Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Mangaluru International Airport (IXE) is the nearest airport to the temple.

• By train

  Mangalore Central Railway Station (MAQ) is the nearest railway station to the temple.

Why devotees come here

Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple stands in Kariyangala village, Bantwal taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. It is a pilgrimage centre known for its icon of Shakti and its mix of coastal and traditional architecture.

Polali attracts travellers and tourists because it is a pilgrimage centre. Devotees believe King Suratha had the temple built, installed the image and placed his own crown on its head. The main deity, Shri Rajarajeshwari, is an icon of Shakti.

An inscription found near the temple dates the temple around the clay idol to the 8th century AD. The architecture mixes coastal and traditional styles, with intricate carvings and ornate pillars. The roof of the Mukhamantapa, a section of the temple, has many gods and goddesses carved in wood. The roofs of the Dhwajastambha, the Garbagriha and the Pillar of lights are covered in copper plates.

The main image is a stucco figure about 10 feet tall. The temple's annual festival is held in March and lasts one month. During the festival the idol is placed on a circular crown called Prabhavathi, which is decorated for the purpose. Polali Chendu is a football game with up to five hundred competitors.

Festivals

• MarchAnnual festival

  The festival lasts one month and is held at the temple. On the fourth day, the idol is placed on Simhasana Katte, a platform near the temple, and a special pooja is performed.

Tips for your visit

• Look up at the Mukhamantapa roof, where gods and goddesses are carved in wood.
• Copper plates cover the roofs of the Dhwajastambha, the Garbagriha and the Pillar of lights.
• Look closely at the ornate pillars and the intricate carvings.

Questions people ask