I will confine my list to Karnataka since I am not a frequent traveller to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Whenever names of must-visit temples in Karnataka are listed, it’s often limited to Dharmasthala, Kukke Subramanya, Sringeri, Horanadu, Kollur, MM Hills, and so on. I will list a few temples, which are not so well-known but are worth a visit for an intrepid traveller or a devotee.
Pajaka Kshetra, Udupi
Pajaka is the birthplace of Sri Madhvacharya, the founder of Dvaita philosophy. It is located on a hillock and offers a panoramic view of the Western Ghats. The temple doesn’t often get frequent visitors, but those who have visited it will appreciate the serenity of the place.
Sri Durgaparameshwari temple, Mandarthi, Udupi
While the Kollur Mookambika temple attracts tourists from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Mandarthi temple is famous in its own right. Plus, the temple has its own Yakshagana troupe to boot!
Sri Vinayaka temple, Anegudde, Udupi
This temple is on the highway towards Kundapura. Legend has it that the vigraha of Vinayaka keeps growing every year. If you’re ever visiting the temple, be careful about the monkeys here. Any sniff or sight of food, they will lunge at you rather aggressively!
Sri Veerabhadra temple, Hiriyadka, Udupi
Veerabhadra temple is unique in the sense that it’s hard to find a temple dedicated to one of Bhagwan Shiva’s gaNa Veerabhadra.
Sri Durgaparameshwari temple, Kateel, Mangalore
The unique aspect of this temple is that it’s surrounded by the Nandini river. Location wise, the temple is close to the Mangalore International Airport, and just like Mandarthi temple, this too has a full-fledged Yakshagana troupe!
Sri Mahaganapathi temple, Southadka, Mangalore
Unlike other temples where the deity is placed in the grabha gruha, in Southadka, the deity is a udbhava murthy and is located outside the temple. The votive offering is made in the form of tying a bell outside the temple premises.
Shishileshwara temple, Shishila, Mangalore
Whenever you’re driving to Dharmasthala from Bangalore, take a detour a few kilometers before Dharmasthala towards a village called Shishila, where a temple’s dedicated to Shiva. Like Sringeri temple, you will find a lot of masheer fishes in the Kapila river on whose banks the temple is located.
Jain Basadi, Varanga, Karkala
The last temple on my list is strictly not a Hindu temple, but a Jain basadi. However, the place is worth a visit for its scenic beauty and location. It is located in the middle of the Varanga lake and is a photographer’s delight. The basadi was also featured prominently in the Kannada movie Mugulu Nage.