- Mar 07, 2025
After planning a trip to Karnataka, one of the primary concerns for you might be to cover all the famous temples in the state if you are a spiritual person or want to get familiar with the culture here. Concerning that, Karnataka comprises various fascinating temples which have their own story and beauty behind them. All these reflect the City's spiritual side, Attracting thousands of tourists who come here to experience surreal vibes. Therefore, if you are also looking to explore some of the famous temples for your next trip to Karnataka, then go through the below section, and you will be able to get the best references.
Top 12 famous Temples in Karnataka to explore:
1. Durga Temple, Aihole:
Durga Temple, in Aihole, is famed the most because of its Cradle of Temple Architecture, as this village has been the hub for about 125 temples in and around it. Whenever tourists visit Karnataka, they will have a tour of this village or pass by Aihole, and one of its most famous and popular temples in the town is the Durga Gudi Temple. It was built in the 7th Century AD, and this temple is known for its pleasing rock-cut architecture. Moreover, it was built in an apsidal and oblong shape that sets it apart.
2. Keshava Temple, Somnathpur:
The Keshava Temple, Somnathpur, was built in 1268 AD and is situated in Somnathpur of Mysore. It is one of the most famous temples in Karnataka. The oldest temple is one of the best-preserved temples of the Hoysala empire, entirely covered with sculptures. One of the unique features of Keshava Temple is the three-star-shaped sanctuaries designed with intricate sculptures. The location of Keshava Temple is about 40 km from the Mysore Airport, and it is the temple you will never forget to miss while visiting Karnataka.
3. Murudeshwar Shiva Temple, Bhatkal:
Murudeshwar Shiva Temple, Bhatkal, is in the Bhatkal district of the town of Murudeshwar, which has some of the best and most popular Shiva Temples in Karnataka. This temple is popular because it houses the world's largest statue of Lord Shiva and offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea. Tourists should add this place to their bucket list because it will give travellers a view of the "Lord Shiva's" statue and allow them to walk around the place and get familiar with the Bhatkal district.
Also Read: Top 10 Famous Temples in Delhi
4. Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar:
Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar, is also one of the most popular temples and is well-known in Karnataka. The temple is situated in a tiny village called Kammasandra, which is in the Kolar district and is known for housing the tallest and most prominent "Shiva Linga" statue in Asia. The special occasion"n within the temple is the time of "Maha Shivaratri," when around 2 lakh devotees v"sit in the temple, "and on this auspicious day, unique offerings are given to Shiva Linga.
5. Badami Cave Temple, Bagalkot:
The Badami Cave Temple, Bagalkot, was built in 578 AD and is Karnataka's most widely known historic temple. It was constructed in Chalukya-style architecture. The Badami temples house four caves that consist of idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, while one is dedicated to Jainism. Badami is one of the amazing tourist spots, as it contains spectacular cave temples, Badami Fort, and other beautiful temples around the Agastya tank. The tourists have easy access to this place without any hurdles, as the nearest airports are Hubli and Belgaum.
6. Banashankari Amma Temple, Bagalkot:
This temple should be on the tourist list because it is located very close to Badami. The Chalukyas constructed the Banashankari Amma temple in the 7th century, and it is dedicated to the Goddess Banashankari Amma. The architecture of this temple is quite fascinating, and tourists can learn more about its history when they visit this place while planning to travel to Karnataka.
7. Vidyashankara Temple, Sringeri:
Vidyashankara Temple was built in memory of Guru Vidyashankara. It boasts both the Dravida and Hoysala styles of architecture. Within the temple premises, there are ruby pictures of the "Lord Srinivasa," "Lord Venugopal," and "Nandi," constructed from a big pearl. In addition, several inscriptions describe the Vijaynagar emperors that are seen across the temple, and it is undoubtedly one of the best temples to be known in Karnataka. The Vidyashankara Temple is located in Sringeri, Karnataka, and tourists can select a local bus and train to reach their desired destination and explore the city.
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8. Vitthala Temple, Hampi:
The Vitthala Temple, Hampi, is one of the most ancient temples in Karnataka. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is quite popular due to its musical monolithic pillars and stone chariots. One of the most important factors of this temple is that it has become one of the well-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The best way for tourists to visit Vitthala Temple is to go from Hospet Railway Station or Bangalore Airport, as these are pretty good channels to pick up and reach the desired destination. This temple has an opening time, and the time is 8 AM to 5 PM.
9. Kollur Mookambika Temple, Kollur:
Kollur Mookambika Temple is the most famous temple in India. It is nestled amongst the hills of Kodachair in the Western Ghats. It is predicted that it is one of the oldest temples, around 1200 years old, and one of the most extremely beautiful. While you plan to visit Kollur Mookambika Temple, you must know one interesting fact: It's believed that goddess Parvati killed KamasuIt'sa demon who was harassing her. The location of Kollur Mookambika Temple is in Kollur, Udupi, Karnataka.
10. Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna:
Gokarna Mahabaleshwar Temple is a famous pilgrimage centre in the North Kannada district. It has been one of the most popular spots in Gokarna and is also home to the serene Mahabaleshwar Temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as Dakshina Kashi. One of the essential facts of this temple is that it is believed to be sacred and has many great powers. This temple should be on your travel list because you can explore the best of this place in a minimal time.
Also Read: 10 Famous Temples in Madhya Pradesh
11. Sree Virupaksha Temple, Hampi:
Sree Virupaksha Temple is one of the oldest yet renowned temples in Karnataka. It is located in the Ballari district and attracts many pilgrims to Hampi. Sree Virupakasha temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva or Virupaksha and was constructed by Lakkan Dandesha. The temple's construction was completed in the 14th century, and by that time, it was one of the prime religious sites. In addition, if the tourists visit Sree Virupaksha Temple, one can attend the festive that takes place here to celebrate the marriage of "Lord Virupaksha and "Goddess Pampa".
12. Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu:
Hoysaleswara Temple, also known as the Halebidu Temple, is located in Halebidu and is one of the most significant monuments in the city. The temple is crowded with visitors from all over the world. It was built in the 12th century, and Lord Shiva is the main deity worshipped. Furthermore, this temple has twin temples and two sanctums; one is for the Hoysaleswara or the King, and the other is for the Shantaleswara or the Queen. Lastly, you should add Halebidu City to your list because this city is fascinating.
Henceforth, these are the top places that tourists should include in their travel list while heading towards Karnataka. Moreover, there will be a never-ending list of temples and places to visit in Karnataka. So, whenever you plan your next trip to this city, you must undertake more and more places to visit because then you will make your trip memorable and exciting. All the places you will add to your bucket list for the Karnataka tour will make it possible for you to get through the city's most spectacular travelling experience and gather historical knowledge.
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