Places to Visit in India

The accent town of Sringeri is brimming with temples, wonderful heritage and culture and will make your Karnataka tour package unique.

Sringeri is a town in Karnataka, that is not only flourishing with stunning temples but also blessed with stunning hills and avenues. It is one of those perfect towns that will show you the best of both man-made and nature-made beauty.

You will witness unadulterated and pure Kannad beauty in Sringeri. On your tour to Karnataka, make sure to visit this town and witness the history and nature play a soulful harmony.

A Dash Of History

According to the legends, that you will often hear on your Karnataka tour package to Sringeri, Sri Adi Shankara was in search for a place to build his mutt. He desired to have a holy place, a place that radiates a holy aura. Thus, in his quest, he came to the town of Sringeri and felt positive energy emanating from Sringeri. From that moment onwards, he decided to build his mutt here, which later became an icon in Sringeri. Many tourists and devotee visit the Sringeri Math.

Reaching The Town

Once you reach Sringeri on your Karnataka tour, you will find awe-inspiring greenery and fresh air that comes from the coast of Karnataka. The sheer beauty of the scenery is quite something and will feel at peace from the moment you come here. A thin mist clouds the rustic mountains. The roads are as smooth as it can get. You can feel the positive energy radiate through the air and feel you up with warmth and tranquillity.

The Temples

Sringeri also has mesmerising temples, that are not only architectural marvels but also filled with anecdotes and history. On your Sringeri Temple Tour, here are some of the temples that you must not miss:

Sringeri Sharada Mutt

You cannot finish your Sringeri Temple Tour without visiting the Sringeri Sharada Peetham or the Sringeri Mutt. This gorgeous Mutt is located by the Tunga River, making it look even more peaceful and tranquil.

Established by Adi Shankaracharya, the Sringeri Mutt came into existence in the 8th Century. On your trip, you can walk across the complex and admire the architecture.

The Sringeri Sharada Peetham consists of many buildings. These structures are mostly samadhis of the earlier Shankaracharyas. You can also find the Guru Nivas, which is a large hall, where Shankaracharya deliver his sermons. This hall is quite magical, and if you stay here for long, you will be able to visualise the great sage delivering his sermons. It is an enthralling experience.

There are two main temples inside the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. In one Goddess Saraswati is worshipped, and is called The Sharadambal temple while the other is dedicated to Lord Shiva- The Vidya Shankara temple

The Sharadambal Temple

One of the first temples on your Sringeri Temple tour is the Sharadambal temple. The highlights of this gorgeous temple is the Gopuram that adorns the skyline. This temple was recently renovated. And you can still see the fresh paint popping on the walls. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Sharada Devi, which also Adi Shankara had bought from Kashmir.

Once you step inside the temple, you will notice the Goddess sitting on a wheel, and is holding a garland in her hand. In this temple, the idol is made up of Sandalwood. You can almost smell the aromatic sandalwood as you enter the temple.

The deity of Sharada Devi is resplendent. She wears royal clothes, glittering jewellery and flowers. Just glance at this beauty and exit the temple with fond memories of its beauty.

The Vidya Shankara Temple

The next temple that you must visit on your Karnataka tour is the Vidya Shankara temple. One of the most stunning temples archaeologically, the Vidya Shankara Temple is a sight to behold. You will notice a stone structure located right in the middle situated on a high platform.

After admiring this beauty, enter the temple to continue your Sringeri Temple tour. Here you will find 12 intricately adorned pillars. These pillars are not identical, that is, the four pillars located right at the corner were larger than the rest of them. These pillars represent the 12 zodiac signs. The first rays of the sun fall on the zodiac pillar according to the month we are in.

Look up at the ceiling when you reach the mandapa. Here, you will notice beautiful lotuses and parrots carved into it.

At the sanctum, you will find a huge Shivalinga made out of black stone. Stories suggest, that those who meditate in front of this Linga, can see divine visions.

Adi Shankara Temple

Inside the complex, you will also find a little shine devoted to Adi Shankara. The walls of the temples are painted with the anecdotes and stories of his life. You can know all about him just by reading through these paintings.

The temple sanctum is preceded by a little staircase. This staircase has two elephants by its side. This small shrine is quite serene, and you can spend some idle hours here.

Other Places To See In Sringeri

Once you have visited the beautiful Sringeri Matha, you can explore the rest of the town. There is a little bridge that will lead you to a dense forest part. This area has an administrative building, and you will find the Aham Brahmasmi written over these buildings. You will also find young children reciting the Vedas as they are sitting in front of their Guru. It is quite an adorable and personal sight to witness on your Karnataka tour.

You can also visit the Parshwanath Jain Basadi. This is a small shrine for Jains. It is quite difficult to find and you might just miss it, so keep an eye out.

Malahanikareshwara Temple

This ancient temple is often missed. The Mallappa Betta hills hides this temple.

Once you reach the Malahanikareshwara Temple on your Karnataka tour, you will find a massive Shivalinga. The temple is located right in the middle of this temple. This Shivalinga detoxifies your body and gets rid of all the toxins in your body. There are few other smaller shrines in the complex, however, nothing can compare to the beauty of the Malahanikareshwara Temple.

Very few people visit this temple. Here, you might just be the only person here. This makes it all the more serene and wondrous.

Some other places that you can witness on your Karnataka Tour in Sringeri are:

Annapoorneshwari Temple- Locals worship Goddess Annapoorneshwari in this temple. The temple is situated by the banks of Bhadra River.

Kavi Kuvempu Museum- This museum for the great poet- Kuvempu. All of his personal belongings and many of his anecdotes can be kept here.

Uluve Bird Sanctuary- A relaxing getaway right into the heart of nature. You will be privy to some exotic and rare birds flying around.

Srimane Falls- This cascading rainfall is located only 12 km from Sringeri, and will add a nice touch to your Karnataka tour package.