The little temple town of Kalasa rises above the Bhadra beneath the Kudremukh hills. Its Kalaseshwara temple, dedicated to Shiva and linked in legend to the sage Agastya, is one of the pancha-kshetra shrines said to represent the pots (kalasha) placed at Girija's wedding. It makes a natural pair with Horanadu, 8 km away.
What to do here
- Take darshan at the Kalaseshwara temple
- See the Bhadra river below the town
- Use Kalasa as a Kudremukh base
- Pair with Horanadu, 8 km away
The Shiva counterpart to Horanadu on the western pilgrim circuit, and a base for Kudremukh.
History
The temple is associated with the sage Agastya and with a set of five sacred sites; Kalasa takes its name from the kalasha, the ritual pot of the legend.
Travel tips
In Kalasa town on the Bhadra, about 92 km from town. The temple sits above the river with steps down to the ghats. Combine with the Chandranatha basadi in the same town and with Horanadu, 10 km away.
Please note
Do: remove footwear and leather. Do: use the ghats respectfully — people bathe here ritually. Don't: use soap or detergent in the Bhadra. Don't: photograph inside the sanctum. Don't: park on the temple approach.
Combine your trip
Places near Kalasa & Kalaseshwara Temple
Chandranatha Basadi, Kalasa
A Jain basadi in a Shaiva temple town — the other half of Kalasa's history.
TempleHoranadu Annapoorneshwari Temple
The goddess of food, who feeds every visitor
Sarva Siddhi Ganapathi Temple, Samse
A Ganapathi shrine standing in the middle of a tea estate, ten kilometres from Kalasa.
Meruthi Gudda
A half-day grassland climb outside the park core — the trek to do when the permits have gone.