About 135 Kms from Mangalore and 80 Kms from Udupi, in the valley of Kodachadri peak of Western Ghats nestles a serene town Kollur. Here is seat of very famous Mookambika Temple on the banks of the never drying river Sauparnika This attractive Mookambika temple with gold plated crest and copper roofs attracts thousands of devotees.
This is a well known temple in the Weat Coast of Karnataka and is one of the most important places of pilgrimage attracting pilgrims from all over India. The temple is dedicated to Mookambika and stands on a spur of the Kodachadri peak.
KSRTC Bus Services to Kollur Mookambika – Time, Route, Fare details…
KSRTC Bus Services are available to Kollur Mookambika from Trivandrum, Kottarakkara, Alappuzha, Kodungallur. Check the below mentioned video to know the Bus timings, Routes and Fare details.
Online Reservation is available for KSRTC buses which are plying to Kollur Mookambika. For Ticket Booking : https://online.keralartc.com/ .
The temple is also one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala, since Lord Shiva is also considered to be present in the temple. The main deity of the temple is a swayambhu (self-born) jyotirlinga with a golden line cutting it into half, in which the left half represents Tridevis, and the right half represents Trimurtis. Along with this, a four-handed panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika is also installed. Though located in Karnataka, most of the devotees here come from Kerala, since the deity here is believed to have strong bonding with Keralites. Ratholsava in the month of Phalguna and Navaratri in the month of Ashwina are the main festivals in this temple.
Kollur is regarded as one of the Seven Muktislala pilgrimage sites in Karnataka which are (kollur), Udupi, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna.Kollur is known for its association with Aadi Sankara. Mookambika is said to have appeared before Aadi Sankara here, and he is said to have installed her image at this shrine. There is a room near the sanctum – enshrining the Sankara Simhasanam which is regarded as the very spot where he meditated and had a vision of Mookambika. Mookambika is regarded as a manifestation of Shakti, Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi.
The Kudashadri hill houses sites such as Ambavanam and Chitramoolam where Adi Sankara isbelieved to have meditated..The temple has been patronised by ancient Hindu Kings and several parts in it are still believed to contain valuable treasures. This was the state temple for the Nagara or Bednore Rajas and many jewels now adorning the idol are said to have been presented by them and by their overlords of Vijayanagar. During the Mahratta raids in this district in the 18th century these freebooters are believed to have carried away gold, silver and gems worth crores of rupees.
By train : Byndoor (Mookambika Road Station – BYNR) is the nearest station to Kollur, road distance is about 28 km. From the railway station to Byndoor, catch a rickshaw, and from Byndoor to Kollur private bus facility is there but at limited intervals. Other option is private taxi from Byndoor or from the railway station. Big disadvantage of Byndoor station is its located remote border area of Kundapura taluk and there is risk of getting facilities during night hours.
Kundapura (KUDA) is the best railway station to reach Kollur because you can get more buses from here. But the Kundapura Railway Station is 10 km from the city and autorikshwas charge about ₹120 to the city bus stand. Kollur is about 38 km from the railway station.
The station has good waiting room/hall and a fruit stall. From Kundapura there are plenty of private express buses are available (every 15 min) to Kollur. Plenty of private taxis are also available. Nearest route to Kollur from the station is via Basrur-Gulvady Vended Dam Bridge (Kundapura Station-Basrur-Gulvadi Vented Dam Bridge-Neralkatte-Vandse-Kollur), its lesser than 35km journey. Railway Station telephone number: +91-8254-237365.