Horanadu | Annapoorneshwari temple

Horanadu – Sri Annapoorneshwari Devi

About the Horanadu Annapoorneshwari temple
Located in midst of picturesque lush green landscapes of the Western Ghats, just 10 km away from Kalasa is the divine temple of Sri Annapoorneshwari at an elevation of 831 m or approximately 2726 ft. Horanadu is a small panchayat village in the Chikkamagalur district in Kalasa taluk and is visited by pilgrims throughout the year.
Surrounded by the magical landscapes of the Western Ghats in the Malanadu region on the banks of river Bhadra, Sri Kshetra Horanadu is home to the goddess Annapoorneshwari. The prithistapana of the deity was done by his holiness Agasthya Maharishi several centuries ago. However, the main deity of the goddess Annapoorneshwari was put in place in 1973 by Adi Shankaracharya. The divine deity Annapoorneshwari statue in gold fascinates devotees though out the year.
The goddess Annapoorneshwari is believed to be the goddess of food. As per the belief in Hindu mythology, if one offers prayers to the goddess and seeks her blessings there will not be any scarcity of food in their lives. This is why all three meals including tea/coffee and snacks are offered as annaparasadam to the devotees by the temple authorities. The temple and the goddess welcome every devotee irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, and language. The temple sees visitors throughout the year, however during Navaratri and on the day of Akshaya Trithiya, the crowd is at its highest. Although there is no exact date available as to when the temple was constructed, however, it is believed to be from the 8th century. The magnificent architecture and the positive vibes of the temple mesmerize the visitors.

Other places to visit near Horanadu

The dense forests, beautiful landscapes, gorgeous valleys, and waterfalls en route makes the visit to Horanadu even more worthwhile. The Malanadu region has a lot more to offer and must-to-visit places. Add Kukke Subramanya Temple, Dharamasthala, Sringeri, Kolluru Mookambika temple, and Udupi Sri Krishna Matha to your itineraries to make your tour a memorable one. However, in and around Horanadu there is much more to see and experience.

Kalasa Temple

Just 8 km from Horanadu, Sri Kalaeshwara temple, popularly known as Kalasa temple is a pot-like shape temple surrounded by river Bhadra. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi with many interesting stories related to Agasthya.

Ballalarayana Durga

Ballalarayana Durga 34 km and an hour away from Horanadu, is this beautiful hillock with a majestic fort built by Hoysalas in the 12th century. An ideal location for adventure seekers and nature lovers, Ballalarayana Durga is surely a photographer’s delight.

Kudremukh National Park

One of the best national parks in India is Kudremukh. Adorned with best of the nature, hills, a plethora of fauna and flora, and the second-highest peak in Karnataka, Kudremukh is a wildlife lover delight for sure. Club it in the itinerary as it is just 55 km away from Horanadu and is easily accessible.

Things to remember :

Men have to remove the shirt before entering the temple and cover the shoulders with a stole/ towel or a shawl. The cover is available at the temple premises too.
Women have to dress up fully covered.
Temple visiting timings are 6.30 am to 9.30 pm
The best time to visit the temple is between October to March.
You need at least 2 hours in hand for the temple visit.

How to Reach

By Air

Located in a small taluka in the Chikkamagalur district, Horanadu is 121 km from the closest international and domestic airport Mangalore. Bangalore airport is around 320 km from Horanadu.

By Rail

Being in Chikkamagalur district, Horanadu is 48 km from the district headquarters but is not accessible by train. The nearest railway station is Bantawala just 55 km from Horanadu and takes about an hour to reach by road. The second closest railway station is Kabakaputtur 58 km away and is easily accessible.

By Road

Horanadu is well connected by state-run public transport services, KSRTC, and private buses with major cities of Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mysore, Shimoga, and Mangalore. Horanadu can also be reached by hiring cabs or taxis from the major cities.