Karnataka is a land of profound spiritual heritage. The state is home to some of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Hinduism, Jainism, and Christianity, drawing millions of devotees and curious travellers from across India and the world. From the ancient temples of Hampi to the holy hill of Shravanabelagola, here are the most famous pilgrimage centres in Karnataka.
1. Dharmasthala — Dakshina Kannada
Dharmasthala on the banks of the Nethravathi River is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in South India. The presiding deity is Lord Manjunatha (Shiva), but uniquely, the temple is managed by the Heggade family — a Jain household — making Dharmasthala a celebrated example of religious harmony. The temple feeds thousands of pilgrims free meals every day through its famous annadana (food charity) programme, and also has a museum and a life-size bronze statue of Bahubali.
2. Udupi — Coastal Karnataka
Udupi is home to the Sri Krishna Matha, one of the most important Vaishnava shrines in India. Founded by the philosopher-saint Madhvacharya in the 13th century, the temple attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees throughout the year. Darshan of Lord Krishna is famously offered through the Kanakana Kindi — a wooden screen adorned with nine holes created in honour of the devotee-poet Kanakadasa. The eight mutts established by Madhvacharya contribute to the rich religious culture of the town.
3. Shravanabelagola — Hassan
Shravanabelagola is the most important pilgrimage site for Jains worldwide. Atop the Vindhyagiri Hill stands the 18-metre monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara (Bahubali) — carved in 981 CE and the tallest free-standing monolithic statue in the world. Every 12 years, the Mahamastakabhisheka festival sees the statue anointed with milk, saffron, and precious stones in one of the most spectacular religious events in India.
4. Kukke Subramanya — Dakshina Kannada
Nestled in the foothills of the Ghats along the Kumaradhara River, Kukke Subramanya Temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) and is considered one of the most powerful serpent deity shrines in South India. Devotees come here to perform Sarpa Dosha Nivarana (serpent curse removal) rites, deeply rooted in the region’s Naga (serpent) worship traditions. The lush forest setting and the river flowing beside the temple give the site a particularly serene atmosphere.
5. Hampi — Vijayanagara
Hampi, the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, is also a major pilgrimage site centred on the Virupaksha Temple — one of the oldest functioning temples in India, with a continuous history of worship dating back over 1,300 years. Lord Virupaksha (a form of Shiva) is the presiding deity, and the temple’s 49-metre gopuram is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Karnataka. The Hampi Utsav festival each November draws enormous crowds.
6. Gokarna — Uttara Kannada
Gokarna is a sacred coastal town on the shores of the Arabian Sea, home to the Mahabaleshwara Temple which houses what is believed to be the Atma Linga — an ancient Shiva linga of supreme significance. The town is revered for its traditional Hindu atmosphere, with pilgrims performing rituals along the beach. Gokarna’s pristine beaches — Om Beach, Kudle Beach, and Half Moon Beach — attract a mix of pilgrims and travellers seeking both spiritual solace and natural beauty.
7. Melukote — Mandya
Melukote (Melkote) is an immensely significant Vaishnava pilgrimage town in the Mandya district. The Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, perched atop a rocky hill, is associated with the philosopher-saint Ramanujacharya who established the town as a centre of Vishishtadvaita philosophy. The Vairamudi festival, when the presiding deity is adorned with a diamond crown, draws enormous crowds. The hilltop Yoga Narasimha Temple and the scenic Kalyani (temple tank) add to Melukote’s spiritual charm.
8. Sringeri — Chikmagalur
Sringeri in the dense forests of the Western Ghats is the seat of the first of the four dhams (sacred monasteries) established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The Sharada Peetham, dedicated to the goddess Sharada, is a major centre of Advaita Vedanta philosophy and Sanskrit scholarship. The Vidyashankara Temple, built in the 14th century in a blend of Hoysala and Dravida styles, is an architectural masterpiece. The Tunga River flowing serenely through the campus completes a picture of tranquil spirituality.
9. Nanjangud — Mysuru
Known as “Dakshina Kashi” (the Kashi of the South), Nanjangud is a pilgrimage town on the banks of the Kapila River. The Srikanteshwara Temple — dedicated to Lord Shiva — is one of the most revered temples in Karnataka. The annual Nanjangud Dodda Jatra, held in March-April, is one of the largest temple festivals in South India and draws hundreds of thousands of devotees.
10. Kollur — Udupi
Kollur is the site of the Mookambika Temple, dedicated to the goddess Mookambika — a combined form of Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Situated at the base of the Kodachadri hills in the Western Ghats, the temple is one of the Shakti Peethas and is visited by devotees seeking the goddess’s blessings for education, knowledge, and prosperity. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have meditated here.
A State of Sacred Diversity
Karnataka’s pilgrimage landscape reflects the remarkable diversity of Indian spiritual life — temples ancient and modern, Jain hilltop shrines, Vaishnava monasteries, Shaiva coastal towns, and forest hermitages all coexist in a state that has always been a cradle of devotion. Whether you seek darshan, philosophy, art, or simply the peace that comes from standing in a place soaked in centuries of prayer, Karnataka’s sacred sites offer an experience that goes far beyond tourism.
