Pilgrimage in Karnataka
The state of unity in diversity, Karnataka has its deep roots in spirituality and divinity. One of the most important pilgrimages centres in India, Karnataka has a large number of Jain temples, Hindu shrines, Buddhist pilgrimages, mosques and Churches. Every town of Karnataka is associated with the mythological background of India. Thousands of people come to Karnataka from all over the world seeking spiritual enlightenment. Embark on a spiritual tour to Karnataka through the magnificent temple and stone built statues. See below for further details: Hindu Temples in Karnataka
There are more than 34,000 temples in Karnataka, and two of them even list the in UNESCO world heritage sites. This Southwestern state is a land full of legends and tales; there are many shrines in Karnataka that act as evidence of authenticity. Mostly temples in Karnataka were built during the 10th century and are dedicated to Lord Shiv along with Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, and Nandi. Visit the heritage destination of Mysore and Somnathpur to see some of the exquisite temples. Also worth visiting are the seven muktistalas of Karnataka- Udupi, Kollur, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana, and Gokarna. All these shrines are also known as Parasurama Kshetras as they were build on a land that was claimed from the sea by Parashurama. Seven muktistalas are cradled in the Western Ghats in the coastal region of Karnataka.
In Karnataka, one can see diverse temple styles, which were contributed by yesteryear rulers. Badami Chalukyas was the builders of rock cut caves and ancient temple complexes and one the finest example of such architecture is the group of temples at Pattadakal. The Hoysalas also gained supremacy in the past. Hoysalas Kingdom temples were made on raised complex star shaped platforms. The best example of Hoysalas Kingdom architecture is Hoysaleswara Temple. The grandest of all the religious monuments in the sacred center is the Vitthala temple. Striking temple with its elaborated mandapas (columned halls) is devoted to Vitthala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Karnataka is indeed a perfect place for spiritual tourism in India as it allows as it allows one to peak in the history and rich Indian culture of India.
Famous Pilgrimage centres in Karnataka
| Gokarna | Murdeshwar | Hampi | Madikeri | Dharmasthala |
| Talakadu | Mudukutore | Basava Kalyana | Gadag | Badami |
| Koppal | Hubli-Dharwad | Karwar | Raichur |
Famous Hindu Temples in Karnataka:
| Virupaksha Temple, Hampi | OmkareshwaraTemple, Madikeri | Shrikantheshwara Temple, Mysore |
| Virupaksha and the Mallikarjuna Temples, Pattadakal | Shri Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru | Shri Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru |
| Marikamba Temple, Sagar | Shri Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru | Someshwara Temple, Someshwara |
| Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Magadi | Kukke Subrahmanya Temple Near Mangalore | Kollur Mookambika Temple Near Murudeshwar |
