Karnataka, where devotion flows like the sacred rivers, is adorned with captivating Krishna temples, each with its legends and legacy. The following article will take you on a vivid journey through some famous Krishna Temples in Karnataka.
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Lord Krishna Temples in Karnataka to Connect with the Divine
Lord Krishna is the god of protection, compassion, and love. His temples, dotting the landscape of Karnataka, are symbols of beauty and devotion combined as one.
Here Are The 7 Famous Krishna Temples In Karnataka
Shri Krishna Matha, Udupi
The Sri Krishna Matha was established by Sri Madhwacharya in the 13th century. It is a popular and sacred Krishna temple in Udupi, Karnataka. It is a lovely temple complex dedicated to Lord Krishna. The Matha area resembles a living ashram, a consecrated area of living and devotion.
Several temples surround the main temple, the oldest one dating back 1,500 years and constructed from wood and stone. The legend says that the Archarya miraculously saved the idol of Sri Krishna worshipped here from a sinking ship. This Krishna temple near Bangalore is open to the public daily from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
- How to reach the Udupi Shri Krishna Temple? The nearest airport to Udupi Sri Krishna Temple is Mangalore International Airport. It is 59 km away. The nearest railway station is the Udupi Railway Station, located 4 km away from the temple. Visitors can also visit the temple via bus from the nearest Udupi bus stand, located 1.8 km away.
- What is the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple famous for? Devotees worship the Lord through a silver-plated nine-holed window called Navagraha Kitiki. Kanaka, an ardent devotee, prayed intensely after being denied darshan by the Lord. Pleased with his dedication, Lord Krishna drilled nine holes in the window so that Kanaka could see him.
- Best time to visit the Uduppi Sri Krishna Temple: The best time to visit the Uduppi Sri Krishna Temple is from September to March as the weather is very cool and soothing.
ISKCON Temple, Bangalore
ISKCON Temple located in Rajajinagar, is one of the largest Sri Krishna temple in Karnataka. It was inaugurated in 1997 and is also known as the Sri Radha Krishna Temple. This is one of the krishna temples in Karnataka showcases a beautiful blend of classical Dravidian architecture and modern construction styles.
It has several shrines dedicated to various Krishna deities, such as Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Prahlada Narasimha, and Bhakta Hanuman. It is open from 4:30 AM to 5:20 AM in the mornings, from 7:15 AM to 1:15 AM in the afternoon and from 4:15 PM to 8:00 PM in the evenings.
- How to reach the ISKCON Temple? The nearest airport to ISKCON Temple is Kempegowda International Airport. It is 32.2 km away. The nearest railway station is the Yeshwanthpur Junction Railway Station, located 1.8 km away from the temple. Visitors can also visit the temple via bus from the ISKON Temple Bus Stand on Chord Road, located 1.8 km away.
- What is the ISKCON Temple famous for? It is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world, boasting a sprawling complex and impressive architecture. The temple’s vegetarian restaurant, Govinda’s, has a renowned reputation for serving delicious and affordable meals prepared with fresh and organic ingredients.
- Best time to visit the ISKCON Temple: The ideal time to visit the ISKCON Temple is from November to February when the weather is pleasant and less humid.
Venugopala Swamy Temple, Mysore
The Hoysala dynasty built the Venugopala Swamy Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, near the KRS Dam in the Mandya district of Karnataka, in the 12th century. The temple showcases the dynasty’s fine Hoysala architecture.
However, the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam originally submerged the temple. Later, meticulous efforts relocated and reconstructed it to its current location near Hosa Kannambadi village. It is open daily from 7.00 AM to 12.00 PM in the mornings and from 6.00 PM to 8.30 PM in the evenings.
- How to reach the Venugopala Swamy Temple? The nearest airport to ISKCON Temple is Mysore Airport. It is 34 km away. The nearest railway station is the Mysore Junction Railway Station, located 22 km away from the temple.
- What is the Venugopala Swamy Temple famous for? The temple is famous for its intricate carvings and exquisite architecture. It is a fine specimen of the Hoysala style. This style is similar to the well-known Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura, another iconic Hoysalan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
- Best time to visit the Venugopala Swamy Temple: The perfect time to visit the Venugopala Swamy Temple is from November to February when the temperatures drop to moderate levels.
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Hampi Sri Krishna Swamy Temple, Hampi
King Krishnadevaraya built the Hampi Sri Krishna Swamy Temple, also commonly known as the Hampi Balkrishna Temple, in the early 16th century. He constructed it to commemorate his conquest of Udyagiri (present-day Orissa). The main idol of Balakrishna is now on display at a state museum in Chennai.
UNESCO designated the temple as part of the Group of Monuments, which is currently listed as a World Heritage Site. It is one of the few largely intact specimens of the once-great Vijayanagara Empire. The temple is open everyday from 6:00 AM in the morning to 6:00 PM in the evenings.
- How to reach the Hampi Sri Krishna Swamy Temple? The nearest airport to Hampi is Jindal Vijayanagara Airport. It is 35.1 km away. The nearest Railway Station is Hosapete Junction (Hospet). It is 13.3 km away. A network of buses and cabs provides direct connections between Hampi and all major cities of Karnataka.
- What is the Hampi Sri Krishna Swamy Temple famous for? The site is one of the top-voted sites in Hampi. There are stunning yali carvings (carvings of the mythical lion) on the pillars. Impressive elephant balustrades decorate the temple entryway. The gopuram contains frescos of the dashavatars of Visnu.
- Best time to visit the Hampi Sri Krisha Temple: The optimum time to visit the Hampi Sri Krishna Temple will be from October to February owing to the lower temperatures.
Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple, Channapatna
Locals call the temple the Navaneetha Krishna Temple or Ambegal Krishna Temple. The temple is located in Doddamallur on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, around 60 km from Bangalore and 2 km from Channapatna.
It features traditional Dravidian architecture and showcases intricately carved pillars and gopurams. The temple worships Navaneetha Krishna, a form of Lord Krishna depicted as a child holding butter (navaneetha). The temple is open from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the mornings and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evenings.
- How to reach the Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple? The nearest airport to Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple is Mysore Airport. It is 92.7 km away. The nearest railway station is the KSR Bengaluru City Junction, located 66 km away from the temple. Visitors can also visit the temple via bus through the KSRTC Bus Depot, Sadat Ali Khan Colony, located 1.8 km away.
- What is the Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple famous for? Devotees call the temple ‘Dakshina Ayodhya.’ Legend has it that Lord Rama himself resided here for a time and performed various pujas to appease Lord Aprameya Swamy. Hence, Lord Aprameya is also called Sri Ramapremaya, the favourite of Lord Rama.
- Best time to visit the Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple: The most suitable time to visit the Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple will be from October to February as the weather is moderate and perfect for exploring.
Shri Gopalakrishna Temple, Mangalore
The temple is located on a hilltop in Shaktinagar, around 5 km from the city centre. K.C. Naik, a famous industrialist, built the temple in 2007.
The Shri Gopalakrishna Temple is a fine fusion of various architectural styles, notably the Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu styles of Temple architecture. It is open all days of the week from 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM and from 4:00 AM to 8:30 PM.
- How to reach the Shri Gopalakrishna Temple? The nearest airport to Shri Gopalakrishna Temple is Mangaluru International Airport. It is 9.3 km away. The nearest railway station is the Mangalore Junction, located 6.4 km away from the temple. Visitors can also visit the temple via bus through the Mangaluru KSRTC Bus Depot, located 6.1 km away.
- What is the Gopalakrishna Temple famous for? The temple has a unique blend of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu architectural styles has made it renowned as an architectural marvel. Its hilltop location offers panoramic views of Mangalore city.
- Best time to visit the Gopalakrishna Temple: The ideal time to visit the Shri Gopalakrishna Temple is from October to February.
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Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple, Bangalore
The Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It commemorates the Govardhan Leela, where Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the wrath of Indra.
The temple features traditional Indian architectural elements with beautifully crafted idols and intricate carvings. The temple’s design reflects the essence of the holy hill and its surroundings. It is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- How to reach the Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple? The nearest airport to Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple is Kempegowda International Airport. It is 38.8 km away. The nearest railway station is the KSR Bengaluru City Junction, located 5 km away from the temple.
- What is the Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple famous for? The architects designed the temple to resemble Mount Govardhan. The entire temple complex uses artificial rock-like structures, and the entrance is through a small tunnel that leads to an open area where the main sanctum lies.
- Best time to visit the Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple: The best time to visit the Sri Govardhan Kshetra Temple is from October to February when the weather is cool and soothing.
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In conclusion, the Krishna temples in Karnataka offer a profound glimpse into the region’s rich culture and heritage. Each temple has its own story, from architectural marvels like the Sri Krishna Matha in Udupi to the unique Govardhan Kshetra Temple in Bangalore. Whether you’re a pilgrim, history enthusiast, or simply a curious traveller, these temples offer a glimpse into the timeless allure of Lord Krishna.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Udupi is famous for the Sri Krishna Matha, a historic temple complex housing the idol of Lord Krishna. This temple is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, especially those following the Dvaita Vedanta philosophy of Madhvacharya. Udupi is also referred to as the ‘Mathura of South India’.
The Sri Krishna Matha, located in Udupi is a historic temple complex established by Sri Madhavacharya in the 13th century.
Udupi is considered as the final resting place of Lord Krishna. The city is famous for its legendary temple, the Sri Krishna Matha.
The Sri Krishna Matha, located in Udupi, is open to the public daily from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
One of the “three great Acharyas,” Madhwacharya, was born in 1238 A.D. near Udupi (Pajaka Kshethra). He taught the Dvaita doctrine, characterized by unqualified dualism and devotion to Lord Vishnu. He also established the iconic Sri Krishna Matha.
