Coorg, or Kodagu, is a beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It gives visitors not just stunning views but much more to enjoy. Omkareshwara Temple is a popular tourist place in Coorg.
Built in 1820 by King Ling Rajendra II, this 19th-century structure has fascinating construction that appeals to worshippers and visitors. The Gothic and Islamic building mix is worth seeing regardless of your beliefs. This temple is for Lord Shiva.
King Ling Rajendra II built the Omkareshwara temple in 1820 in Madikeri as an act of humility. The builders made the temple in the Islamic style, featuring a dome in the center.
It has four towers at its sides. They have placed a linga near the entrance of the building. The temple has a nice water tank in front that is home to many types of fish.
What is the story of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg?
In the 18th century, King Ling Rajendra II built the Omkareshwara Temple as a sign of repentance and is a popular tourist places to visit in Coorg. According to the story about the temple, King Ling Rajendra II killed a Brahmin who saw him doing wrong things for his political gain.
Later, people say the spirit of a Brahmin became a Brahmaraksha, which then troubled the King because of his violence. After the Brahmin died, the King began having troubling dreams that greatly bothered him.
To stop the dreams, the King asked otherwise Brahmins for help. The Brahmins suggested that he build a temple. They believe that making the temple for Lord Shiva will relieve the King's mental suffering.
King wanted peace of mind and listened to the advice about pleasing the Brahmin's spirit. He brought the sacred Shiva Lingam from the spiritual town of Kashi. They called the Shiva Lingam Omkareshwara and placed it in the temple. They now call the temple the Omkareshwara temple.
Architecture of the Omkareshwara Temple Coorg
The Omkareshwara Temple combines Gothic and Islamic building styles, making it a great place to visit with our Coorg tour packages. Visitors can ask for blessings from Lord Shiva and enjoy the temple's unique building. Its design resembles an Islamic Dargah, featuring a large dome in the center and four minarets at each corner.
A copper plate on the main door has the history of the building written on it. The windows of the temple have bars made of panchaloha. The letters 'lim' are put between the bars of the window.
What is unique about the Omkareshwar Temple?
Omkareshwar is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India, known for having naturally occurring lingas. The name Omkareshwar comes from the Sanskrit words "Om" and "Kara," which mean Lord.
The temple is on Mandhata or Shivapuri Island in the Narmada River. This island is unique, shaped by the word Om, considered the holiest sound in Hinduism, and represents Lord Shiva.
How to reach the Omkareshwara Temple Coorg?
Omkareshwara Temple is easy to get to in the town of Coorg. Coorg is easily linked to other parts of Karnataka. In Coorg, people can take local transportation like auto-rickshaws or cabs to get to the temple.
Tourists can take private or KSRTC buses that run often from places like Bangalore, Mysore, Virajpet, and Mangalore when traveling by road.
Regular buses run from Kerala to Madikeri. People who want to travel comfortably and explore the way to Madikeri can hire a taxi to drive their cars. The drive from Bangalore to Madikeri takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes over 265 kilometers.
