Kalasa is a holy temple-town located in Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka. Kalasa is home to the Kalaseshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalasa is 92 Kilometres South-west of Chickmagalur and is located on the banks of the Bhadra River.
Kalasa is a small hamlet surrounded by the picturesque misty hills of the Western Ghats, thundering Bhadra River, lush paddy fields, evergreen forests, and waterfalls. The scenery is completed with a variety of flora and fauna, swaying palms and areca nut trees. Tea, coffee, cardamom and pepper plantations thrive on the slopes of the hills.
With history dating 1000 years ago, this remote hamlet offers the visitors a refreshing blend of nature, history, and legend culminating in the Kalaseshwara temple.
As the place is an island surrounded by water it was known as Kalasha, which is a pot with water.
When Shiva and Parvati were getting married, the congregation of all the gods and goddesses in one place to witness the event caused an imbalance of the earth. Shiva requested Sage Vashishtha to travel towards South. Reluctantly Sage Vashishtha traveled till Kalasa and was given a divine view of the wedding. Hence every year Girija Kalyana is performed in Kalasa in a very grand manner. He was responsible for installing the Shiva linga in Kalasa.
Interesting places in Kalasa:
Kalaseshwara Temple
Girijamba Temple
Hanuman Temple
Venkataramana Temple
Ranjal Mahalakshmi Temple
Vasishta Ashrama
Shree Chandranatha Swamy Temple
Duggapan Katte / View point
Pancha Theertha:
Visitors visit the five holy water spots and take a dip in them known as Pancha Theertha. Each of this Theertha is associated with a legend. The Pancha Theertha are as follows:
Kotiteertha, Rudrateertha, Ambateertha, Nagateertha, and Vasishthateertha
Interesting places nearby:
Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple: 8 km
Sringeri: 70 km
Dharmastala
Belur
Chikkamagalur
Place statistics:
Type of place: Temple Town
Situated: Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka
Distance: 350 Km from Bangalore, 75 Km from Belur, 110 Km from Hassan, 116 Km from Mangalore, 110 Km from Udupi, 70 Km from Dharmastala, 8 Km from Horanadu, 70 Km from Sringeri, 92 Km from Chikkamagaluru
Transport: Well connected by road
Facilities: Restaurants and resorts for staying are available