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Sasidhar Darla

Top Travel Bloggers in India 2022 (UPDATED) – Top Travel Blogs

June 30, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 33 Comments Filed Under: Blog

We started Top Travel Bloggers in India as an informational list, but it turned out to be inspirational as we got to know more about each of these amazing India Travel Bloggers. The individuals interviewed here have diverse backgrounds – some of them left their corporate jobs to pursue travel full-time, some of them found meaning to their lives through travel and some of them started blogging to inspire others to travel more.

However, there is one thing common among these bloggers – They love India and they glorify our country with their inspirational travelogues! Get Inspired from these blogger stories, connect with them and above all START TRAVELING! You never know who you will meet on your next journey!

Note: This is by no means a comprehensive list. We might have missed some amazing India travel bloggers. Please contact us If you think that you should be featured on this list.

Top Travel Bloggers in India in 2022

1. Sharell Cook – TripSavvy

Sharell Cook

Blog: TripSavvy India

What is it about: 

It’s an informational website, an online travel guide, about what to see and do in India, where to stay, and other travel tips.

Author Bio:

Sharell was born and raised in Australia and first visited India in 2000. She came back again in 2002, and again in 2005 to do some community work in Kolkata. After that, she never permanently left! She fell in love with an Indian guy and eventually married him. A friend of hers also offered Sharell a job looking after her guest house in Varkala, Kerala for a season — and that’s what made her decide to quit her job in Australia and move to India. She has lived in Mumbai since 2008. So far she has visited most states in India, but there will always be many more amazing destinations remaining.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Sharell was very keen for a career change (She previously worked as an accountant) and after spending substantial time traveling around India, she realized that she wanted to write. In particular, she wanted to write about India’s travel because it’s what really inspired her and made her feel so alive. India is such a diverse and fascinating country, with so many treasures, and she wanted to share them with the world. She started out by writing India travel articles for an article library website and then not long after, she joined About.com in her current role, which is writing and managing all the content for their India travel website. When Sharell started working for About.com six years ago, the website had zero content and zero readers. So, she had to create it all from scratch, and she has gradually built it up to be what it is today. She feels so blessed to have discovered her passion, and that it is now her job.

Sharell certainly finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

2. Ajay Jain – Kunzum

Ajay Jain

Blog: Kunzum

What is it about:

We travel. What do you do? This sums up the spirit at Kunzum, where traveling is a way of life. Enabling them to bring stories in the form of blog posts, paper and electronic books, photos and videos.

Author Bio:

Ajay Jain is a writer and a photographer, focused mainly on travel. He has authored eight paperback books and over 40 e-books.

Inspiration to start blogging:

Having worked for newspapers and magazines, Ajay realized that their formats and agendas were very limiting. And traditional content is not available to readers when they want it, in a form they prefer. Nor did it allow interactivity with the author. Blogging addressed all these issues – and allowed him to define his own templates and editorial plans.

3. Arun Bhat – PaintedStork

Arun Bhat

Blog: India Travel & Photography Blog

What is it about: 

India Travel & Photography Blog is a regularly updated collection of stories and visuals of places and people across India and nearby countries. Updated by professional travel photographer and writer, this blog is now on its tenth year and has reported stories from every corner of the country.

Author Bio:

Arun Bhat is a photographer and travel writer based in Bangalore. He spends much of his time traveling through the country, documenting its riches with his writing and images. He is also a founder at Darter Photography, which nurtures photography enthusiasts through tours and workshops.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

India Travel & Photography Blog first began as a space to document my journeys, which had then just started becoming frequent (in 2005). The response and the involvement of the audience were surprising as well as encouraging, which allowed me to convert the space from a personal journal of journeys to a meticulously maintained travel blog.

4. Mridula Dwivedi – TravelTales

Mridula Dwivedi

Blog: Travel Tales from India

What is it about: 

As the name suggests the blog is about Mridula’s travels both within India and abroad.

Author Bio:

Mridula loves to trek and travel, in that order. In her day job, she is a professor in a private college in Gurgaon. She did her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Her sister and her brother-in-law started blogging before her, and they did not give her any peace till she too got a blog!

Mridula finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

5. Mariellen Ward – BreatheDreamGo

Mariellen Ward

Blog: BreatheDreamGo

What is it about: 

Breathedreamgo is a travel blog about “meaningful adventure travel”. It is inspired by founder Mariellen Ward’s extensive travels in India over the past nine years. Though Canadian by birth, Mariellen considers India to be the culture of her soul. On Breathedreamgo, Mariellen shares tales of travel and transformation, photos, videos and tips and advice on traveling, blogging, and writing.

Author Bio:

Mariellen Ward is a professional travel writer, blogger, editor and content and social media marketing expert based in Toronto (and sometimes Delhi). BreatheDreamGo, her award-winning travel blog about “meaningful adventure travel” is inspired by her extensive travels in India. She writes for many print and online sites; self-published a book of travel stories, Song of India; co-founded the Toronto Travel Massive and the Delhi Travel Massive; and started the WeGoSolo online community for female solo travelers. Mariellen is a Kensington Tours Explorer-in-Residence and the recipient of an Explorer’s Grant, which she will use to trace the life of Mirabai in north India in October 2014.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

About a dozen years ago, she was trying to recover from grief and depression, and she threw herself into yoga. While studying yoga, she suddenly felt compelled to go to India. She planned, saved, packed up and left Toronto for Delhi on December 5, 2005, for a six-month trip. She kept a travel blog during the entire trip, and that was how it all started: her passion for travel writing, blogging, and India. Since then, her casual blog for friends and family only has morphed into a professional level blog — She launched Breathedreamgo on Ganesh Chaturthi, August 23, 2009 — and she has been back to India about six times. Now, she is “following her bliss” and doing what she loves fulltime – Travelling in India, writing, studying yoga and spirituality and engaging online with like-minded souls.

6. Sankara Subramanian – BeOnTheRoad

Sankara Subramanian

Blog: Be on the Road

What is it about: 

Travel Blog of an Indian Globetrotter who indulges in Adventure Travel, Wildlife Holidays, Unique Cultures, Backpacking, Budget Travel, and Vegetarian Food.

Author Bio:

Sankara is a traveler at heart who left his white collared corporate IT job to explore the world and make a career in blogging.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Sankara never had an inkling of an idea that he would start a blog, but a lot of his friends and family were keen to know more about his travel stories and thus began his travel blog. Hence, his inspiration has been his family and friends.

Shankara certainly finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

7. Shivya Nath – ShootingStar

Shivya Nath

Blog: Shooting Star

What is it about: 

The Shooting Star is the home of all Shivya’s travels, and she hopes to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and discover the world.

Author Bio:

Shivya quit her corporate job in 2011, at age 23, and decided to travel the world. She has lived with the White Thai tribe in a remote Vietnamese village, hitch-hiked along Turkey’s Black Sea coast, swum with black-tip sharks on Malaysia’s east coast, spent a night in the highest inhabited village of the Himalayas, and fallen in love with so many people and places.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Shivya grew up in a protective Indian family in Dehradun, a small town at the base of the Himalayas, and spent her childhood wondering what lay beyond the mountains she could see from her roof. Upon finishing high school, she went to Singapore to study, with big dreams and a big student loan. As luck would have it, she graduated in the middle of the financial recession of 2009, when most companies she wanted to work with had ceased their hiring. She landed a job with the Singapore Tourism Board, where she learned everything she knew about social media and started following the journey of travel bloggers across the world.

It was impossible to tame her restless cubicle-bound soul, so in 2011, she took a 2-month sabbatical from work. She went flash-packing across Western Europe with a friend and volunteer-traveled in the high Himalayas of India. In those two months, she saw, experienced and lived more than she ever had before, and decided to quit her first and only corporate job with the dream of traveling the world on her own terms.

8. Siddhartha Joshi – SidTheWanderer

Sid joshi

Blog: The Wanderer

What is it about: 

The Wanderer is a Travel and Living blog from India, though it’s not bound by any boundaries. It’s a space to share stories to inspire and provide practical tips on traveling across the globe.

Author Bio:

Siddhartha is a designer, traveler, and travel blogger who loves people more than anything else. He derives his passion for interacting with the people for whom he designs the products as well as from the people he meets with during his travels.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

It was Siddhartha’s inherent desire to share what he had learned through traveling with the world and also to inspire others to travel and explore the world more. He truly believes that only traveling can break barriers and make us more tolerant and accepting of our differences. He hopes that sometime in his lifetime, there would be a world without visas and boundaries and perhaps travel blogging can help in that.

Siddhartha is one of the Top Travel Bloggers in India.

9. Arti S – MyYatraDiary

Arti S

Blog: My Yatra Diary

What is it about: 

Arti’s blog is focused primarily on her yatras and chronicles her travel experiences that cover an array of articles right from where she stayed, what she ate, the places she visited, the people she met, etc, It is almost like embarking on the same journey again! Her main aim is to help people plan their trips better. In addition to all the information, she also makes sure to supplement the posts with a lot of pictures in an endeavor to inspire more and more people to pack their bags, set out and travel.

Author Bio:

Arti is a 20 something girl with an inherited travel gene, thanks to her beautiful wanderlust parents. She is on the pilgrimage of her life, learning different values, discovering new cultures, breathing life into experiences, talking to wonderful people, walking the roads and above all, trying to find the right direction for herself.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

The inspiration came to her from the yatras she took with her family. Whenever they made any travel plans, she would find it difficult to get the relevant first-hand customer experience details on hotels and food on the web. Google would throw up loads of links but what was missing were first-hand user reviews and even if they existed, they were few and far between. She had the names and the tariffs but what she wanted were the photographs and personal evaluation from credible sources that would help her decide if she really wanted to stay in that hotel. Absence of that information inspired her to fill a gap that possibly existed and this is what paved the way for the creation of ‘My Yatra Diary’.

However, since then, it’s gone on to become something more and is now helping her grow in her personal journey as well.

10. Ruchika Vyas – TravellerStories

Ruchika Vyas

Blog: Traveller Stories

What is it about: 

Converting strangers into friends, uncovering lesser-known places, trying something scary, breaking the rules and simply saying “Forget it, let’s go, we’ll see what happens.”—that for Ruchika is what traveling is all about, and that is what the blog reflects. Traveller Stories is a platform to share tips and anecdotes about destinations, information that is useful for readers, and updates on ‘happenings’ of the travel world.

Author Bio:

Ruchika has been a writer and editor for eight years, owner of a chocolatier for two years, a TV show addict for six years, and a happy traveler since the day she hopped into the general compartment of the Kanyakumari Express on a RAC ticket. Her work has been published in Conde Nast Traveller.in, Mumbai Mirror, CNNGo.com, and Femina. She is also one of the contributing writers of Outlook Traveller Getaways’ book – Driving Holidays Across India.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

When Ruchika first began traveling, most of her friends were very surprised because she wasn’t one of those people who had always harbored the desire to explore the world. It literally just happened one fine day. When she returned from her first solo trip, she was bombarded with questions about traveling alone, about the destination she visited and, of course, photographs. She simply wanted to collate all her travel experiences on one platform to be able to share them with anyone who was interested in traveling. And so, Traveller Stories began.

Ruchika certainly finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

11. Shrinidhi Hande – eNidhi

Shrinidhi Hande

Blog: eNidhi India

What is it about: 

A personal blog by Shrinidhi Hande, focusing on travel, automobiles & reviews.

Author Bio:

Shrinidhi Hande is a full time IT professional and has been blogging since 2006. He enjoys travel, long drives, chess, reading and photography.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Earlier Shrinidhi used to send articles to print media. It used to take a long time to get published, if at all. The blog was an instant medium with better reach, quicker feedback, and more freedom.

12. JD Viharini – EnjoyingIndia

Viharini Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Enjoying India

What is it about: 

Insights, tips, photos and news to enrich your experience of India.

Author Bio:

Viharini is a single woman who has lived and traveled alone extensively in India. She was born in California but has spent more than two-thirds of her life in other states and other countries. Having earned an MS in Vedic Studies in Europe, she came to India in 1980 and loved it immediately. Now she has been living in India for several years.

Although Viharini has an apartment in a remote village high in the Himalayas that’s her home base, she tends to move around India with the seasons. Over the years, she has traveled around India first-class, sardine class, and everything in between. She has made many friends and has come to regard India as her home.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

When Viharini launched her book, Enjoying India: The Essential Handbook, she felt that she needed to start a blog to go along with it. Her whole thing is helping people enjoy their time in India, and blogging is just another way to do it.

Viharini finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

13. Srinivas Kulkarni – TravelTales

Srinivas Kulkarni

Blog: Travel Tales

What is it about: 

To traverse beyond the limitations of his mind, Srini travels to look upon the journey within himself. His blog is the place to share that journey with you. He writes mostly stories about people, places and the journey that he encounters. The Himalayas are a place which is close to his heart and he has been going there for 5 years and has made it a ritual to go every year. You’ll find a lot of blogs from the Himalayan region on his website.

Author Bio:

Srini is a Wandering Thinker, Pondering Writer, and an Avid Traveler. He has traveled to various parts of India and writes interesting stories of people and places that he experiences. He aspires to be a travel author one day and hopes to write a magnanimous journey of his sojourns across the world!

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Srini has always enjoyed writing! It has been his first love. Back in 2006, he had this thought of becoming a better writer, but to do that, he believed that it was important to broaden his horizons. To be well-traveled is to be well-read! And that’s when he decided to take up traveling and slowly and steadily started working towards taking as many trips as he could and write about them. His goal is to travel the world and weave stories about his sojourns to leave a legacy behind when he is gone.

14. Sudha Ganapathi – Sudhagee

Sudha Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Sudhagee

What is it about: 

My Favourite Thingsreflects Sudha’s multiple interests in travel & photography, books, music, Mumbai, and much more. It is a blog on topics that matter to her, on topics that interest her, and on topics that she wants to contribute her two cents to.

Author Bio:

Sudha is one of the founders of #TSBC (The Sunday Book Club), an armchair and actual traveler, an editor, a communications consultant, a click-happy photographer, classical music (Indian, Western and Arabic) lover, a mythology enthusiast, a closet graphic designer, a foodie… She is all that, this and more!

Inspiration to start blogging: 

It was sheer boredom that made her start blogging. Sudha certainly finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

15. Prasad Np – desiTraveler

Prasad Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: desi Traveler

What is it about: 

A family travel blog from India with stories and pictures about destinations that desi families love visiting together like beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, pilgrimages, etc.

Author Bio:

Prasad is a corporate executive who has worked at C level for more than a decade in Fortune 100 companies, managing the India Operations. He now invests in Start-ups and advises them on strategy. He would love to travel more than he does currently.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

India.

16. Puru Ekta – ShadowsGalore

Puru Ekta Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Shadows Galore

What is it about: 

Shadows Galore is a weblog, where Puru and Ekta share their travel experiences, photographs, lifestyle ideas, memoirs and more.

Author Bio:

Puru and Ekta are IT professionals based in Pune. They love traveling to new destinations in their free time. Apart from travel, Puru loves photography and blogging while Ekta enjoys planning their trips and adventure sports.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Shadows Galore started as a photo-blog on Blogspot to fulfill the requirements of a photography competition sometime back in 2010. As they were traveling to a lot of interesting places during their college days, they decided to record their experiences in the form of a blog.

Puru and Ekta find a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

17. Dheeraj Sharma – DevilOnWheels

Dheeraj Sharma Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Devil on Wheels

What is it about: 

It’s all simply about Traveling to the Himalayas and you can expect travel updates, news, experiences, pictures, learning, thoughts, tips, guides, routes, maps, suggestions, reviews, etc.. all under one place. That is what is DoW (Travel, Off The Road…..).

It is an effort to create a travel community of likeminded people dedicated to the Himalayas. They share practical and insightful travel information related to the Himalayas that may help others to enjoy what nature offers us but with ease and with a difference and in turn giving the actual benefit back to the Himalayan Lives by their Responsible Travel Initiatives such as DoW Causes, Drivers Portfolios, etc.

Author Bio:

Dheeraj Sharma is an avid Traveler, a rookie shutterbug, a die-hard Leh – Ladakh lover, with a strong passion for driving whilst exploring new places & sharing those experiences with fellow Travelers. Lately, he found that using your passion to dive into the unknown and testing your limits of soul and body really boosts your individuality. Since then he never looked back. He loves to capture the beauty of nature in his camera or simply say “Nature/Landscape Photography”. Frequently, he gets on his wheels to hunt this unsatisfied hunger of capturing & learning from the endless things which nature offers us.

Before he dies, he would love to summit at least 5 peaks starting from 5000-7500 Meters or maybe more if god, luck and physical fitness allow him to do so. Just as everything starts with a cause, so do this whole chapter of Traveling in his life.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

For Dheeraj, Travel is a Reason to Believe, Smile, Love, Learn, Connect and Feel ALIVE!!

Down, out, alone and almost surrendered to the most difficult phase of his life, he suddenly thought of pursuing his passion of driving and traveling to re-start his life again, take it a step further and explore if nature has the magic to can save him and turn him into the person he once was as a child. The Himalayas always had a history of being associated with peace and calmness, so he decided to have a treatment called “Nirvana @ Himalayas”. He went out into the wild to find out answers to many disturbing questions which haunted him every moment, top of the list being “Me or Devil??” The answer lies in his transformation as a person after traveling over the last four years which allowed him to look @ LIFE so beautifully, making fun of every moment without considering the days passed or the days ahead. There is only one Life and now he feels that it should be ALIVE and AWESOME, always.

Dheeraj is one of the Top Travel Bloggers in India.

18. Lakshmi Sharath – TravelWithLakshmi

Lakshmi Sharath Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Travel Blog of an Indian Backpacker

What is it about: 

A travel blog of an Indian Backpacker.

Author Bio:

Lakshmi is a media professional, a traveler, travel writer, blogger, and photographer. After 15 years of sitting beside a desk in several media organizations, she decided to travel and see the world. She has covered five continents and been to over 25 countries and her passion lies in exploring the nooks of India as well.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Lakshmi’s mother always used to say that as a child she used to run around like as if she had wheels on her feet. Eventually, the desire to step outside her comfort zone, to meet people and lose herself in different landscapes – both culturally and naturally, is what got her to travel. She started blogging to share her experiences and to meet like-minded people. She was in a corporate job when she first started blogging but eventually, she got so addicted to the same, that she quit her media career of 12 years to blog and travel.

19. Anuradha Shankar – AWanderingMind

Anuradha Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: A Wandering Mind

What is it about: 

A Wandering Mind is mainly about Anuradha’s travels, but as the name suggests, she wanders every now and then to other topics too, such as her son and the happenings around her.

Author Bio:

Anuradha was one of those who was very sure what she wanted to be – a scientist. The road seemed clear ahead as she completed her Master’s degree in Physics and enrolled for a Ph.D. That is when life took one of its sudden turns, and she found herself abandoning her choice of career and looking for something to keep her occupied.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

While Anuradha was still exploring her options, she got married, and re-discovered the joys of traveling, especially since her husband loved getting out of the city as much as she did! Soon, however, came the joys (and travails) of motherhood, and life took another turn as she found that everything for her now revolved around her son. Being the kind of person who cannot stay put in one place for too long, she was keen on doing something which would help her express herself, and that is when her sister-in-law suggested that she write a blog. She was skeptical about it at first, but once she got on to the bandwagon, she was hooked!

Anuradha certainly finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

20. Anuradha Goyal – IndiTales

Anuradha Goyal

Blog: Indi Tales

What is it about: 

This blog is about sharing Anu’s travel stories with a hope to hear back many more.

Author Bio:

Anuradha Goyal is the author of  ‘The Mouse Charmers – Digital Pioneers of India’ and India’s leading travel and book blogger.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

An instinct to experiment with the just-launched medium that blogs were when she started way back in 2004.

21. Niranjan Das – TalesOfANomad

Niranjan Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: Tales of a Nomad

What is it about: 

‘Tales of a Nomad’ is a travel blog where Niranjan pens down his travel experiences. It has articles about places traversed, blissful roads are taken, interactions with strangers, exhilarating adventures and frames captured.

Author Bio:

Niranjan is passionate about travel, be it long bike rides or treacherous trekking or leisure holidaying or backpacking through the countryside or an engrossing train journey. He dreams of setting foot on every single country on planet earth, meeting adorable strangers and learning about new cultures.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Tales of a Nomad started off as a personal blog where Niranjan could pen down his travel memories. Now, this blog has become his travel diary where he writes almost every day, to inspire people to travel to all the lovely destinations out there. The inspiration to start a travel blog is undoubtedly traveling itself.

Niranjan finds a place in the list of Top Travel Bloggers in India.

22. Rachel Jones – HippeInHeels

Rachel Jones

Blog: Hippie in Heels

What is it about: 

Hippie in Heels is the go-to website for showcasing India’s fun side. With a focus on glamorous travel without spending a fortune, this is the site to find luxury guides, boutique hotels, fabulous meals, packing tips, and local designers- all while balancing the beautiful chaos of India. Rachel gives tips to females who are nervous to come and eases fears. Rachel tells about the secret trendy places in the other 24 countries she’s been to. In under a year, Hippie in Heels has taken off as a travel blog inspiring people to come to India and make people laugh with her Friday story series, “This is India!”

Author Bio:

Living in Goa year-round for two years, Rachel is an expert on travel within the state and has really dove into the culture of India as a whole.  After years of international travel from Africa to Europe, she left nursing to follow her dreams of living abroad after finally falling in love with Goa, and has since become a Thai masseuse in India. Knowing she’ll be in India a while, other than her blog, Hippie in Heels, she’s learning Hindi, loving the monsoons, studying yoga, traveling the world (especially India), and starting a small candle company.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

Rachel was inspired to start blogging when she realized that she couldn’t keep up with all the random people’s facebook messaging and e-mailing her for advice. Friends urged her to share her knowledge of India to a wider audience. Knowing she was a contradiction: hippie at heart, but the girly girl on the outside- Hippie in Heels was born.

23. Ankita Sinha – AnkiOnTheMove

Ankita Top Travel Bloggers in India

Blog: AnkiOnTheMove

What is it about: 

Standing on the core foundation of Places, People, Adventure, Travel, and Style; Ankionthemove is a two and a half-year-old Blog where ‘India and Abroad’ are brought to the virtual world of travel enthusiasts with much love in the form of Self-descriptive 3-5 minute Travel Videos and Conversational Write-ups. The blog also contains information on the upcoming Adventure Sports scenario in the country and takes you to ‘behind the scenes’ about people who conduct them. Added to that are the various Travel Meetups, Colorful Events, Style While Travel and glimpses from her own personal life. Featured in Fox Traveller, Deccan Chronicle, Elle, 104.8 FM, and many others, this blog surely takes you to a fulfilled ride across 13 Countries, 24 states, 15 Adventure Sports and 115 Travel videos.

Author Bio:

Quitting her previous Software Experience of 5 years wasn’t a decision. It was a choice of passion for routine. Since then, the jobs changed to being a Marketing Professional in an Adventure Firm to now a Marketing Professional in Skyriders which conducts Skydiving in India. It is through her job, that she collects the insights on how Adventure has evolved over the years. The need to bridge the gap of not knowing where to find Adventure Sports is what makes both the job and the purpose worthwhile.

Inspiration to start blogging: 

The great satisfaction of being helpful to people who might dream of traveling but for some reason couldn’t is what made Ankita start a blog. It started off really small with capturing the essence of Bangalore, and capturing it in a way which is not just a random read, but a purpose which both her and her readers mutually share – a blog with a soul and a heart and plenty of information and experience as well as travel videos to simply “believe, plan, make and happen travel & sports”

Ankita is one of the Top Travel Bloggers in India.

For the viewers – Do you love traveling? Do you have an inspirational travel story to share with us? Please share it in the comments section

Sabarimala Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

August 18, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 22 Comments Filed Under: Kerala Temples Tagged With: Other Temples

Dharmasastha Sabarimala Temple located at Sabarimala in the Pattanamthittu district of Kerala. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sastha, popularly known as Lord Ayyapan. The Sabarimala Temple is located at the peak of a hilltop named Sabarimala at an altitude of 1535 feet. The temple complex is surrounded by dense forests which have been converted into the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The forest is locally known as Poomkavanam.

Here are the opening and closing dates for Sabarimala Temple for 2019 – 2020.

Sabarimala Temple – Facts

DeityLord Ayyappa (Lord Dharmasastha)
LocationPattanamthittu, Kerala
Entry FeeGeneral Darshan: Free
Darshan
Timings
4:00 AM to 11:00 PM
PoojasPadi Pooja, Neyyabhishekam, Harivarasanam
Best Time
to Visit
November to January
FestivalsVishu, Makara Jyothi
Sabarimala Temple Video

In Hinduism, Lord Dharmasastha is also popularly known as Manikandan and Ayyapan. He is the son of Harihara, often called as Hariharaputra. Hari refers to Lord Vishnu and Hara refers to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Dharmasastha was born out of the union of Mohini (an avatar of Vishnu) and Lord Shiva. He holds the combined powers of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lord Ayyapan is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Dharmasastha and a visual representation of the unity of Shiva and Vishnu.

The Sabarimala Temple can be visited by only men. Devotees who wish to get Lord Ayyapan’s blessings must fast for 41 days. They wear a black or blue dress, do not shave and smear Vibhuti or Chandan on their forehead. They wear a Rudraksha or Tulasi mala as a sign of fasting.  The devotees are required to abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco, sexual intercourse, foul language, shaving, haircut, and nail trimming.

The Sabarimala Temple is also a fine example of the integration of the Buddhist religious beliefs with the Hindu system of worship. Historically, it is believed that a Buddhist shrine existed in the vicinity where the present temple is situated. The temple was dedicated to the Buddhist God Avalokitesvara, an avatar of Bodhisattva.

Where is Sabarimala Temple

What are the timings of the Sabarimala Temple?

The Sabarimala Temple opens at 4:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening poojas. The temple remains closed from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM.

The timings of the Sabarimala Temple are:

RitualTiming
Darshan Starts4:00 AM
Nirmalya Darshanam4:05 AM
Ganapati Homam4:15 AM
Usha Pooja (Morning Pooja)7:30 AM
Ucha Pooja (Noon Pooja)1:00 PM
Deeparadhana (Evening Pooja)6:30 PM
Athazha Pooja (Night Pooja)10:30 PM
Temple Closes11:00 PM

The temple is open to male devotees during the days of Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranthi), and Vishu. The temple also remains open on the first five days as per the Malayalam calendar.

What are the poojas and rituals at Sabarimala Temple?

Sabarimala Temple Padi Pooja
  • Neyyabhishekam: The Abhishekam is considered as the best way to do service for God. Pilgrims bring Ghee inside a coconut from their homes. For the pilgrims coming from outside, the temple makes arrangements for the seva. These coconuts are then opened and the deity is bathed with the Ghee. It is believed that the Ghee symbolizes the human soul and by pouring it over the God, one merges himself with the Paramatma.
  • Ashtabhishekam: This Abhishekam is one of the popular Abhishekam performed on request of the devotees. The eight items used for the Abhishekam are Vibhuti, Milk, Honey, Panchamrutam, Tender Coconut water, Sandalwood paste (Chandan), Rosewater and Water.
  • Ayyappachakram: The Ayyappa Chakram can be obtained at the temple counter and this is presented at the feet of the Lord to receive his blessings.
  • Ganapathy Homam: The Homam can be done at the Temple dedicated to Lord Ganapathi. This Homam should be performed at the beginning of any ventures in life, whether personal or professional.
  • Kalabhabhishekam: The Kalabhabhishekam is performed for strengthening the intelligence and consciousness of the devotee. The special pooja is performed with great reverence and dedication.
  • Laksharchana: The names of the Lord are repeated in the form of a mantra 1 lakh times. The names are repeated in a group.
  • Nithya Pooja: All the poojas of the day are performed for the Lord on behalf of the devotee.
  • Padi Pooja: This unique and grand pooja is performed for the holy 18 steps of the temple sanctum. Each step represents a facet of life and is worshipped separately. It is believed that one attains spiritual enlightenment after performing the pooja and is relieved of all curses and evil effects in his life. The booking for the pooja must be done online or much before in advance.
  • Sahasrakalasam: The ritual involves offering 1000 pots (gold. silver and brass) of holy water to the Lord. The pooja is performed for the general happiness of mankind.
  • Udayasthamana Pooja: This unique pooja is a ritual where 15 special poojas are performed throughout the day (Udaya for Sunrise and Astha for Sunset) for the deity in the name of the devotee. The rituals begin at dawn and proceeds in succession till dusk after which the devotee and other attendees are given prasadam of the pooja.
  • Harivarasanam: The most popular devotional song dedicated to Lord Ayyapan is the famous composition Harivarasanam written by Srinivasa Iyer. It is a lullaby for the Lord and is sung in front of the main shrine after the night pooja every day. The composition is written in Sanskrit and is 8 stanzas long with 352 letters

What is the significance of the Sabarimala Temple?

Sabarimala Temple Ayyapa Swamy

The idol of the presiding deity is made of the special Panchaloha element. The Panchaloha is traditionally an alloy of five metals. The composition of the alloy was kept as a secret for several centuries and is often mentioned in the Shilpa Shastras. The metals involved were later found out to be a mix of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Lead. It is believed that worshipping idols made of the Panchaloha material imparts balance, self-confidence, health, fortune and peace of mind.

The 18 steps that one has to climb to reach the main sanctum are extremely sacred to the devotees. They have been mentioned in several religious texts and several songs and bhajans have been composed about them. Several versions are present regarding the importance of the 18 steps. According to a popular belief, the first five steps represent the five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin), the next eight represent the Ragas (Tatwa, Kama, Krodha, Moha, Lobha, Madha, Matsraya, and Ahamkara), the next three represent the Gunas (Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas) and the last two, Vidya and Avidya. It is believed that anyone who climbs these steps achieves self-realisation. Some also believe that the 18 steps denote the number of weapons with which the Lord annihilated Mahishi and some believe that each step represents each Purana.

It is believed that on the day of Makara Vilakku, Lord Dharmasastha stops his penance to bless the devotees visiting Sabarimala. Thousands of ardent devotees gather at Sabarimala to view the divine Makara Jyothi light up on the other side of the hill. Every year, the evening of Makara Sankranti witnesses the event of Makara Jyothi at the top of the Ponnambalamedu hill. The Makara Jyothi celebration has turned into a controversial issue as recent evidence point that the occurrence of the divine flame is actually manmade.

It is believed that the installation of the deity Lord Ayyapan was done by Parashurama himself on orders of Lord Dharmasastha.

The Sabarimala Temple Complex consists of a Ganapathi shrine, a Homakundam (place to conduct Homams), and a Bhasmakulam (sacred water tank). A small shrine dedicated to Devi Mallikappurathamma is situated at the foot of the hill along with the shrines of Nagaraja and Nagayakshi (God and Goddess of Snakes). The small shrine dedicated to Vavurswami is situated near the sacred 18 steps. Vavur was the Muslim friend and confidante of Lord Ayyapan.

The Sabarimala Temple is one of the largest annual pilgrimages taken by devout pilgrims throughout the country. It is estimated that about 40-50 million devotees visit the shrine during November – January season. The revenue from the temple is estimated at about 230 crores.

What is the history of Sabarimala Temple?

Sabarimala Temple Ayyapan

According to history, the Sabarimala Temple is believed to have been constructed somewhere during the 10th – 11th century. The earlier structure was a Buddhist shrine dedicated to Avalokitesvara. The shrine has consistently grown popular among the population especially among the southern states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka.

The story behind the temple:

A demoness named Mahishi possessed the boon of invulnerability, except by the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. She started torturing public folk and created fear and panic among the residents of the Earth. Seeing the atrocities, the Gods prayed to Shiva and Vishnu to put an end to this. Lord Vishnu took the avatar of the beautiful enchantress Mohini and had a child with Lord Shiva. As per the Brahmanda Purana, this child would possess the combined powers of Durga and annihilate Mahishi. The Skanda Purana mentions that Goddess Durga herself took birth in a masculine form to annihilate Mahishi. Lord Vishnu gifted the child with a precious necklace pendant that hung around the child’s neck. Hence, he is also popular as Manikandan.

The legend associated with the Sabarimala Temple and the Lord’s journey on Earth starts with the decimation of the Pandyan dynasty of Tamilnadu. The remaining descendants left Madurai and settled at various locations throughout Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They established the Pandalam kingdom in Kerala around the tenth century. The King of the Pandalam kingdom, Raja Rajashekhara did not have a child for a long time and together with the queen, worshipped Lord Shiva for a boon. Lord Shiva obliged and ordered Dharmasastha to take an avatar and be born to them as a child. He was handed over a mission to annihilate the buffalo-headed demon Mahishi, the sister of Mahishasura, who was creating havoc in the earth realm.

Sabarimala Temple Shri Dharmasastha

Accordingly, King Raja Rajashekhara found the young baby crying on the banks of the River Pamba. A Sanyasi appeared to him and advised him to give the child home and raise him as his own. He told him that when the child becomes 12, his divine nature will be revealed. The King and the Queen were very pleased and grew the child as their own. The child was named Manikandan and was taught the local martial arts form and all the Shastras. In the meantime, the Queen gave birth to another child named Raja Rajan. However, the King decided to make Manikandan the king.

The Diwan of the Kingdom brainwashed the queen into feigning a sickness so that her child becomes the King instead of Manikandan. The physician gave a false assurance that tigress’s milk was the only cure for the Queen’s sickness. Manikandan decided against his father’s wishes, that he will go into the forest to bring a tigress’s milk. On entering the forest, he decided to annihilate Mahishi first. He entered into a conflict with the demon along the banks of the Azhutha River. Manikandan climbed on her chest and danced violently. Realizing the futility of battling against the avatar of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva combined, the demon prostrated and died.

After killing Mahishi, all the Gods led by Lord Shiva appeared to Manikandan and turned themselves into tigers and tigresses. They accompanied him to the palace. On his return, the Sanyasi appeared and revealed the true identity of Manikandan to the King and the public. King Raja Rajashekhara was overwhelmed with joy and asked Manikandan to stay with him forever. However, Manikandan refused. Then the King requested him to guide him to a place where he could construct a shrine for him as a memory. Manikandan shot an arrow which fell at Sabari, the hill where aeons ago an old woman named Sabari had performed penance and was visited by Lord Rama. Manikandan ordered the shrine to be built there and promised that he will bless his devotees from there. He later disappeared into the forests.

The legend of Makara Vilakku is related to Lord Rama and Lakshman. On their journey towards Lanka, they met a tribal named Sabari at the present day Sabarimala. Sabari offered the Lord, fruits that she was carrying with him. While eating the fruits, Lord Rama observed a divine person doing penance. On enquiring the tribal about the person, he informed that it was Sastha. Lord Rama went to meet Sastha. On seeing the arrival of Lord Rama and Lakshman, Sastha stood up and received him to his abode. The day is celebrated as the Makara Vilakku day.

What is the dress code of Sabarimala Temple?

Sabarimala Temple Dress Code

The Sabarimala Temple follows a very strict dress code for men who wish to seek the blessings of the Lord. One must not wear any upper garment like shirts or vests. One must wear a black, orange, or dark blue dhoti to view the Lord. Ladies between the ages of 10 – 55 are not allowed to visit Sabarimala. Ladies above the age group should wear a saree inside the temple premises.

What are the festivals celebrated at Sabarimala Temple?

Sabarimala Temple Makara Jyothi
  • Makara Vilakku: This is one of the most important festivals celebrated at the shrine. The festival begins on the day of Makara Sankranthi and continues for seven days. It is believed that the idol of Lord Ayyapan was installed in the temple o this particular day. The god is decorated with precious jewellery brought from the Valiya Koyikkal Sastha Temple at Pandalam. A representation of the Lord riding on a tiger is displayed on the platform of the Manimandapam. The idol of Mallikappurathamma is taken around in a procession on an elephant’s back till the holy 18 steps and then returns by circumambulating the shrine.
  • Vishu: The Malayali New Year is celebrated in mid-April and is known as Vishu locally. People wear new clothes and decorate their homes with lights. Offerings are made to God with Payasam, Appam, and milk sweets. The ritual arrangement of items like rice, fruits, betel leaves, arecanut, kanni flowers, mirror, and coins are presented in front of the Lord and pooja is performed for them. After the morning rituals of the day, children burst firecrackers celebrating the birth of the New Year.
  • Onam: The State festival of Kerala is celebrated in the month of Chingam (Aug-Sep). The grand festival is celebrated for 3 days. The day signifies the birth of the Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the King Mahabali. It is also considered as a festival of harvest.

How to reach Sabarimala Temple?

  • By Air: The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport at a distance of 160 km. Alternatively, one can also land at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport situated at a distance of 170 km. Regular buses are available from these cities till Sabarimala.
  • By Train: The nearest railway station is Kottayam at a distance of 90 km. Kottayam is well connected to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Guwahati, Vizag, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mangalore and New Delhi.
  • By Road: The Kerala State Transport operates buses from major cities and towns in Kerala to Sabarimala. Other nearby towns that can be used as a transfer point to Sabarimala, especially for pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are Thrissur, Kottayam, and Ernakulam.

Vehicles are allowed only until Pamba, 5 km before the main shrine. The new route is comfortable and easy to traverse.

Sabarimala Temple Pamba

However, many devotees still trek through the long and difficult older route through Erumeli. The distance from Erumeli to Sabarimala is roughly 60 km.

Where to stay near Sabarimala Temple?

The Sabarimala Temple Administration operates a pilgrim complex at Nadapanthal and Pandyathavalam. Several guesthouses have been constructed by them to meet the needs of the devotees. The rooms are clean and hygienic and can be booked at nominal rated by visiting their official website.

Where to eat near Sabarimala Temple?

A lot of small hotels have been set up near the base of the Sabarimala hills and at Pamba by the Sabarimala Temple administration. The cuisine provided is pure vegetarian and South Indian.

What are some temples near Sabarimala Temple?

  • Erumeli Ayyapan Temple: The temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is situated 61 km from Sabarimala. The traditional route to Sabarimala begins at Erumeli where the pilgrims begin their trek to reach the peak of Sabarimala hills known as the Neelimala. The temple’s deity Lord Ayyapan is represented here as an archer. This is also supposed to be the place where Lord Ayyapan killed the buffalo faced demon Mahishi.
  • Pandalam Valiyakoyickal Temple: The temple is closely associated with the Sastha Temple of Sabarimala. The deity worshipped here is the family deity of King Rajashekhara of the Pandalam kingdom. The jewels of Lord Ayyappa are kept at this temple and are taken out in a procession amidst high security. A divine presence of a Garuda can be seen circling around the treasure.
  • Nilakkal Mahadevar Temple: The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva lies on the traditional path taken by the devotees to reach Sabarimala. The temple is small and dedicated to Lord Shiva, father of Lord Ayyappa.
  • Chengannur Mahadevar Temple: The famous shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is located 97 km from Sabarimala. The main Shiva Linga is covered with Gold and represents the image of an Ardhanareeshwara – a Shiva-Shakti form. This Temple legend states that Kannagi, who burnt the city of Madurai down to ashes, came here to perform penance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sabarimala Temple open throughout the year?

No, the Sabarimala Temple is open for all the devotees during certain times in a year. The opening and closing dates vary.
Please refer: Opening dates of the Sabarimala Temple

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Sabarimala Temple is free of cost.

Is there an age restriction in the Sabarimala Temple?

There is no age restriction for men. However, ladies from the ages of 10 to 55 are not allowed inside the temple.

Is there any online darshan facility available?

No. There is no facility for online darshan available.

Is there any facility for specially-abled and senior citizens?

Yes. There are facilities for specially-abled and senior citizens such as palkis.

What is the weather like during the summer?

The summers in Sabarimala starts from April and continue until June. The summers here can be very hot and humid. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 38 º C.

What are winters like in Sabarimala?

In Sabarimala, winters start in October and continue until March. The temperatures during this time range from around 15 º C to 25 º C. The weather during this time is cool and pleasant.

If you have any questions about The Sabarimala Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, Dress Code, and History

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 21 Comments Filed Under: Kerala Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most prominent temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The temple is one of the only few temples dedicated to the Lord in which he is worshiped in the “Ananta Shayanam” position. The temple has been declared as the richest Hindu Temple in the world and as the wealthiest religious institution in the World.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Facts

DeityLord Padmanabhaswamy (Lord Vishnu)
LocationTrivandrum, Kerala
ToursKerala Temple Tour
EntryFree
Darshan Timings3:00 AM to 7:20 PM
PoojasUsha Pooja, Ucha Pooja
Best Time to VisitOctober to March
FestivalsVishu, Ram Navami, Siveli
Padmanabhaswamy Temple Video

What are the timings of Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple opens at 3:30 AM and closes at 7:20 PM. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening poojas.

The timings are as follows:

RitualFromTo
Deepardhanai3:30 AM4:45 AM
Early Morning Darshan6:30 AM7:30 AM
Morning Darshan8:30 AM10:00 AM
Darshan10:30 AM11:10 AM
Afternoon Aarti11:45 AM12:00 PM
Evening Darshan5:00 PM6:15 PM
Evening Aarti6:45 PM7:20 PM

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is closed for darshan between 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Padmanabhaswamy-Temple-Timings

What are the poojas and sevas at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

  • Deepardhanai: This is the first ritual of the day and is performed early in the morning at 3:30 AM. The lamps are lit and amidst the chantings of holy mantras and shlokas, God is awakened from his sleep.
  • Usha Pooja: This pooja is performed after the first Deepardhanai. The God is bathed with holy water and then decorated with flowers, Basil, and Sandalwood Paste.
  • Pantheeradi Pooja: This pooja is performed at 6:00 AM.
  • Ucha Pooja: This ritual is performed at mid-day. After the ritual, Naivedyam is offered to the Lord and then the sanctum doors are closed for darshan.

Besides these main poojas, several archanas can be performed dedicated to the Lord on behalf of the devotee. Some of the common Archanas are Ashtotthara Archana, Sahasranama Archana, Bhoosooktha Archana, Sreesooktha Archana, Bhagyasooktha Archana, Swayamvara Archana, and the Lakshmi Narayana Mantra Archana.

What is the significance of Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

Padmanabhaswamy-Vishnu

The significance of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams (holy abodes of Lord Vishnu) glorified in the famous Tamil literary work Divya Prabandha by the Tamil Alvar Saints between the periods of 6th to the 9th century. In the 8th century, Alvar named Nammalvar sang praises of Sri Padmanabha.

The main idol of the presiding deity is awe-inspiring and unique in itself. The idol is made of 12,008 Shaligramam stones (the aniconic form of Lord Vishnu, taken from the banks of the Gandaki River that flows through India and Nepal). The Lord reclines on Adi Shesha Naga with his right hand atop the Linga of Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma can be seen appearing out of the navel of Lord Vishnu on a Lotus. The two consorts of Lord Vishnu can be seen accompanying him on his sides. To a devotee, the idol is visible through three doors, the first one showing Lord Vishnu with hands-on Lord Shiva, Goddess Sridevi and Lord Brahma are visible through the second door and Goddess Bhudevi and Kaudinya Muni through the third door.

The Katusarkara Yogam, which is a special Ayurvedic mixture of Herbs is plastered over the whole idol of Lord Padmanabha. The paste keeps the idol of the deity clean.

It is believed that the Thiruvambadi shrine dedicated to Sri Krishna Swamy situated inside the main Temple complex predates the main shrine. The shrine is built on the site where Sage Vilvamangalathu is believed to have been buried.

It is been established that six sealed vaults are present beneath the temple premises. The contents of these vaults are considered highly valuable and a secret. Among them is the valued Vault B. It remained closed to the public for centuries. However, on an order of the Supreme Court of India, the vault was opened and treasures were discovered whose value is estimated to be about 1 Trillion US Dollars. A small antechamber within the vault still remains closed to the public as the doors are extremely hard to open and are carved with figures of snakes. It is believed that opening the vault will displease the Lord and create havoc in the region.

What is the history of Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

According to history, the exact date or year of construction for the temple is unknown. However, the temple, as well as the city, has been mentioned as the Golden Temple in the Sangam literature (Tamil literature) as early as 500 BC and 300 AD. Many scholars believe that the whole city surrounding the temple was extremely rich and was covered in gold.

It is believed by scholars that the temple was a site of worship since the beginning of the Kaliyuga. Several records written on Palm Leaf have been handed down through several

As per the legend, Sage Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar performed Tapasya or Penance for obtaining a Darshan of Lord Vishnu. The Lord is believed to have presented himself to him as a small mischievous orphan boy. The Sage allowed him to stay with him on the condition that he will not disturb him during his prayers. After some days, the boy disrupted his Pooja by defining the image of the Lord. The Sage became angry and chased the boy away. Just before leaving, the boy told the sage that is he wants to find him, he must visit Ananthankadu.

The Sage realized that the boy was the Lord himself. He turned repentant and searched Ananthankadu. He eventually found the boy merging into the “Illuppa Tree” (Indian Butter Tree). The tree fell down and transformed into a huge figure of Lord Vishnu in the Anantha Shayanam form. The figure was so huge that the head lay in Thiruvallam (5 km from the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Shrine) and the feet lay at Trippapur (8 km on the other side).

Overwhelmed by the occurrence, the Sage requested the Lord to condense his form so that he could witness his entire form. As per his wish, Lord Vishnu shrank his form. The Sage immediately offered a dry mango in a Coconut shell (the same is offered to the deity till date). The spot where the Sage was given a darshan belonged to Koopakkara and Karuva Potti. A small shrine was built at the site with the help of local Brahmins.

What is the architecture of Padmanabhaswamy Temple like?

Padmanabhaswamy Temple’s architecture is a mix of the Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple architecturally resembles the Adikesava Perumal Temple located in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. The Gopuram is dated to the 16th century. The idol of the deity in the main sanctum is mesmerizing and a treat to any devout Hindu. The Lord can be seen reclining on the Shesha Naga with his hand placed on the Shiva Lingam.

Several features of the architecture of the temple are worth noticing. The temple has nine entrances representing the nine orifices of the human body. The Ottakal Mandapam is carved out of single granite stone. The pillars at the corners of the Kulashekara Mandapam produce musical notes when they are struck.

The Moolasthanam or the Garbhagriha of the Temple is located at the Ananthapuram Temple in Kasargod, Kerala. The antiquity and the historical significance of the Temple can be adjudged by the fact that shrine is mentioned in several Puranas like the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Padma Purana, Matsya Purana, and the Varaha Purana.

The Sabha Mandap is called the Ottakal Mandapam as it is carved out of a single rock. Besides the main shrine, the temple also constitutes the shrines of Sri Ugra Narasimha (Thekkadom) and Sri Krishna Swami (Lord of Thiruvambadi or Parthasarathy). Apart from these two subsidiary shrines, small shrines dedicated to Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman, Lord Ganesha, Lord Sastha, Garuda, Hanuman, and Balarama.

What is the dress code at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

The temple follows a strict dress code for both men and women. Men must wear Dhoti with or without an Angavastram. Women must wear a Saree or a half saree only. Dhotis are available for hire outside the temple premises. Photography is banned inside the temple premises.

The entry to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is restricted to Hindus only.

What are the festivals celebrated at Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

  • Alpasi and Meenam Utsavam: The temple celebrated two festivals in a year – the Alpasi and the Meenam occurring in October – November, and March – April respectively. Each festival is celebrated for 10 days. The event starts with the flag hoisting ceremony which is meant to be an invitation to all Gods and Goddesses to attend the rituals. Special processions are conducted around the temple premises twice every day. Six different Vahanas are used to carry the Utsava Moorthy of Lord Padmanabhaswamy around the temple. These Vahanas are called the Simhasana, Anantha, Kamala, Pallaku, Garuda, and Indra. On the ninth day, the ritual of Pallivetta is conducted which symbolizes a royal hunt during which the Lord comes down and annihilates all the ills of the society.
  • Swargavathil or Vaikunta Ekadasi: The highly auspicious day dedicated to Lord Vishnu falls on the eleventh day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Dhanur (December – January). It is ardently believed that Lord Vishnu opens the gates of Vaikuntam on this day. Devotees observe rigorous fast on this day and dedicate the day to worshipping Lord Vishnu. It is believed that one can liberate themselves from the cycle of birth and death.
  • Vishu: The day marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year. The festival is celebrated with great fanfare with fireworks and Vishukanni playing a major role in the festivities. On this day, the Vishukanni (ritual arrangement of auspicious articles such as rice, fruits, and vegetables around the deity) is arranged inside the inner sanctum.
  • Lakshadeepam: The unique festival is celebrated once in 6 years. The recitation of the holy Vedas is done for 56 days prior to the day of Lakshadeepam. On this auspicious day, one lakh lamps are lit and decorated around the temple premises giving it a grand appearance.
  • Onam: The grand festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of King Mahabali. It is also believed that the day signifies the birth of Sree Padmanabhaswamy. The festival is celebrated for ten days in the month of Chingam (first month of the Malayalam calendar). The Onavillu Charthal is the highlight of the Onam celebrations. Onavillu is a ceremonial bow-shaped wooden piece that is carved out of trees like Kadambu, Jackfruit or Maruthu. They are decorated with miniature paintings of the Anantha Shayanam posture of Lord Vishnu.

Some of the other important festivals celebrated at the temple premises are Ashtami Rohini (Krishna Janmashtami), Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Mahashivarati, and Ram Navami.

How to reach Thiruvananthapuram?

  • By Air: The city of Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is well connected to cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Cochin. The International Airport connects the city to the Gulf countries as well as Colombo and Male.
  • By Train: Thiruvananthapuram is well connected to major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ernakulum, Jammu, Guwahati, and Coimbatore.
  • By Road: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operates regular buses to Thiruvananthapuram out of several neighbouring cities and towns within Kerala as well as from other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Where to stay near the Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

A large number of hotels and lodges are dispersed throughout the city. They offer quality and clean accommodation to the visitors. Some of the five-star options are Vivant any Taj and Hilton Garden Inn. Medium range and budget hotels are available easily. However, advance booking is preferred, especially during the peak season.

Where to eat near the Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

Thiruvananthapuram is a bustling city that offers a wide variety of culinary delights to visitors. The city is famous for fresh and delicious seafood. Some of the most popular food joints that one must visit are Hotel Rahmaniya (home of the patented Kethel Chicken Fry), Zam Zam, Sree Guruvayurappan Hotel, and Ayswariya Hotel. The local Kerala Cuisine is simple and delicious. One must try Appam, Puttu, Curry Meen, Fish Moile and Kappa Biryani when visiting the city.

What are some temples near Padmanabhaswamy Temple?

  • Attukal Temple: The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is located just 2 km from the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kannagi who is believed to be a form of Goddess Parvati. The famous Attukal Pongal festival is celebrated every year at the Temple in the month of February – March. The festival holds the Guinness World Record for the feat of Single largest gathering of women for a religious activity.
  • Andoor Kandan Sree Dharma Sastha Temple: The temple is one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Dharmasastha or more popularly known as Lord Ayyappa. The deity faces the west. The deity is presented in a posture named Chinmudra or Nyaana Mudra which symbolizes the union of Aatma and Paramaatma.
  • Amunthirathu Devi Temple: The temple is dedicated to Goddess Amunthirathamma, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Bhadrakali. The unique feature of the idol is that it is made of Krishna Shila and represents an Ardha Padmasana posture. The idol length is 48 Angula ( an ancient form of measurement, 1 Angula = 1.76 cm). The 4 represents the four holy Vedas. The digit 8 represents prosperity called Ashtaishwaryam. These are Dhanya, Dhana, Adhi, Veera, Vijaya, Sandhana, Gaja and Bhagya.
  • Janardanaswamy Temple: The 2000-year-old temple is located at Varkala, 15 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The Temple legends state that this is the place where Lord Vishnu displayed the form of “Vishwaroopam” to Lord Brahma, who was conducting a Yagna at the site. This is also believed to be the place where the nine Prajapathis of Lord Brahma conducted a Yagna to seek forgiveness from Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu after they laughed and ridiculed them.

If you have any questions about The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Udupi Krishna Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

February 1, 2024, Sasidhar Darla 8 Comments Filed Under: Karnataka Temples Tagged With: Krishna Temples, Mukti Sthala

Udupi Krishna Temple (one of the Seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka), dedicated to Lord Krishna is in the town of Udupi, Karnataka. The temple complex is also a Matha where the priests live and perform their daily duties. Vaishnavite Saint Madhwacharya, somewhere during the 13th century constructed the temple.

What are the timings of Udupi Krishna Temple?

Udupi Krishna temple can be visited from 5 am till 11 am in the morning and then from 5 pm till 9 pm. However, the timings change during festivals and other special occasions. Here are the timings of Udupi Krishna Temple:

RitualTimings
Temple opening hours4:30 am
Nirmalya Visarjana Puja4:50 am
Ushakala Puja6 am
Akshya patra-Gopuja6:15 am
Vishwaroopa Darshana6:20 am
Panchamritabhisheka6:30 am
Udvartana Puja7:00 am
Kalasha Puja 7:30 am
Teertha Puja 7:40 am
Alankara Puja8:30 am
Avasara Sanakadi Puja10:30 am
Mahapuja11:00 am
Chamara Seva7:00 pm
Ratripuja7:30 pm
Rangapuja 7:40 pm
Utsava8:00 pm
Thottilu Puja8:30 pm
Kolalu Seva8:40 pm
Ekanta Seva8:50 pm

Food being served at Udupi Krishna Temple

What is the significance of Udupi Krishna Temple?

The significance of Udupi Krishna Temple is that it is one of the seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka. The other six are Kollur, Subramanya, Kumbhashi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana, and Gokarna. These places are together the Parashurama Kshetras. Devotees believe that these Temples were built on land of Parashurama from the sea.



The actual darshan of the Lord is through a grilled window known as the Navagraha Kitiki or as the Kanakana Kindi (Kanaka’s window). The window has nine squares, each dedicated to the nine planets. Also, the window is covered on all sides with silver plating with carvings depicting the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.

The main idol of Lord Krishna shows him as a small boy holding a churning rod on the right hand and rope on the left hand. This representation of Lord Krishna can be seen nowhere in India but Udupi.

LORD KRISHNA OF UDUPI

The murti of Lord Krishna is unique and vibrant

The lamps that are kept near the main idol of Lord Krishna were first lighted by Sri Madhawacharya in the 13th century and are still kept burning.

The idols of Lord Mukhyapradana (Anjaneya or Hanuman) and Garuda kept in the Udupi Krishna Temple in their respective shrines were brought here from Ayodhya and installed.

It is believed that Chandra (The Moon God) did penance in Udupi to release him from the curse of Daksha Prajapati. Lord Shiva was impressed by his devotion and relieved him of the curse of Daksha.

A small shrine for Goddess Bhagirathi (Ganga) is in the southwest corner of the Madhava Sarovar. When the young Madhwacharya could not visit Badrinath, River Ganga herself flowed south to the Temple and gave him a darshan. A white stream of water emerged from the South West corner. Therefore a shrine of River Ganga was eventually built.

It is not closed in the afternoon. The holy trip to Udupi Krishna Temple is complete after visiting the Anatheshwara Temple and the Chandramouleeshwara temple before visiting the Udupi Krishna Temple. Aarti and Archana items are available in shops near the main entrance.

Devotees worship the idol of Lord Krishna in the form of a small boy. They believe that Saint Madhwacharya anointed his eight disciples to take care of the functioning of the Temple and to propagate his philosophy and studies.

These eight disciples created their own Matha and presently rotate their responsibilities every two years. The eight Mathas that run the Temple Administration are Palimar Mutt, Krishna Mutt, Kaniyour Mutt, Sode Mutt, Puttige Mutt, Admar Mutt, Shirur Mutt, and Pejawar Mutt.

The Udupi Krishna Temple complex resembles an Ashram with a huge Tank or Sarovar popular as the Madhav Sarovar. The main temple has a Mandap and the Garbhagriha. The main door of the sanctum is not open and visitors can view God only trough a meshed window that contains figures of Avatars of Lord Vishnu. Smaller shrines for Lord Hanuman famous here as Lord Mukhyaprana, Garuda and to Saint Madhwacharya are also there.

What is the history of Udupi Krishna Temple?

According to history, a popular legend is associated with Udupi Krishna Temple. An ardent devotee of Lord Krishna by the name of Kanaka Dasa arrived in Udupi in the early 16th century. As per ancient scriptures, Udupi was popular as Sivalli or as Rajathapeetapuram.

The place was pious even before the construction of the Krishna Temple due to the existence of the Anantheshwara Temple and the Chandramouleeshwara Temple.

The story of how the Udupi Krishna Temple came into existence is a very interesting one. There is a description of the events in the Madhava Vijaya, a biography of the Saint Madhwacharya and in a seventeenth century work by Sri Raghuvarya Thirtha.

As per Sri Raghuvarya Thirtha, Lord Krishna’s birth mother Devaki often complained to the Lord about being unable to witness the childhood of her beloved son Krishna. She wished that Lord make her happy and fortunate like mother Yashoda. Lord Krishna assumed the form of a small boy and played with Devaki. When churning butter, Krishna broke the churn and ate the lumps of butter.

He also snatched the churning rope from Devaki and started playing with it. Rukmini Devi, Wife of Krishna wanted to preserve the memory and had an idol made depicting Lord Krishna holding a churning rod and rope. She worshiped the idol regularly. After Lord Krishna departed to heaven, Arjuna moved the idol to Rukminivana and worshiped it with Chandana. With passage of time, a thick layer of clay deposited on the idol until the merchants boarded it into a vessel mistaking it for a ballast.

What is the dress code for Udupi Krishna Temple?

The male devotees should not wear shirts and vests inside the Udupi Krishna Temple complex. Also, they should avoid short pants and the Bermudas. We also request female devotees to dress traditional ethnic wear.

What are the poojas and rituals performed at Udupi Krishna Temple?

A sequence of fourteen Poojas is performed for the deity every day. They are:

Nirmalya Visarjana

The priest performs the Pooja at 5:30 AM every morning. In addition, he removes the decorations, ornaments, apparels and flowers offered to the God on the previous day. Then he bathes the idol. Finally he offers Naivedyam made from Tulasi, Bengal gram, Curd, Puffed Rice, jaggery, Ginger and coconut, Betel leaves and Ghee.

Ushakala Pooja

First of all the priest performs the Abhishekam of the deity at 6 am with the holy water stored in silver vessels. Then he conducts Eight Aartis and offers Sandal paste, Tulasi, Rice, Milk, Curd, coconut, Banana, and Betel Leaves.

Akshaya Patra and co – Pooja

The priest performs the Seva at 6:15 AM. He then worships a cow selected from the Cowshed. Then he distributes Rice and Jaggery to the cows.

Panchamrita Pooja

The Pooja starts at  6:30 AM. Both the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana are worshiped with the Panchamrit. After removing the sandal paste and flowers, in the Surya Saale of the Temple, the priest showers the idol with Gold coins. Then he bathes Lord Krishna with Ghee, Milk, Honey, Curd and Sugar. Finally, he offers 32 tender coconuts to the deity along with the Bananas.

Udvartana Pooja

The Pooja starts at 7 AM. The priest bathes the idol in perfumed water. Then, he offers tender coconuts, milk and butter and finally raises the Aarti.

Kalasha Pooja

The ritual occurs at 7:30 AM. The priest keeps gold Kalasas in front of the idol and performs pooja. Then, he offers cooked rice to the God which he later offers to Garuda. After the offering, the priest disperses the cooked rice into the Madhava Sarovar as feed for the Fishes.

Theertha Pooja

The Pooja takes place at 7:40 AM. First of all, the priest uses the holy water from the gold vessel for the main Abhishek. Then he dries the idol with a clean piece of cloth and decorates it with Tulasi garlands, flowers, and Sandal paste. Finally, he gives the holy water from this Abhishek as Theertham to the devotees. Hence this puja is known as The Theertha Pooja.

Alankara Pooja

The Pooja takes place at 8:30 AM. The priest decorates the idol with Gold ornaments and Silk clothing. Then he offers Tulasi garlands to the God. Finally he offers Rice, Sweets, Milk, Curds, Coconuts, Bananas and Betel leaves to the God amidst the singing of hymns and songs by the Matha musicians.

Avasara Pooja

The priest performs an Aarti to the God after offering Rice and Coconuts. This Pooja happens at 10:30 AM.

Maha Pooja

This Pooja is the most important Pooja of the day and the head of the Matha himself performs it at 11 AM. He offers rice, Tulasi, and sandal paste to the God amidst the chantings of Vishnu Ssahasranama, Krishna Stotra, and Brahma Stotra.

The Naivedya articles such as pots of cooked rice, sweets, and eatables, payasam, panchakajjaya,  coconuts, plantains, betel leaves etc. are placed before the God. The priest comes out of the Sanctum and closes the door. Devotees believe that Madhwacharya himself makes the offerings to the God. After some time, the priests return and perform Aartis. Finally after firing two country Guns, signaling the occurrence of the Pooja, the people of the Town begin eating their meal.

Sri Mukhyaprana Pooja

The Naivedyams offered to Sri Krishna during the Maha puja are offered again to Sri Mukhyaprana.  The Priest then performs the Aarti.

Sri Madhwacharya Pooja

The same Naivedyam is then offered to Sri Madhwacharya.

Simhasana Pooja

The Simhasana is offered the Naivedyam.

Pradakshina Namaskara

The priest goes around the idol four times and then proceeds to the Madhav Sarovar where he worships Goddess Bhagirathi. He dispers the offerings in the Sarovar. Then he proceeds to the Vrindavana and then to the Cowshed where he feeds the Cows. Afterwards he returns to the Simhasana where he distributes the Theertham to other priests and devotees. Finally he proceeds to the dining hall.

Chamara Seva

This Pooja takes place at 7 PM. Pooja is offered to sacred books and the Vigraha. Kirtans and bhajans are sung by the Udupi Krishna Temple musicians. Two huge baskets of puffed rice and Jaggery are offered to the God and an Aarti is raised.

Ratri Pooja

The usual Naivedyam consisting of pots of cooked rice, ghee, jaggery, tender coconut and milk is offered. Aarti is raised on this occasion as the music and chanting of hymns continues. This Pooja occurs at 7:30 PM.

Ranga Pooja

This service to God happens at 7:40 PM. The priest spreads four pots of Panchakajjaya on Banana leaves in a line in front of Sri Mukyaprana. Then he lights rows of lamps on either side and performs an Aarti. The devotees take the Utsava Murthi around the Matha and make offerings. The also recite songs and kirtans.

Ekantha Seva

This Pooja happens at 8:50 PM. The Utsava murti is laid down on a golden cradle. Aarti is raised and lullabies are sung. The blowing of a Conch indicates the end of rituals for the day.

Besides these daily rituals, as a devotee, a number of Sevas can be offered to the God. Some of them are Akhanda Saptotsava, Laksha Deepotsava, Maha Puja Rathotsava, Sarva Seva, Annadanam, Ksheera Abhishek, Nanda Deepa, Godaana, Sahasranamarchana, Ashtotta Archana, Karpoora Mangal Aarti and Vaayustuti Parayana.

What are the festivals celebrated at the Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Udupi Krishna Temple are:

The Saptosava

Devotees celebrate the unique festival in the Udupi Krishna Temple in a grand manner for a period of seven days. The festival begins five days before the Makara Sankranama or Makara Sankranthi in January. During the first five days of the festival, they place the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana on the Garuda ratha and idols of Lord Anantheshwara and Chandreshwara on the Mahapuja ratha. Then they take the two Rathas around the town.

Rathotsava

Ratho Utsava beiing celebrated at Udupi Krishna Temple

With great gallore and glory, the Rathoutsava gets celebrated at Udupi

On the day of Makara Sankranthi, the sixth day, the priests place Utsava Murthis of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana in a golden palanquin and take them to the Madhava Sarovar. There they place them in a decorated float and take them around the Sarovar. This Utsava is the Teppotsava. Devotees believe that Sri Madhwacharya installed the idol of Lord Krishna in the sanctum on the day of Makara Sankranthi.

Afterwards the priests take the idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Mukhyaprana, Lord Anantheshwara and Lord Chandreshwara to the three chariots. Then they place the idol of Lord Krishna on the main beautifully decorated Brahma Ratha. They place the idol of Lord Mukhyaprana in the Garuda Ratha and the idols of Chandreshwara and Anantheshwara in the Mahapuja Ratha.

Thousands of devotees pull the three chariots chanting the names of the Lord. After the Rathas reach the Temple, the priests take the idols to the Vasantha Mahal where they place the God in a cradle and perform the Pooja for him. After the Poojas, they take the idols to the sanctum where the Flute Seva and Ekantha Seva takes place signaling the end of the day.

Churnotsava

On the last day, after the Mahapuja, the devotees bring Utsava Murthis of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprayana in a gold palanquin to the main chariot named Brahma Ratha. The priests perform Mangala Aarti for the Lords and then offers sweets and fruits.

One should observe that during this ritual; a Garuda always revolves around the chariot from above. Then the chariots go around the Ratha street and then to the Madhava Sarovar. After that, the priests bathe the Lord. Then all the priests and people take a dip in the Sarovar. The unique feature is that the priests offer flowers smeared with a gold paste to the Lord and then disperse them into the crowd. Hence, the name of the occasion became Churnotsava.

Shri Krishna Jayanti

The auspicious day occurs in August – September. The devotees and the priests observe a complete fast for the entire day. On the next day morning, a large number of guests are fed with special offerings like milk sweets.

A clay image of Sri Krishna is taken around the town in a Ratha and the Handi ceremony is celebrated with great energy. Handi is the process of breaking clay pots that hang between buildings and poles. Devotees take out a parade in which people dress as animals, masked figures and entertain the crowd. Then they submerge the idol in the Madhava Sarovar signaling the end of the celebrations.

Mesha Sankranti

The Hindu New Year usually falls in the month of April. The festival is popular Vishu (Kerala), Puthandu (Tamil), Baisakhi (Punjab), and Bihu (Assam) and devotees celebrate it  by taking out a Ratha Yatra of Lord Krishna and then doing a Pooja in a cradle.

Vasantotsava

The day marks the beginning of the spring season and usually celebrated in March – April. The special Pooja and Prasadam take place for two months during the period. A Ratha Yatra for the God takes place every night starting from the day of Akshaya Tritiya and ending on the Vaisakha Poornima in May.

Sri Madhava Navami

Devotees believe that this is the day on which Saint Madhwacharya disappeared from mortal sight. Special Poojas take place for the Saint at the Anathasana Temple. People also believe that he is still present as a holy spirit. The mass feeding of Brahmins, as well as recitation of the Madhwavijaya (biography of Madhwacharya), takes place.

Holi Kamadahana

The auspicious and festive day of Holi occurs in March. On this day, a procession of Lord Krishna starts from the Temple till Kadiyali and back. An effigy of Lord Kamadeva (God of Love) is burnt in accordance of the mythological tale where he sacrifices himself so that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati fall in love after the death of Goddess Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva.

Devotees smear themselves with colored water and paste and revel in the festival. Devotees also believe that Holi was Lord Krishna’s favorite festival and they celebrate it with enthusiasm, especially in Mathura and Dwarka. (Learn more about Dwarka Somnath Tour Package)

Besides the above festivals devotees celebrate Ram Navami, Narasimha Jayanti, Bhagirathi Jayanti, Chaturmasa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Deepavali, Subramanya Shashti, and Gurusamaradhana with great spiritual significance and fervor.

The Tulasi Vrindavana Festival – In the month of Karthik (November – December), the priest decorates and worships a sacred Tulasi plant and a lamp post in the North of the Temple by singing holy songs and recitals for a period of twelve days.

Janmasthami at Udupi Krishna Temple

How to reach Udupi Krishna Temple?

Here’s how to reach Udupi Krishna Temple:

  • Air – Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport 59 km away from the town.
  • Train – Udupi is an important railway station in the Konkan Railway route. Trains are available from cities like Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Kohlapur, Trivandrum and Madgaon.
  • Road – KSRTC operated regular buses from Bengaluru, Mangalore, and Mysore.

Where to stay nearby?

The holy town of Udupi is bustling with small hotels and lodges that offer the devotees a decent option to stay overnight.

  • Hotel Sri Krishna Residency: This hotel is located in an area with shops 2 km from the 13th-century Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Hindu temple, 4 km from Udupi train station and 9 km from Padukare Beach along the Laccadive Sea.
  • Rukmini Residency: Located in a commercial area with shops as well as restaurants, this hotel is a 7-minute walk from the Udupi Anantheshwara Temple. It is only 3 km away from the train station.
  • Hotel Sriram Residency: This supremely furnished deluxe hotel is a 4-minute walk from Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Hindu temple and 8 km from Malpe Beach.

Where to eat nearby?

The Bhojana Saale in the northern part of the Udupi Krishna Temple is where the devotees are fed. One can eat the Prasadam served at the Temple kitchen. Several restaurants serve delicious Udupi cuisine (mainly Idlis, Dosas, Vada, Sambhar) along with North Indian cuisine as well.

One can also find Non-vegetarian food, especially seafood in restaurants.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples near Udupi Krishna Temple are:

Chandramouleeshwara Temple

The Temple is just opposite to the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. Some believe that this is the place where Chandra did his penance and Lord Shiva relieved him of the curse of Daksha which stated that Chandra will keep decreasing in size and eventually disappear. Lord Shiva gave a boon that he will decrease in size for 15 days and then increase for 15 days in a month. The Temple is for Lord Shiva.

Devotees also believe that the Linga changes color from black in the morning, blue at noon and white at night. Some also believe that one must visit the Chandramouleeshwara Temple and the Anantheshwara Temple before visiting the Krishna Temple.

Anatheshwara Temple

The Temple legend says that Sage Parashurama retrieved the land from the sea and made his devotee Ramabhoja as the King. During the plowing of the land to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna, he accidently killed a snake. To relieve the sin, he made a silver peetham known as Rajatha Peetham in Kannada with images of a snake carved on it.

Shri Janardhana Mahakali Temple

The Temple is in Ambalpay area in Udupi, about 3 km away from the Sri Krishna Temple. The presiding deity of the beautiful temple is Goddess Mahakali. Devotees also believe that she came down to Earth as a guardian for the town and eventually Janardhana Swamy followed her.

Batte Vinayaka Temple

The temple is one of the oldest temples in the district, constructed by the Barkur kingdom. The unique feature of the temple is that the idol of Lord Ganapathi is facing the North but leaning towards West.

Sri Mahishamardhini Temple

The Temple is in Kadiyali. The temple’s history dates back to around 1200 years.  The idol of Mahishamardhini is in a standing posture with four arms. She holds the Prayaga chakra on one hand and the Shanka on the other. The idol also depicts her piercing the head of the demon Mahishasura.

Visit the Udupi Krishna Temple

This year if you wish to seek the holy blessings of the Lord Krishna, then visit his shrine to bring peace to your mind.

Murudeshwar Temple Timings, Poojas, and History

March 9, 2020, Sasidhar Darla 74 Comments Filed Under: Karnataka Temples Tagged With: Mukti Sthala, Shiva Temples

Murudeshwar Temple of Karnataka is one of the Mukti Sthala and boasts the world’s second-largest Shiva statue which commands attention in the blue skyline surrounded by sea.

Murudeshwar Temple – Facts

DeityLord Murudeshwar (Lord Shiva)
LocationMurudeshwar, Karnataka
Entry FeeFree
Best Time to VisitOctober to March
Darshan Timings6:00 AM to 8:30 PM
PoojasRudrabhishekam
FestivalsShravan, Mahashivratri
Murudeshwar Temple Video

The land of the temple just protrudes out of the mainland. Hence, the Arabian Sea surrounds the temple on three sides. The Murudeshwar Temple Complex begins with a huge 20-storied Gopuram.

The whole Murudeshwar Temple Complex is modern except the main Sanctum which is still dark and retains the old form. Further, businessman and philanthropist R.N. Shetty constructed the new temple complex.

Where is Murudeshwar Temple

What are the timings of Murudeshwar Temple?

Here are the timings of Murudeshwar Temple:

RitualsFromTo
Morning Darshan6:00 AM1:00 PM
Evening Darshan3:00 PM8:30 PM
Morning Pooja6:30 AM7:30 AM
Maha Pooja12:15 PM1:00 PM
Night Pooja7:15 PM8:15 PM

Which sevas and poojas take place at Murudeshwar Temple?

The Sevas consist of the Daily Sevas and the Yearly Sevas. The Daily Sevas at the Murudeshwar Temple are:

  • Rudrabhishekam: This pooja is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshiped as fire or Rudra. The puja wipes out all sins and purifies the atmosphere. It also removes all sorts of planetary related ill-occurrences.
  • Panchamritha Abhishekam: The Linga is bathed with five “Amrit” or “Nectars”. They are Milk, Honey, Ghee, Sugar, and Curd.
  • Panchakajjaya: The Panchakajjaya is a Prasadam unique to the region of Karnataka. Several types of Panchakajjaya can be made but the most common one uses Green Gram, Coconut, Jaggery, Sesame, Cardamom, and Ghee. This is offered as Naivedyam to God during the prayers.
  • Bilvarchane: In this archana one offers Bilva leaves to the Linga of the God.
  • Chandan Abhishekam: The idol of the Lord is bathed with Chandan or the Sandalwood paste.
  • Bhasmarchane: The Archana takes place by applying “Bhasm” or ash (Vibhuti) to the Linga of Lord Shiva.
  • Navagraha Pooja: The nine Gods representing the nine planets are worshiped for good luck and fortune in one’s life.
  • Ekadasa Rudra: All the major Puranas mention that Lord Shiva has eleven forms of Rudra that the devotees worship with their respective shlokas and mantras. These eleven forms are Mahadeva, Shiva, Maha Rudra, Shankara, Neelalohita, Eesana, Vijaya Rudra, Bhima, Devadeva, Bhavodbhava, and Adityamaka Srirudra.

Besides the above Sevas, the other daily Sevas include Aanastharpana, Thilarchane, Shivasahasranama, Sudarshana Japa, Lalitha Sahasranama Pooja, Kumkumarchane, Durga Sahasranama, Ganapathi and Subramanya Sahasranama, and Anjaneya Sahasranama.

The Yearly Sevas at the Murudeshwar Temple are:

  • Sarva Deva Pooja: Devotees worship all the shrines of the Murudeshwar Temple and the daily Poojas take place on the devotee’s behalf on any particular day of the year.
  • Nanda Deepa Seva: The priests light The Nanda Deepa Stambh with lamps on behalf of the devotee.
  • Annastarpana Seva: The Annadanam takes place for devotees for one full day.

What is the significance of Murudeshwar Temple?

Lord-Murudeshwar

The significance of Murudeshwar Temple is that it houses the cloth covering the famed and sacred Atma Linga of Lord Shiva. As per Hinduism, all the Gods attained mortality and invincibility by worshiping the Atma Linga of Lord Shiva. The Atma Linga originally resided in the heart of Lord Shiva.

However, the Lord gave it to Ravana as a reward for his penance.

The Sri Murudeshwar Temple is one of the five Temples famous in Karnataka as the Pancha Kshetras of Lord Shiva. The other four Temples are in Nanjanagud, Dharmasthala, Dhareshwara, and Gokarna.

Moreover, the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva is the main highlight of the Murudeshwar Temple. The statue is the world’s second-largest Shiva statue at a height of 123 feet. The tallest statue of Lord Shiva is the Kailashnath Mahadev statue in Nepal. The design of the statue is in such a way that the first rays of the Sun that falls on the coast illuminate Lord Shiva first.

The towering Gopuram built at the entrance of the Murudeshwar Temple is the second tallest Gopuram in India at a height of 237.5 feet. The Tallest Gopuram is present at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, Tamilnadu. The unique feature of this Gopuram is that devotees can enter the Gopuram and can go to the top from where they can view the surroundings.

Devotees can perform various Sevas like Abhishekam to the Linga of Lord Rameshwara by themselves.

A Lamp or Deepam is kept inside the main shrine of Lord Murudeshwara, which is said to be burning since the Murudeshwar Temple was built. Devotees also believe that pouring oil into it and then glancing at your image on the oil surface blesses one with luck and prosperity.

What is the history of Murudeshwar Temple?

According to history and legends in the chapters of the epic Ramayana, Kaikesi who was the mother of Ravana was also a devotee of shiva. She used to make Lingas out of the beach sand and pray to them daily. However, every night, the sea washed the Linga. Seeing the distraught mother, Ravana promised to her that he will proceed to Mount Kailash and bring back Lord Shiva’s Atma Linga itself to her.

Murudeshwar-Temple-Story

Ravana went to Mount Kailash and performed severe penance to impress Lord Shiva. He sang his praises in the acclaimed Shiva Tandava Stotram. He chopped one of his ten heads as a gift for Lord Shiva. Eventually, Lord Shiva granted him a wish. Ravana asked for the Atma Linga from Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva then took out the Atma Linga from his heart and offered it to Ravana but placed a condition that he should not keep the Linga down until he reaches his destination. If he keeps the Linga down, the Linga will become affixed and nothing can separate it. Ravana agreed and started proceeding southwards towards his kingdom. All the other Lords were afraid as they were sure that Ravana will misuse the Atma Linga to create havoc in the world.

Murudeshwar-Temple-Ravana

Narada approached Lord Ganesha and requested him to interrupt Ravana’s journey. Lord Ganesha was aware of Ravana’s daily rituals especially about the evening bath Ravana would take. With the help of Lord Vishnu, who blotted out the Sun to give an appearance of dusk, Lord Ganesha turned himself into a small boy. Ravana wanted to take a bath but could not put down the idol.

Lord Ganesha disguised as a boy, passed him. Ravana called him and passed on the idol to him giving instructions that he must not place the idol on the ground. The boy placed the idol on the ground before Ravana returned from his bath. Lord Vishnu unblocked the sun and it was daylight again. The place where Lord Ganesha placed the idol is popular as Gokarna.

Murudeshwar-Temple-Atma-Linga

Ravana became furious and tried to uproot the Linga but he could not accomplish it. He threw the case covering the Linga which fell to a place called Sajjeshwara. The lid of the case which held the Linga fell in a place called Gunavanthe and the string covering the Linga fell at Dhareshwara. The cloth covering the Linga fell in Murudeshwar.

Murudeshwar-Temple-History

When Lord Shiva learned of this, he visited these five places and worshiped the Lingas there. He declared that these places will be known as the Pancha Kshetras and anyone who worships here will be free from all their sins.

What is the dress code of Murudeshwar Temple?

The Murudeshwar Temple does not impose any particular dress code for entering into the temple complex. However, one must wear decent clothes to the temple.

Murudeshwar-Temple-Cave

What are the festivals celebrated at Murudeshwar Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Murudeshwar temple are:

  • Mahashivaratri: The festival occurs in February or March. The festival signifies the marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati. Some also believe that this is the day when Lord Shiva absorbed the poison that turned him blue during the churning of Amrit episode in mythology. Devotees also keep fast and sing bhajans throughout the night and into the day. Thousands of pilgrims from in and around Karnataka visit the shrine to receive blessings from the God themselves.
  • Karthik Purnima: The festive day is celebrated in the month of Karthik, usually in November – December. It is believed that Lord Shiva destroyed the three demon cities, collectively known as Tripura of the Tripurasura demon on this day. Some also believe that the day signified the birth of Lord Karthikeyan (Murugan), son of Lord Shiva.

How to reach Murudeshwar Temple?

Here’s how to reach Murudeshwar Temple:

  • Air: The nearest airport is the Mangalore International Airport which is at a distance of 165 km from the Murudeshwar Temple.
  • Train: The nearest railway station is Murudeshwar. The Karwar express from Bengaluru connects Murudeshwar to other important towns.
  • Road: Regular buses are available from major cities of Karnataka.

Where to stay near Murudeshwar Temple?

Several options for a stay are available for pilgrims in the town of Murudeshwar as well as in Bhatkal which is 16 km away. The RNS Residency Hotel is just beside the Murudeshwar Temple and offers sea-facing rooms. Amenities like a swimming pool and a gym are also available.

Apart from that, resorts are available a few kilometers away from Murudeshwar. Also, The Naveen Beach Resort and the Kamath Yatri Nivas are the nearest to the temple complex.

Where to eat near Murudeshwar Temple?

One can visit the canteen near the Parking place in front of the Murudeshwar Temple Complex for small meals like Dosas, Vadas, Coffee, and Tea. The town of Murudeshwar is host to a large number of small restaurants that primarily serve authentic South Indian cuisine.

The majority of the hotels in the town are either near the beach or near the railway station. Certain hotels near the railway station serve North Indian dishes as well as Chinese cuisine. One can also find Non-vegetarian hotels to get a taste of delicious seafood native to the beaches.

What are some of the temples nearby?

Explore-Murudeshwar

Some temples near Murudeshwar temple are:

  • Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna: The temple is located 54 km away from Murudeshwar Temple. The Linga of the temple is the Atma Linga, which Lord Shiva gave to Ravana. Gokarna is also a Mukti Sthala, where funeral rites take place.
  • Idagunji Maha Ganapathi Temple: The famous and ancient temple for Lord Ganesha is about 20 km away from Murudeshwar Temple. It dates back to about 1500 years.
  • Kollur Mookambika Temple: The famous temple is 60 km away from Murudeshwar Temple. The presiding deity is Goddess Mookambikai also famous as Devi and in front of her idol, is a Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The unique feature of the Linga is that it consists of two unequal parts – The Smaller right part represents Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and the larger Left part represents Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Murudeshwar Temple open throughout the year?

Yes, the Murudeshwar Temple is open all 365 days of the year.

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Murudeshwar Temple is free of cost.

Is there any online darshan facility available?

No. There is no facility for online darshan available.

Is there any facility for specially-abled and senior citizens?

No. There is no facility for specially-abled and senior citizens.

What is the weather like during the summer?

The summers in Murudeshwar starts from April and continue until June. The summers here can be very hot and humid. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 38 º C.

What are winters like in Murudeshwar?

In Murudeshwar, winters start in October and continue until March. The temperatures during this time range from around 15 º C to 25 º C. The weather during this time is cool and pleasant.

If you have any questions about The Murudeshwar Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

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