Omkareshwara Temple, Coorg

This temple is located in the heart of the city of Madikeri town and very near to the fort.Legend goes that Linga Rajendra II, ordered an execution of a pious Brahmin who dared to question the misdeeds of the King. Then later, the spirit of the dead Brahmin started troubling the King day and night. On the directions from the spiritual men of his court to avert this trouble, king constructed the temple and installed a Shivalinga that was procured from Kasi (Kasi is located in the norther part of the India).

History of Omakareshwara Temple:
The Omkareshwara temple in Madikeri was built by Lingarajendra II in 1820 in the Mumammadan style of architecture with a dome in the center and four turrets at four corners. Temple dedicated to Shiva, was built in the 19th century in a mix of Gothic and Islamic styles. Legend has it that the King put to death a Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions and in order to appease the spirit of the Brahmin, the temple was built.This temple bears the influence of the Islamic architecture which was a result of the Islamic invasion of Kodagu during the reigns of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

The temple has a dome at the centre and four turrets at the corners. Resembling the structure of a dargah, it has a Shiva Linga at the entrance of the temple. The temple has a water tank, which has a mandapa at the middle of it and a causeway to connect it with the main temple. There is a dome in the centre of this sprawling temple, which in turn is flanked by four turrets all around. The magnificent entrance to this temple boasts of a copper plat with inscriptions of the history of the temple etched in small letters . Here, you can relax in the tranquil environs of a pretty pool or feed the colorful fish that live in the clear waters of the same

Distance: From Bangalore 285 Kms, Mysore 125 Kms
Timings: 6:30 AM to 12:00 Noon; 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM