Sringeri is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centers in Karnataka, and is home to the Sarada Peetham established by the revered spiritual leader Aadi Sankaracharya. Sringeri is located amidst the Sahyadri hills in Chikmaglur district of Karnataka on the left bank of the river Tungabhadra. Aadi Sankaracharya established the Sarada Peetham here in the 1st millennium CE.
The Sharada temple, dedicated to the Goddess of learning and wisdom, has grown from a simple shrine dating to the time of Adi Shankaracharya. In the fourteenth century, Vidyaranya is said to have replaced the old sandalwood image with a stone and gold image. After an unexpected fire that damaged the structure, the current structure was built in the traditional Dravidian style of temple architecture. For more information visit wikipedia.
The Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri was built in memory of Guru Vidyashankara or Vidyathirtha by Vidyaranya, a patron-saint of Harihara and Bukka, the brothers who founded the Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural features. It stands on a richly sculptured basement. There are six doorways leading into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam are named the Raasi pillars, and are so arranged that the sun's rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.
For details on individual temples in Sringeri, visit official website ofSringeri Sarada Peetham. Information is also available atindiatemples.com
Free meals are served to the devotees in the afternoon at the newly constructred hall ("bhojanalaya") behind the Sarada temple. Sringeri has guest houses run by the temple administration. There are many private lodges.
Flash slide show of photos of my Sringeri trip
Places to visit from Sringeri include Annapoorneshari Temple at Horanadu, Rishyashringa Temple at Kigga, Venugopalaswami Temple and Sunset Spot at Agumbe, Kalaseshwara Temple at Kalasa, Rambapuri Matha at Balehonnur, Veerebhdra swamy and Chittemakki Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Koppa. Those interested in trekking can visit Kudlutheertha falls after descending Agumbe ghats and crossing Someshwara.
My travel log
We left from Davangere on car at 7 am and reached Sringeri at 11.30 am travelling via Harihar, Honnalli, Shimoga, and Thirthahalli. Throughout the journey (january 2007) we found the roads good enough. People buy puffed rice to feed the fishes in the river, which itself is a big attraction. Fishing is not allowed here. Photography inside the temple too is not allowed.
After visiting the temples and having lunch at Bhojanashala, we left for Kudluthirtha falls via Agumbe ghats.
The Sharada temple, dedicated to the Goddess of learning and wisdom, has grown from a simple shrine dating to the time of Adi Shankaracharya. In the fourteenth century, Vidyaranya is said to have replaced the old sandalwood image with a stone and gold image. After an unexpected fire that damaged the structure, the current structure was built in the traditional Dravidian style of temple architecture. For more information visit wikipedia.
The Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri was built in memory of Guru Vidyashankara or Vidyathirtha by Vidyaranya, a patron-saint of Harihara and Bukka, the brothers who founded the Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural features. It stands on a richly sculptured basement. There are six doorways leading into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam are named the Raasi pillars, and are so arranged that the sun's rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.
For details on individual temples in Sringeri, visit official website ofSringeri Sarada Peetham. Information is also available atindiatemples.com
Free meals are served to the devotees in the afternoon at the newly constructred hall ("bhojanalaya") behind the Sarada temple. Sringeri has guest houses run by the temple administration. There are many private lodges.
Flash slide show of photos of my Sringeri trip
Places to visit from Sringeri include Annapoorneshari Temple at Horanadu, Rishyashringa Temple at Kigga, Venugopalaswami Temple and Sunset Spot at Agumbe, Kalaseshwara Temple at Kalasa, Rambapuri Matha at Balehonnur, Veerebhdra swamy and Chittemakki Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Koppa. Those interested in trekking can visit Kudlutheertha falls after descending Agumbe ghats and crossing Someshwara.
My travel log
We left from Davangere on car at 7 am and reached Sringeri at 11.30 am travelling via Harihar, Honnalli, Shimoga, and Thirthahalli. Throughout the journey (january 2007) we found the roads good enough. People buy puffed rice to feed the fishes in the river, which itself is a big attraction. Fishing is not allowed here. Photography inside the temple too is not allowed.
After visiting the temples and having lunch at Bhojanashala, we left for Kudluthirtha falls via Agumbe ghats.
