King Lingarajendra II constructed the Omkareshwara temple at Madikeri in 1820 as a penance. The temple, which has a dome in the middle, was constructed in the Muhammadan architectural style. It has four turrets on each of its four corners. A linga has been placed next to the temple’s front door. The water tank in front of the temple, which is home to a variety of fish, is another appealing architectural element.
As a penance, King Lingarajendra II constructed the Omkareshwara Temple in the 18th century. According to the temple’s narrative, King Lingarajendra II killed a brahmin who had exposed his wrongdoings in order to further his political ambitions.
Later on, though, the soul of Brahmin is supposed to have manifested as Brahmaraksha, who retaliated against the king for his brutality. As a result, after Brahmin’s death, the King began experiencing nightmares that greatly disturbed him.
King turned to other learnt brahmins for assistance in trying to put an end to the dreams. Brahmins suggested that he construct a temple. They claim that the construction of the temple devoted to Lord Shiva will put an end to the King’s mental suffering.
King heeded the advise since he was frantic to calm his mind by placating the spirit of the Brahmins. Then, from the spiritual village of Kashi, he brought the sacred Shiva Lingam. The Shiva Lingam was placed in the temple and given the name Omkareshwara. The temple is now called Omkareshwara temple as a result.
With our Coorg tour packages, you may explore the Omkareshwara Temple, which features a distinctive fusion of Gothic and Islamic architectural elements. In addition to seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings, visitors can take in the temple’s unique architectural design, which is somewhat reminiscent of an Islamic dargah due to its massive central dome and four minarets encircling its four corners.
The temple’s history is documented on a copper plate that is located on the entry door. The temple’s windows are made of bars that were constructed using panchaloha. There are the letters “lim” positioned between the window bars.
There is a water tank with a variety of freshwater fish inside the shrine. A walkway connects the mandapa, which is located in the middle of the water tank. Children that visit the temple are particularly drawn to the fish in the water tank.
In contrast to the majority of Indian temples, Omkareshwara temples lack a pillared hall, and the sacred Shiva lingam is situated close to the entrance. The temple is a great spot to visit because of its straightforward design and serene surroundings.
Every day of the month, the temple is accessible. Omkareshwara Temple is open from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Once more, it opens at 5:00 PM and ends at 8:00 PM. The temple does not charge admission. The temple is open for visits throughout the year.
It takes around 1 hour to visit Omkareshwara Temple.
There is a Satyanarayana Pooja every full moon day of the month. A Ganahoma at Kote Ganapathi temple is also conducted every 1st tuesday of the months.
It is easy to get to the Omkareshwara temple, which is situated in the town of Madikeri. Madikeri’s connections to the rest of the Karnataka state are excellent. To get to the temple, visitors can use local transportation in Madikeri, such as taxis or autorickshaws.
When travelling by road, visitors can choose to take one of the private or KSRTC buses that frequently depart from Bangalore, Mysore, Virajpet, and Mangalore. Madikeri is also accessible by daily bus from Kerala. If you only have one day, you can look at this Oneday travel package from Mysore to Coorg.
It takes around three hours to travel the roughly 118 kilometres from Mysore to Madikeri, while it takes about three hours and fifteen minutes to travel the approximately 138 km from Mangalore to Madikeri.
There isn’t a train station in Madikeri. Therefore, if you intend to use the train, you must disembark at the closest train stations in Mysore or Hassan, Kasargod, and Kannur.
Day | Timing |
---|---|
Monday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Tuesday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Wedesday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Thursday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Friday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Saturday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
Sunday | 6:30 am – 12:00 pm 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm |