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-   -   Tirthayathre: Kukke-Dharmasthala-Udipi-Murudeshwar-Kollur-Sringeri-Hornadu (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/98562-tirthayathre-kukke-dharmasthala-udipi-murudeshwar-kollur-sringeri-hornadu.html)

Hi friends
Just 2 days back, we were back from a trip to the following places:

Bangalore-Kukke-Dharmasthala-Udipi-Murudeshwar-Kollur-Sringeri-Hornadu-Bangalore

I first start with our itrenary
Day1:
Bangalore-Tumkur road-Kunigal-Chennarayaptna-Hasan-Sakleshpur-Kukke
Lunch at a hotel on the way
Kukke-Dharmasthala
Night stay at Dharmasthala in Rajatadri guest house

Day :2
Dharmasthala-Ujire-Karkala-Manipal-Udipi
Lunch at Udipi temple
Udipi-marvanthe-Bhatkal-Murudeshwar
Murudeshwar-Bhatkal-Biandur-Kollur
Night stay at Kollur in Hotel Adiga

Day 3:
Kollur-Vandse-Haladi-Goliemgadi-Agumbe-Sringeri
Lunch at Sringeri
Sringeri-jaipura-Kalasa-Hornadu
Hornadu-kalasa-Kottigere-Mudigere-Belur-Hasan-Kunigal-Bangalore
Avoid Gonebidu route while reaching Belur from Mudigere and take the other route that goes via Gendehally.


We both and my cousin's family were all set to go on a 3 day trip towards Udipi but with no exact plan in mind where to start and where to end even after being on the road. We satred towards Tumku road and after lot of discussion and consultation with some experienced guys, decided to first go to Kukke. We reached there in the evening and after having a very satisfactory darshan of lord Subrahmanya, we started towards Dharmasthala with an idea to stay there that night. We reached there at around 8 o'clock, took room in the Rajatadri guest house near Bus stop and then started hurriedly to temple since we were told that the darshan closes by 8.30. We were extremely lucky to be the last ones allowed into the temple after a bit of requesting the guards there. The golden idol of Lord Manjunatheswara was really striking and even the Godess is a great competetor to that. After filling the eyes and heart with such a darsha, now its the the turn of our stoamch. Keeping in mind the previous experience of our couple, we were hesitating a bit to go and dine in the temple annadana. But, to test our luck again, we sat there and this time the result was a happy one. The Rasam served was very tasty treat to the hungry stomachs.
The procession going on at that time in the temple was really strange and great. Some were going ahead of, the Palanquin carrying god, with flag posts of different colours in their hands. Some were playing the drums being carried witht them. A priest wearing all the gold ornaments(may be of the lord) on his body was accompanying the palanquin. Some other priests were offering lumps of cooked rice with mantra recitation and an act like Samprokshana. Later an elephant was made to lead the procession group with chamara in his trunk to fan the god. The entire process was unique and we were told that such procession takes place there every monday and some other special days. We felt ouselves lucky to witness such a thing and do circumambulations to the temple along with the God.
Even the rooms of the devasthan deserve great appreciation for their maintaince and neatnesswith required furniture. That night we had sound sleep with great feasts to body, mind and soul.
Next morning, I was the incharge to see that everyone wakes up by 5.30 and gets ready by 7.30 atleast. Our neaxt hit was Udipi, the abode of lord Krishna as a boy. The very sight of the idol of the Lord here is very fascinating with great decoration of ornaments and flowers. By then, it was lunch time and we dared to experience the unique feature of this temple, one might have never heard of. The food here is served on the bare floor. We were in great confusion, till the moment the food was served before us, how that was possible, since the typical Karnataka food itself has Rasam and Sambar as it main dishes. But that was altogether a different experience at the end since we may not have the chance to do so anywhere or with anyone else. Again here, the taste of the food and the maintaince of the premises, despite serving on the floor, were really really good. With all smiles for the event happened, we were on the roads to reach Murudeshwar. This destination was a feast to nature lovers since one can reach the 18th floor of the gigantic structure of the rajagopuram. Thanks to the management for the lift facility. The idol of Lord Murudeshwar, with Arabian sea as its back drop, was awesome. The beach side restaurent offers a feel of the very pleasant atmosphere. The slightly spicy snacks in such a cool and windy surroundings leave one with unperturbed relaxation.
After making ourselves comfortable by filling our bellies, the engine was on raise again to reach Kollur, where a dumb demon Mookasura was killed by the Godess to derive her name Mookambika. The temple architecture says it all that it was an old construction but the darshan of the small idol of the Godess was a great blessing. With a dilemma for some time whether to start for Sringeri or stay there in Kollur itself, at last we stopped there that night since we have no idea how the route was. The next day when we were on the way to Srinigeri, our decision was declared to be the prompt one since the Agumbe ghat on the way there, was really challenging to drive.
Oh! What to say about Sringeri! For me, that is the heaven on the earth. The very beautiful idol of Sarada Mata- you can't turn your gaze away from that. Wish, the time stops there for ever. We even had the darshan of the peethadhipathi Sri Bharati Teertha Swami who was addressing some vedic students in the Guru Nivas. The mid day lunch was at the temple annadana complex which was again a master piece.
The last stop of the trip was Hornadu which was 70 KM from Sringeri. The darshan of Annapurneswari is definitely a great memory to the spiritual journey of ones life. The route to reach here was like a puzzle since we don't know whether we're climbing up the hill or coming down. but the destination amidst hills on all its sides gives us great scenic postures. Even the drive is a great memory to be remembered.
By the time we reached back our homes, it was late in the night but since there were 2 drivers, we felt no stress at any moment. At the end, all are very happy to catch a trip that makes us smile whenever recalled.

Photos will be posted soon.

Here are my pics

Some more here
Hornadu Temple


Food served on the floor in Udipi







Hornadu

Hornadu

Kollur Temple

Kukke temple

Murudeshwar Gopuram

Udipi temple entrance

Sringeri temple

Sri rama kshetra near dharma sthala

Murudeshwar statue

Marvantha beach

Udipi temple

You have a way with words man... Very nice description, in fact I have become curious now. I have never visited the temple despite driving through Sringeri town hordes of times.

Yikes, is this for real? :Shockked: I never realized this was being done in mass scale. Hmm, despite visiting Krishna Mutt 100s of times, I don't think I ever had lunch there...

@Crazydrives ..Nice and good narration of the travelogue along with crisp pics.

High time for you to visit the temple Samurai. Lovely temple.
This is one of the temple where there isn't much of a queue for the darshana. I love the prasada (the orange coloured sweet made of coconut) of this temple.

The temple premises is totally getting renovated since an year, same with Dharmasthala too. Even Kukke Subramanya was getting repainted when I last visited, so whatz that most of the temples in this region is getting renovated/painted ?

Reminded me of my earlier drives there. Have visited many temples too here.
The entire area is so green and so beautiful.
Kollur is one place I must visit here.

Good photos and info. Thank you crazydrives.

@Crazydrives, isn't the food served on floor is Sringeri ?

no its Udipi

Hey Samurai dont worry
you will have the option of eating in plates too in a different batch
But i think that is a one time experience and we too were curious how it was possible. So tried the adventure :cool:

Yes. As Sushrutha rightly said it is a nice temple and serene atmosphere. Best thing is to be there early in the mornig when crowd is less. Dont miss visiting the Sanskrit Pathashala on the other side of the river for its award winning architecture.

Crazydrives,

Your next trip should be to explore Malenadu making Tirthahalli as base:)

Thank you Fauji
I've immediately seen the thread related to Malenadu and it sounds quite interesting. We'll definitely make it soon.

Well to say a little more on the "Food served on the floor" at Krishna Mutt, Udupi : it is not that every one who is planing to have food at the Krishna Mutt will have to eat from the floor! It is mostly done as thanks giving to Lord Anjaneya (referred as "Mukhya Prana Devaru" ) presiding over the bhojanashala of Krishna Mutt (there are two places inside the mutt were Lord Anjaneya is worshiped). People mostly come to that special bhojanashala to eat from the floor when their prayers are answered!!

Good information from Vinboy.
we were thinking of what could be the reason behind such a special thing
In fact the place where the food is served is quite clean and once we start eating, we no more feel like we are eating so.

@crazydrives : Thanks for this travelogue. I am planning to drive from Kollur to Sringeri via Agumbe on 27th May. Could you please let me know how this stretch was and how many hours it took for the drive till Sringeri. I am driving a Toyota Innova and travelling with elders and kids - so driving will be sedate. Thanks

hi godeepdive
The Kollur to Sringeri stretch via Agumbe ghat was an excellent enjoyment to the one who live to drive(team bhpin)
Actually we were told that during night it may get closed so we didn't dare to go ahead. One more thing is that it has got many hair pin bends..... as many as 16.
The drive took us around 3 hours We started after breakfast in Kollur and were there at Sringeri for lunch . we trvelled slowly enjoying the beauty of the ghat.