Shree Gopal Krishna Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airports are Dabolim (GOI) in Goa, Hubballi (HBX) and Mangalore International (IXE).

• By train

  Gokarna Road Railway Station (GOK) is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Shree Gopal Krishna Temple stands on the shore of Gokarna, Karnataka. It is devoted to Krishna, and its main chamber shows him as a youth playing the flute. Janmashtami is the temple's most important festival.

Shree Gopal Krishna Temple is devoted to Krishna, who is worshipped and loved for his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita. It has long been a place of worship and pilgrimage. Inside, the main chamber shows Krishna in his youth, with all his humour and charm, playing the flute.

Legend says Krishna appeared to a person in a dream, and the temple now stands on that spot. Another legend tells of a drought-affected village that received rain after its people performed a puja at the temple.

At the time of the Vijayanagara Empire, the temple served as an enduring record of Karnataka's architectural art and religious traditions. Its style is the Vijayanagara style, known for immense ornamental carvings, tall gopurams and intricate sculptures. The history of the temple is said to go back centuries. It sits on the shore of Gokarna, a spiritual and cultural retreat.

Festivals

• Janmashtami dayJanmashtami

  Krishna's Janmashtami is the temple's most important festival, marked with Maha Aarti, night-long vigils and cultural activities.

Tips for your visit

• Pillars around the sanctum show scenes from Krishna's life, from his pranks to his teachings.
• The temple gate has carvings of mythological scenes and celestial creatures.
• Om Beach is a stone's throw from the temple, so the two can be visited together.
• The temple complex also has smaller shrines devoted to other deities.

Questions people ask