Mookambika, Kodachadri and Muradeshwara

Visited in November 2022, October 2025

Mookambika Temple is situated in Kollur, approximately 130 km from Mangaluru, Karnataka. This temple is so divine, pious, serene and special to its devotees who flock around entire year to seek blessings of Goddess Mookambika. The Goddess is a union of her three forms of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati is believed to have defeated demon Mookasura, hence the name Mookabika.

We had been here when my boy was two and a half years old for his Vidyarambham. In Kerala, we have a practice of Vidyarambham where the child ready for schooling is made to write alphabets in a plate of rice after performing pooja in front of Goddess Saraswati, who is the Goddesss of knowledge and wisdom, to ensure an excellent scholastic journey ahead.

The temple resides in a region nestled between the Kodachadri hills and river Souparnika flows by the side of the temple. The divinity and peace that one feels at the abode of the Goddess is beyond words for one to experience being at the temple premises.

We started off from Thrissur Railways Station and rest of our family joined from Shornur and Kuttipuram to Mangaluru. We had booked our stay in Jyothis and they provided neat, clean accommodation and transfer from and to the railway station. The hotel is located just less than 300 m from the temple, so it is very easy to access with elders being in the group.

Mookambika Temple premises:

The wooden and golden chariots:

Its amazing to be part of the chariot procession in the morning and evening inside the temple where Goddess takes our tour around the main shrine to bless her devotess.

Kodachadri:

Kodachadri is a beautiful peak in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It’s a great trekking g spot, and also has a great spiritual significance. The Sarvagyapeetha where Adi Shankaracharya

Muradeshwara:

After the morning prayers, we decided to visit Muradeshwara, beach side temple town which is about 2 hours drive from Kollur.

The place is beautiful with the huge shrine of Muradeshwara temple and the statue of Lord Shiva by the sea side. There are options for water sports and activities also here.

We can climb up the tower to enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding sea and places around. The majestic statue of Lord Shiva from the top of the tower is a priceless view indeed.

Boating:

Around the temple:

The view from the top of the tower

We travelled back to temple for evening Aarti and also, we were lucky to have the dinner at the temple.

The next day, on our way back to Mangaluru Railway station, we visited 3 other temples.

The divine processions held at Mookambika temple:

Signing off from the divine abode of Devi Mookambika. I still haven't visited Kodachadri, and is in my to-do for a later time.

Kodachadri Trek - October 2025

We were finally able to tick that long pending wish of visiting Kodachadri in Oct 2025 after our Mookambika visit.

After our darshan in the morning, we decided to take a jeep trek to Kodachadri hills, situated on the Western Ghats in Karnataka, in the Shivamogga district. Kodachadri is not only known for its lush greenery, majestic hills and landscape, but also for its spiritual significance related to Adi Shankaracharyar.

The jeep ride took us about an hour and half, with off road drives on hilly terrains to reach the base from where we have to trek uphill to reach the small ancient temple dedicated to Adi Shankaracharyar. Sarvajna Peetha is the small ancient temple, and this temple is supposed to be at the same location where Adi Shankaracharyar meditated to attain enlightenment. Kodachadri is deeply linked to Goddess Mookambika; it is believed that the Goddess performed penance here.

A trek to Kodachadri, and visit to Sarvajna Peetha is highly recommended during your Mookambika temple visit, for a complete visual treat and spiritual retreat.