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Thursday, March 28 2024
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Mangaluru

Exploring the holy town of Dharmasthala

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Mangaluru: Perpetually consumed by wanderlust, I love to travel and explore new cities. Mostly, I have covered hill stations, architectural beauties, places of history and a bit of western culture, but one thing that eluded me was the religious wonders in my own country. India is a land of a multitude of religions. We have a cultural diversity like no other country in the world. And these religious marvels are worth a visit. So, on my recent trip, I decided to take a tour of the holy town of Dharmasthala.

Dharmasthala is a temple town located about 75 km away from Mangalore. As I was on a tour in Mangalore, I decided to extend my trip from Mangalore to Dharmasthala. You can take a bus from Mangalore to Dharmasthala or avail of a reliable car rental from Mangalore. The town is situated on the banks of the Nethravathi River. Many people suggested that I visit a few famous temples at Dharmasthala. These included the Dharmasthala temple, the Kukke Subramanya, the Udupi, the Murudeshwar, the Kollur, the Sringeri and the Horanadu. All of these places have a spiritual and mythological story behind them which is surely a tale to narrate!

  • The Dharmasthala temple: On reaching the town, I made my way directly to the pilgrim shelter at the Dharmasthala. I didn’t go for hotels this time as I wanted an experience like no other in the temple town. And it’s not surprising that the stay was extremely subsidized. Even the food was free of charge. After lunch, I visited the centuries-old Sri Manjunatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. After standing in the queue for some time, I finally made it to the inner sanctum. The statue of Bahubali is enormous and beautifully carved. The inner architecture is soothing. I prayed for a while and left with the goodie bag of prasad. The dining area is named as Annapurna, where one has to sit on the floor and eat in a traditional way. The food was simple and consisted of delicious cultural delicacies. For a peaceful walk afterward, I strolled in the park nearby. 
  • Manjusha Museum: Near the park is a small museum. Intrigued to know the history of the place, I went there. With a minimal entry charge of Rs. 5, the narrow entrance opened into a large hall, filled with exciting old stuff. I spent almost an hour there admiring the paintings, idols, coins, weapons, personal items used by kings – like ivory brushes, monocles, pens, etc. The museum definitely takes you back in time. 
  • Kukke Subramanya Temple: In the evening, I took a tour of the nearby temples. Kukke Subramanya was one of them located in the heart of the village of Subrahmanya. Kartikeya is worshipped in this temple, as Subramanya, lord of all serpents. According to the myths, when threatened by Garuda, the divine serpent Vasuki and other serpents found refuge under Subramanya. The temple is surrounded by nature on all sides. The mountain Kumara Parvatha and Shesha Parvatha overlook the temple protecting it and adding seven stars to its charm. 
  • Udupi: About an hour from Dharmasthala, Udupi is a city known for its Hindu temples. The huge, Sri Krishna Temple, built in the 13th-century, houses a mesmerizing statue of Lord Krishna. Nearby, you can also visit the ancient Anantheshwara Temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 
  • Horanadu: Horanadu is a village situated on the banks of river Bhadra, about 2 hours from Dharmasthala. It is surrounded by natural vegetation, forests, green lands, and verdant beauty of the Western Ghats. This village is a haven for those seeking solace. Located at its center is the Annapoorneshwari temple of the great deity of Adishakthyathmaka Sri Annapoorneshwari’s Prathistapana which was built by his holiness Agastya Maharishi several centuries ago. It is an enormous, fully dressed stone sculpture.

The trip to Dharmasthala was a memorable one. As a comfortable option, I chose to book a cab from Mangalore to Dharmasthala which was a great decision. All the lovely architecture and sculptures moved me from within. Also, booking a cab from Mangalore to Dharmasthala helped me travel carefree and safe at my own leisure. There are so many reliable car rentals from Mangalore that you can opt for.

 

 

 

 

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