Anantheshwara Temple

Anantheshwara Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the heart of Udupi, Karnataka. Situated adjacent to the Chandramouleshwara Temple near the Sri Krishna Matha, it is considered the oldest temple in Udupi. Built in a traditional Kerala-influenced style with later Vijayanagara renovations, the temple enshrines a Shiva linga and is noted for its stone architecture, historical inscriptions and religious importance to local devotees.

Visitors can expect a historic stone temple complex in central Udupi with a sanctum enshrining a Shiva linga, pillared halls and sloping tiled roofs. The temple stands next to the Chandramouleshwara Temple, forming a twin-temple complex. The surroundings are urban and devotional, with paved courtyards, small shrines and daily puja rituals. Visitors can observe traditional architecture, offer prayers, and explore the temple precincts on foot.

Anantheshwara Temple is regarded as the oldest temple in Udupi, with origins attributed to the Alupa period around the 8th century and later renovations during the Vijayanagara period. The temple exhibits early stone construction and inscriptions that reflect its antiquity and continuous patronage. It predates the 13th-century Sri Krishna Temple and represents the early Shaiva heritage of the region.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva worshipped as Anantheshwara and holds central religious importance for Shaivite devotees in Udupi. Together with the adjacent Chandramouleshwara Temple, it forms a revered twin-temple complex. Major observances include Maha Shivaratri and daily pujas, and the temple remains an integral part of Udupi's religious landscape alongside the Sri Krishna Matha.