Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala
Dharmasthala, Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district (on the Nethravathi river) · Lord Manjunatha (Manjunatheshwara), Shiva as a linga; with the Dharma Daivas, Shri Ammanavaru (the Goddess) and Annappa Swamy
A Shiva temple served by Vaishnava priests and run by a Jain family, where every pilgrim is fed.
Dharmasthala, an 800-year-old pilgrim town on the Nethravathi in Dakshina Kannada, is unique in Indian religion: its Shaiva temple to Manjunatha is worshipped by Madhva (Vaishnava) Brahmin priests and administered by the Jain Heggade family, whose head is regarded as the Lord's living representative. The kshetra is famous for its four great charities (anna, aushadha, vidya and abhaya dana: food, medicine, education and protection from fear). Its Annapoorna kitchen feeds tens of thousands of pilgrims free every day, and people of all faiths still bring disputes to the Heggade to be settled in the Lord's name.
Timings
- Temple gates open: 4:00 AM (Vedic cleansing before darshan)
- Darshan (morning): 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM (paused around noon for Mahapuja and Nithyabali)
- Darshan (evening): 5:00 – 8:30 PM
- Annaprasadam lunch: Tue – Sat 11:00 AM – 2:45 PM; Sun & Mon 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Annaprasadam dinner: 7:00 – 10:00 PM daily
- Tulabhara: 8:00 – 9:00 AM and 12:30 – 1:30 PM
- Shri Mudi (tonsure): Tue – Sat 6 AM – 2 PM, 5 – 7 PM; Sun & Mon 5 AM – 3 PM, 5 – 7 PM
- Note: Per shridharmasthala.org. The temple notes timings may vary on special occasions and crowded days, and it closes during eclipses.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- Special/VIP darshan – Not offered
Sevas and costs
- Shatha Rudrabhisheka (Sri Manjunatha Swamy) – ₹500 (Daily, 8:30 – 10:30 AM)
- Panchamruthabhisheka with Ekadasha Rudrabhisheka, Brahmadaya and Brahmarpana – ₹250 (Mornings (check at counter))
- Bilva Pathrarchana – ₹10 (During darshan hours)
- Sri Prasada / Theertha Prasada / Karpoorarathi – ₹70 / ₹20 / ₹2 (During darshan hours)
- Pavamanabhisheka (Shri Ammanavaru) – ₹500 (Mornings (check at counter))
- Flower Pooja (Shri Ammanavaru) – ₹300 (Daily)
- Panchamruthabhisheka / Kunkumarchana / Karpoorarathi (Shri Ammanavaru) – ₹150 / ₹20 / ₹2 (Daily)
- Balivada Pooja (Sri Annappa Swamy) – ₹100 (Daily)
- Bellakai Naivedya / Karpoorarathi (Sri Annappa Swamy) – ₹20 / ₹2 (Daily)
- Tulabhara – Check official site (depends on item and weight) (All days; 8:00 – 9:00 AM and 12:30 – 1:30 PM (ending time depends on bookings))
- Shri Mudi (tonsure) – Check at Shri Mudi counter (fee payable) (Tue – Sat 6 AM – 2 PM and 5 – 7 PM; Sun & Mon 5 AM – 3 PM and 5 – 7 PM)
- Special Pooja and Utsava – Check with the Parupathyagar (Utsavas are performed from Deepavali to Hathanavadhi (about May 24); not on festival days)
How to book darshan
Darshan is free and needs no booking. Rooms and Tulabhara are booked on the temple's own booking site (bookings.shridharmasthala.org, linked from shridharmasthala.org). Other sevas are paid at the temple seva counter; special pujas through the Parupathyagar. The temple warns that its guest houses can be booked only through its official website.
Dharmasthala online room booking
Dress code
Men must remove shirt and banian (vest) before entering the sanctum. Men in half pants (shorts) and women in nighties are not allowed in for darshan. Wear a dhoti, mundu or trousers (men) and a saree, churidar or long skirt (women).
Best time to visit
October to March. Lakshadeepotsava (November/December) is the grandest time. Weekends, school holidays and Shivaratri are very crowded; weekday mornings are calmest.
How to reach
- air: Mangaluru International Airport, about 65 km.
- rail: Mangaluru Junction/Central is about 74 km; the Netravati Express and other trains connect it to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kerala. Subrahmanya Road station is another option for the Kukke–Dharmasthala route.
- road: KSRTC buses from Bengaluru (approx. 300 km, overnight), Mangaluru (about 2 hours), Udupi, Mysuru and Kukke Subrahmanya (approx. 55 km). Ujire town is about 8 km.
Festivals
- Laksha Deepotsava – Last five days of Kartika month (November–December)
- Deepavali – October/November
- Maha Shivaratri – February/March
- Annual Jathre – April, nine days
- Navaratri – September/October
- Ganesha Chaturthi and Chandramana Ugadi – August/September; March/April