Omkareshwara Temple Coorg Timings, History, Location, Photos

Coorg is a pristine hill station in Karnataka and is one of the popular tourist destinations. With the multiple sightseeing spots and beautiful landscapes Coorg has a lot to offer to its visitors. And if you are ever visiting Coorg then you will find a lot of amazing locations to explore. The Omkareshwara Temple Coorg is one such popular location here. Located in the town of Madikeri this temple is an important site of pilgrimage. The Sri Omkareshwara Temple Madikeri is a dedicated temple of Lord Shiva and is an important site to visit for the Shiva devotees.

Also if you are looking for sightseeing spots to explore in Coorg then also you can include visiting the Omkareshwara Temple Madikeri. The unique architecture and the history of this temple makes it an alluring location for a visit. If you are interested to know more about the Omkareshwara Temple Coorg then keep on reading this article. In this article I will mention each and everything that you probably need to know to plan a visit to the Omkareshwara Temple in Coorg.

Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

Location of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg: State Highway 88, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Coorg, Karnataka

Timings of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg: Omkareshwara Temple Coorg timings are from 6:30 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm

Entry fee of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg: There is no entry fee

How to reach Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

By air

The Mysore airport and the Mangalore airports are the nearest airports to reach Coorg as there is no airport in Madikeri or Coorg. From the Mysore airport the Omkareshwara Temple is 130 km away and you can reach there in about 2 hours and 48 minutes. And from the Mangalore airport the temple is 142. 9 km away and you can reach there in about 3 hours and 25 minutes. Another nearest airport is the Kannur airport that is 90 km away from the Omkareshwara Temple. You can easily reach there in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. From all the airports you will get buses as well as cabs to reach the temple. The routes are scenic and the journey will be hassle free. You can follow the Omkareshwara Temple Madikeri direction and reach the temple easily.

By train

The nearest railway stations to reach the Omkareshwara Temple are Mysore railway Station, Kasargod and Hassan and Kannur. You can opt for any of these as you will not find a direct railway station at Coorg or Madikeri. From each of these railway stations you can either take buses or you can hire a cab to reach the Omkareshwara Temple.

By road

As there are no railway stations or airports in Madikeri and Coorg the way to travel via roads is by far the most convenient way to reach the Omkareshwara Temple. The town of Madikeri is well connected to the majority of Karnataka, so reaching there would not be a hassle. Private buses or the KSRTC buses are good options for travelling if you are travelling from locations like Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore and Virajpet etc. Even from Kerala you can get regular buses to reach the temple.

From Mysore the distance of the Omkareshwara Temple is about 118 km and you can reach there in about 3 hours. And from Bangalore the temple is 265 km and it would take 5 hours and 30 minutes to reach the temple. If you are travelling from Mangalore the distance to the Omkareshwara Temple is about 138 km and it would take around 3 hours to reach there. So you can opt for any of these routes and take your own car or hire a cab or take a bus to reach this temple in Madikeri.

Overview of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

The Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri dates back to 1820 and king Lingarajendra II as an act of penance had built this temple. This is one of the popular sightseeing spots in Coorg and is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built in Muhammadan style of architecture, this temple is an important religious site for the devotees. The king had specially brought the Shiva Lingam of this temple from Kashi. The architecture of this temple is quite unique with a dome in the centre. And on the four sides four turrets surround the four corners. Also there is a water tank near the temple that has various fishes in it which is one of the attractions here.

History of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

The construction of this temple in Coorg is the result of the penance of King Lingarajendra II. He built this temple as a gesture of his penance. According to beliefs the King had killed one Brahmin for his political gain. The Brahmin knew about his wrong doings so he killed him. Later the spirit of that Brahmin came in the form of Brahmaraksha and therefore bothered the king for his deed. Because of this the king started having nightmares and he was disturbed to a great extent. In order to get rid of this situation he sought help from other Brahmins. The Brahmins however asked him to build a temple. According to the Brahmins, if the king builds a temple of Lord Shiva then his mental agony will come to an end.

Moreover, the king was desperate to get back his mental peace and therefore to appease the spirit of the dead Brahmin he followed the advice of the other Brahmins. He specifically brought a Shiva Lingam from Kashi and installed that in the temple. He worshipped the Shiva lingam in the form of Lord Omkareshwara and therefore the temple also became popular as the Omkareshwara Temple.

Architecture of Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

The architecture of the Omkareshwara Temple is totally magnificent. With an amalgamation of Gothic as well as Islamic style of architecture it is unique. For the tourists the spectacular architecture of this temple is certainly a sight worth witnessing. The style and formation of this temple resembles that of a dargah. It has a huge dome at the centre along with 4 minarets on the 4 corners surrounding the dome. At the entrance door there is a copper plate that has an inscription of the history of the temple in it. One of the major attractions here are the windows of the temple with bars built with Panchaloha. In between each of the window bars you will find the alphabets “lim” written.

There is also a water tank inside the temple which is yet another major attraction here. This water tank also has a variety of freshwater fishes in it. In the centre of the water tank you will find a mandapa here. The mandapa here is connected through a walkway which is very unique. For every visitor the many fishes in the water tank are a major point of attraction.

Also what makes the architecture of this temple unique is the fact that unlike other temples here there is no hall with pillars. And the deity of Lord Shiva is installed near the entrance door of the temple. Even though the structure of this temple is very simple, the uniqueness of the architecture is what makes it special. Also the peaceful and serene environment here is another thing that makes it a must visit spot. So whenever you are visiting Madikeri or Coorg make sure you visit the Omkareshwara Temple once.

Pooja timings of Omkareshwara Temple

The temple is open from 6:30 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm on all days of the week throughout the year. There are some timings for the rituals and pooja here that you need to keep in mind if you are visiting here.

6:30 am to 6:45 am Abhisheka

7 am Ganga Pooja

12 noon Maha Pooja

8 pm Maha Pooja

Also every month on the full moon day there is the Satyanarayan Pooja that you can attend too.

Location Map For Omkareshwara Temple Coorg

Wrapping Up!

Now that you know everything about the Omkareshwar Temple Madikeri do plan a visit to this temple. This is one of the most popular temples in Coorg and you must visit here once. The unique architectural style here is one of the things that you are going to enjoy here. Also the location and the ambience of the location are an added bonus for sure. So when are you planning a visit to Omkareshwara Temple Coorg? Also let me know if this article on Omkareshwar Temple in Coorg is helpful for you in planning a trip to this temple.