Karnataka is well known for its ancient temples. This state is really blessed with a lot of good temples. You can find different religious temples here. If you are planning a temple tour, then visiting Karnataka is the best choice for you. Karnataka is also in the list of best tourist place to visit in India.
Here we are going to give a list of famous temples in Karnataka.
1. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
The temple belongs to Virupaksha, an avatar of lord shiva. This is one of the most structured Hindu temples. The history of temples dates back to the 7th century. The temple was founded by Lakkan Dandesha, a chieftain under Deva Raya II. He was the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The temple has a pillared hall and courtyard. The gate of the temple is 50 meters tall and well-structured. It is made of bricks with a stone base, and it takes you to the outer court that has a small shrine. You will find the gopuram in the inner corridor of the temple. The eastern gopuram has 3 storeys, and the northern has 5 storeys. Visit the temple to know more about this interesting temple.
2. Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
The temple is situated 150 kilometres away from Mysore city. It is basically a Hindu pilgrimage that is located in the centre of Halebeedu. The temples show Hindu architecture well. The temple was built by Vishnuvardhana. The temple is the perfect showcase of the Hoysala period.
The temple is mainly dedicated to Santaleshwara and Hoysaleshwara Shivalingam. Outside of the temple, there are two Nandi standstill. Also, a sanctum is being developed for Surya dev. A lot of the temple damage while Muslim invasions in the 14th century. This temple is on the list of famous temples in Karnataka.
3. Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
The temple is situated in Hassan District of Belur and shows the Hoysala architecture well. This temple was built by Vishnuvardhana in the year 1117. An interesting fact about the temple is that it takes around 100 years to build. Most of the part of the temple keeps damaging because of wars, and it’s constantly repaired after any damage. The temple is completely dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
You can see dancing women in different postures on the wall of the mandir. The artwork on the wall is amazing, and it attracts people. The temple is 37 meters tall and contains 48 pillars. Chennakeshava Temple gives you a glimpse of the Hoysala period. You can connect with the history of the Hoysala by visiting this temple. You can visit the temple if you want to see the famous temples in Karnataka.
4. Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal
If you are keeping your eyes on famous temples in Karnataka then you must know about Mallikarjuna Temple. Located in the region of Pattadal, this temple is a must-visit. This temple has the same architecture as the Virupaksha temple. Both the temple dedicated to lord shiva.
The temple was built by Trilokyamahadevi, Vikramaditya’s second wife, in 745 AD. Nowadays, the temple is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. UNESCO also takes this temple as a world heritage site. You can see 9 different lord shiva temples in the Mallikarjuna Temple. The wall of the temple has paintings from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The temple secures its place as a famous temple in Karnataka.
5. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is situated on the river Kaveri. Basically, the landmark belongs to Sri Ranganathan, who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The site was consecrated by Tirumalaiah, a local chief. Some changes were made in the year 1210. The temple is rich in Indian architecture.
The temple has a lot of pillars that take you to the main shrine. And you will see an idol of Lord Vishnu with Adisesha Naag. Also, there is Devi Laxmi sitting at lord Vishnu’s feet. You can also see other deities that stand still around lord Vishnu.
6. Gomateshwara Temple, Shravanabelagola
Also known as the city of ponds and temples, Shravanabelagola mainly belongs to the Jains of South India. The region is known for a 58-foot idol of Gomateshwara. It is one of the largest idols in the world. According to sources, Gomateshwara is the second son of the first Tirthankara, who leaves his state to become a saint.
After every 12 years, a lot of people collect on this place to celebrate Mahamastakabhisheka. During this festival, the idol is bathed with milk, turmeric, and sandalwood powder. This Bahubali figure is built by Chavundaraya and his king. You can get a good view of the status from nearby hills. If you want to visit a famous temple in Karnataka, then consider the Gomateshwara Temple in your list.
7. Mookambika Temple, Kollur
Located in the region of Kollur, a lot of devotees come to this place. The temple has the status of Devi Mookambika, who is an avatar of Devi Durga, who killed the demon Mookasura. The place holds high spiritual value because Adi Shankaracharya installed the main idol of the temple.
Mookambika temple architecture belongs to the Keladi period. The statues of Durga have three eyes and four arms. Also in one hand, she holds a chakra, and in the other hand, she has a conch. Visit this temple to know how famous temples in Karnataka look like.
8. Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi
Udupi is known as a temple town because there are a lot of temples that belong to Lord Krishna. But the most famous temple is the Sri Krishna temple, which is also known as Udupi Krishna Matha. The temple is built by Sri Madhvacharya in the 13th century. The temple attracts a lot of people, so many people visit the temple once a year. The interesting fact about this temple is Lord Krishna idol is worshipped through a silver-plated 9-hole window.
So if you want to look at the idol of Lord Krishna, then you have to search for a window. The temple is rich in beautiful architecture. And enter place of the temple has some hanging bells. You can see a large idol of Hanuman sitting in a meditation position in Chandrashala. If you want to visit a famous temple in Karnataka, then you can go to the Sri Krishna Temple.
So that is the most famous temple in Karnataka. If you visit Karnataka then must visit these places.
