Kadiyali, Udupi, Karnataka. The prime deity of the temple is Goddess Durga, locally known as Goddess Mahishamardini. The temple is believed to be established in the 7th Century and it is over 1200 years old. The temple's main festival is celebrated from 12th to 18th April every year. This marks the start of the first day of Mesha Sankramana, the first day of the Hindu New Year. The festival is widely known as the Jatra Mahotsava. The temple is also known for celebrating various other festivals such as Nagara Panchami, Navarathri, Deepotsava and much more. It is one of the most popular temples in the state, with devotees coming from all around the country to gain the blessings of Goddess Durga.

Located in the land of Lord Krishna, the Ambalpady Mahakali Temple is situated in Ambalpady, Udupi. Ambalpady is regarded as a holy place in the state of Karnataka. A unique feature of the Temple is the Oracle, where the pilgrims believe that every Friday evening, the Goddess speaks to her pilgrims, addresses their problems and gives solutions to them. The devotees also go to the temple to be relieved of all their sins. The people also believe more in the dominance of the temple as the goddess herself came here to protect the land. The idol of Mahakali was earlier made of stone but is now made of wood. The devotees usually also visit the Sri Janardana temple that is located right beside the Mahakali temple.

One of the most ancient temples of the city, the Vishnumurthy Temples is believed to be 7-8 Centuries old. The prime deity of the temple, Lord Vishnumurthy is carved out of black stone, having four hands. Due to lack of maintenance, the temple’s architecture, which once left its devotees in awe has unfortunately deteriorated. However, the temple still sees many devotees every day. The other deities in the temple are Kuldevta, Sri Naagadevaru and Sri Raktheshwari. The Uttarayana Punyakalam, usually on the day of Makar Sankranti,  is a major festival celebrated in the temple.

Although the temple was opened in 1986, the Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha temple has had foundations dating over 120 years ago. The Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha Temple is located in Udupi, Karnataka. The entire temple is made mainly from Granite and Copper. Lord Venkateshwara is the prime deity of the temple. The 3 feet tall idol is intricately carved and beautifully sculpted. The temple Sanatorium also houses a sacred pond called the Padma Sarovar. The Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple has seen many major developments over the years that has seen hundreds of devotees coming to visit the temple. The main festivals celebrated in the temple are Navarathri, Karthik Pournami and Bhajana Sapthaha.

The Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple is located in Kallianpur, Udupi, Karnataka. Archaeologists believe the temple is over a 1000 years old, formed around 9th Century AD with Lord Shiva as its main deity. The temple houses a vast sanctum with various other deities such as Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and Nag Devta. Lord Shiva is known by various other local names such as "Paddayi Mukudu Kuldiner", "GuddeDittinaar", "Odeya", "Ullaye", "Eshwara Dever”. The temple also has a suttu pouli, bali peetha ( pedestals where food offerings are made) and dwajasthambam (flagstaff). The Mahalingeshwara Temple is widely regarded as an architectural masterpiece of its generation. Deepotsav and Maha Shivratri are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The Annual festival at Sri Brahmalingeshwara Alade is also celebrated in the month of April. The temple is open from 5.30am -1pm and 4pm - 8pm.