Sringeri situated on the banks of the River Tunga was the chosen place by Sri Adi Shankaracharya to set up the first matha (monastery) in the 8th Century.
Sringeri is located amidst the Sahyadri hills in Chikmaglur district. The name was derived from the nearby hill Shringa Giri, where Vibhandaka Maharishi and his son Rishyashringa had an ashram.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the champion of the Advaita philosophy chose this place when he saw a Cobra shielding a frog ready to spawn from the harsh sun on the banks of the Tunga River.
Impressed by what he saw, he stayed here for 12 years and wrote many treatises to propagate Sanatana Dharma.
Adi Shankaracharya also established mathas in the North at Jyotirmath / Joshimath, near Badrinath, in the East at Puri, and in the West at Dwaraka.
Best time to visit Sringeri is from March to October.
Most of the Hindu festivals are held with great enthusiasm. Free food is served to devotees two times a day.
Interesting places in Sringeri:
Stambha Ganapathi temple
Lord Malahanikareshwara temple
Sringeri Matha complex consists of Sharada Devi temple, Thorana Ganapathy temple, Vidyashankar temple, Adi Shankara Shrine, and the Ashrama of Swamiji
Tunga River
Interesting places around Sringeri:
Horanadu Annapoorneshari Temple
Hariharapura
Agumbe (Venugopalaswami Temple and Sunset Spot)
Kalasa
Balehonnur – Rambapuri Matha
Koppa (Veerebhdra Swamy and Chittemakki Mallikarjuna Swamy temple)
Udupi
Kolluru Sri Mookambika Temple
Sirimane Waterfalls – 14km
Kigga
Place statistics:
Type of place: Ancient village
Situated: Sringeri, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka
Distance: 90 Km west of Chikkamagaluru, 105 Km from Mangalore, 336 Km from Bangalore
Transport: Well connected by road
Facilities: Decent hotels and temple boarding is available
Address: Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam,
Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham,
Sringeri – 577 139.
