Mookambika Temple at
Kollur, 80 km from
Udupi, is one of the most important places of pilgrimage on the west coast of India, attracting pilgrims from all over the country. The temple, dedicated to the divine mother,
Goddess Mookambika, stands in the valley of the great
Kodachadri peak, on the banks of the perennial river
Sauparnika. It is believed that the great religious leader
Sankaracharya consecrated the metal idol of the Goddess behind the lingam.
The main idol, a
Shivling called the Jyothirlingam, is placed in front of the image of Mookambika. Jyotirlingam is divided by a golden line into two unequal parts, the greater representing the three Goddesses,
Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Mahakali, and the smaller
Brahma, Maheshwar, and Vishnu. The temple has a gold plated crest and copper roofs, and a temple dome and kalasha made of solid gold.
There are a couple of places worth visiting in the vicinity such as Arasina Makki, a famous waterfall,
Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kodachadri mountain range. The Kodachadri houses two temples dedicated to Kalabhairava and Umamaheshwara. There are sufficient facilities for food and accommodation in the area.
