What to expect
Highlights
- The unique Shaiva–Jain–Vaishnava administration.
- Free meals (annadana) for every pilgrim.
- The Laksha Deepotsava festival of lamps.
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
The Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple, on the bank of the Netravati in Belthangady taluk, is one of the most visited temples in Karnataka and unusual in its make-up: a Shiva (Manjunatha) temple administered by a Jain Heggade family, with Vaishnava Brahmin priests — a living symbol of religious harmony.
Practical guide
Plan Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
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Before you go to Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
Check entry arrangements. Ask temple staff about visitor entry, dress requirements and access to the inner shrine before you travel, especially if you are visiting as a non-Hindu.
Dress respectfully and follow the institution’s admission and photography rules.
Typetemple
Nearest baseDharmasthala
DistrictDakshina Kannada
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1.5 to 2 hours (longer with a meal)
EntryFree
Places to visit2→It is famous for free meals served to all pilgrims, mass weddings, and the Laksha Deepotsava festival of a hundred thousand lamps; the great Bahubali monolith stands on the hill above.
Getting there
How to visit
- ~75 km east of Mangaluru in Belthangady taluk; frequent buses and taxis, and it is on the Mangaluru–Kukke circuit.
- A living temple with a dress code — modest dress required, footwear off; free meals are served at set times and pilgrim accommodation can be arranged by the temple.
Distance by road
- Udupi60 km
- Kasaragod50 km
- Madikeri (Coorg)135 km
- Mysuru250 km
- Bengaluru350 km
Road km to Dakshina Kannada; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; the Laksha Deepotsava (usually Nov–Dec) is the great festival but hugely crowded.
Weather in Dharmasthala Manjunatha TempleSeasonal guide
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Today at Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
Sunrise6:19 am
Sunset6:08 pm
Golden hour best light5:08 pm–6:08 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:08 pm–6:33 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 48%
Sunset is in about 1 hour.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A strict-dress-code living temple — dress modestly, footwear off, and follow the queue and meal-hall rules.
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Top experiences around Dharmasthala
One more place around Dharmasthala worth a day of its own.
heritageBahubali Statue, Dharmasthala
540 m · 7 min walk
A ~39-foot monolithic granite statue of the Jain saint Bahubali (Gommateshwara) on Ratnagiri hill at Dharmasthala, installed in 1973 and anointed at the periodic Mastakabhisheka.
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Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple — at a glance
Timings~6:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:00 - 8:30 PM (confirm)
Best timeOctober to February; Laksha Deepotsava (Nov–Dec) crowded
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome)
Getting here
How to reach Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
~75 km east of Mangaluru in Belthangady taluk; bus/taxi
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
heritageBahubali Statue, Dharmasthala
A ~39-foot monolithic granite statue of the Jain saint Bahubali (Gommateshwara) on Ratnagiri hill at Dharmasthala, installed in 1973 and anointed at the periodic Mastakabhisheka.
540 m · 7 min walk · straight line
templeKukke Subramanya Temple
A major temple to Subramanya (Kartikeya) worshipped as a serpent deity, set in Western Ghats forest at the foot of Kumara Parvatha — the chief place in the region for Sarpa Dosha (serpent-affliction) rituals.
41.8 km · ~70 min by cab · straight line
wildlifePilikula Nisarga Dhama
A large nature park on the edge of Mangaluru with a biological park (zoo), a lake, a heritage village, a botanical garden and a science centre and planetarium.
55.6 km · ~93 min by cab · straight line
templeKateel Durgaparameshwari Temple
A revered temple to the goddess Durgaparameshwari set on an islet in the Nandini river about 29 km north of Mangaluru, reached across a bridge, famed for its Yakshagana tradition and annual festivals.
55.9 km · ~93 min by cab · straight line
templeKadri Manjunath Temple
An ancient temple to Manjunatha (Shiva) on Kadri hill in Mangaluru, renowned for its 10th–11th-century bronze idols — including a celebrated seated Lokeshvara — a stepped tank complex and links to both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
57.3 km · ~95 min by cab · straight line
churchSt Aloysius Chapel
A chapel in Mangaluru whose walls and ceilings are covered in vivid frescoes painted by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899–1900, often likened to a miniature Sistine Chapel.
58.6 km · ~98 min by cab · straight line
templeMangaladevi Temple
The temple to the goddess Mangaladevi that gives Mangaluru its name — a 9th-century Shakti shrine in a Kerala–Tulu style, central to the city’s Dasara festivities.
59.3 km · ~99 min by cab · straight line
churchRosario Cathedral, Mangaluru
The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary at Bunder, seat of the Mangalore diocese — a domed church rebuilt in the early 20th century in a Roman style, on a site dating to the 16th century.
59.9 km · ~100 min by cab · straight line
templeKudroli Gokarnath Temple
The Gokarnanatheshwara temple at Kudroli, consecrated in 1912 at the initiative of Narayana Guru for the Billava community — a bright, ornate temple famous for its grand Mangaluru Dasara celebrations.
60.0 km · ~100 min by cab · straight line
heritageSultan Battery, Mangaluru
A black-stone watchtower built by Tipu Sultan in 1784 at Boloor on the Gurupura river to guard the approach to Mangaluru harbour; a short climb up gives views over the backwater.
60.1 km · ~100 min by cab · straight line
beachPanambur Beach
Mangaluru's most popular beach beside the New Mangalore Port — a wide sandy stretch with lifeguards, camel and boat rides and an annual kite festival.
61.6 km · ~103 min by cab · straight line
beachTannirbhavi Beach
A quieter beach across the Gurupura river from the city, reached by ferry or road and backed by a tree park — a favourite for sunsets.
61.6 km · ~103 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple is
Good to know
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple?
October to February; the Laksha Deepotsava (usually Nov–Dec) is the great festival but hugely crowded.
What are the entry fee and timings at Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple?
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome). Timings: ~6:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:00 - 8:30 PM (confirm).
How do I reach Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple?
~75 km east of Mangaluru in Belthangady taluk; frequent buses and taxis, and it is on the Mangaluru–Kukke circuit. A living temple with a dress code — modest dress required, footwear off; free meals are served at set times and pilgrim accommodation can be arranged by the temple.
How much time do I need for Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple?
1.5 to 2 hours (longer with a meal).
What else is near Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple?
Nearby you can pair Bahubali Statue, Dharmasthala (540 m), Kukke Subramanya Temple (41.8 km), Pilikula Nisarga Dhama (55.6 km), Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple (55.9 km).
Read before you go
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple itself yet. These cover Dharmasthala and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: A.Murali, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Wikimedia Commons.