A cave temple amidst green environs

Fringed by the  roaring Arabian Sea and the dense Western Ghats, the coastal plains of Karnataka are known for their intrinsic splendour. There are innumerable temples in the region and the Kallu Ganapathi Temple in Padumundu of Shiriyara village  of Udupi district is quite an unexplored ancient site. Set within a serene rock cave amidst a forest, this temple is of historical, cultural and spiritual significance.

It is said that a king of the Barkur kingdom was mesmerised by the stunning structure of the cave and built this temple about six centuries ago. There is a subtle feel of the bygone era as you enter the vicinity of the temple. The shrine has Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi and Lord Ganapathi as the chief deities. It is also believed that the main deity of Guddattu Sri Vinayaka Temple originated in the cave of this temple. The temple is well maintained and daily pujas are held.

What is unique about this temple is the unusual configuration of the large boulders in the cave. When you contemplate the intriguing alignment of colossal rocks and observe how delicately balanced they are in each other's seam, you will be awestruck. The sunlight permeating through the orifices between the rocks makes for a delightful sight. When you ascend the rocks and go on top, a water stream can be seen near the temple. During monsoon, the landscape looks serene with the surrounding stretch of paddy fields.