Annapoorneshwari Temple

The Annapoorneshwari Temple is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Annapoorneshwari in Horanadu village, Mudigere Taluk, Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka, on the banks of the River Bhadra amid the Western Ghats. Revered as the goddess of food and nourishment, the temple is renowned for its tradition of offering free meals (annadana) to all devotees. Its serene forested setting and long-standing pilgrimage importance attract visitors throughout the year.

Visitors can expect a temple complex set in a lush valley of the Western Ghats beside the Bhadra River, with a main shrine housing the idol of Goddess Annapoorneshwari adorned with gold and jewels. The premises include prayer halls, a large dining hall for free meals, guest accommodation blocks, and shops for prasadam. The surroundings offer forested hills, river views and misty ghat landscapes. Devotees can attend darshan, receive prasadam and partake in annadana.

Tradition associates the temple's origin with Sage Agastya, believed to have installed the deity of Annapoorneshwari. The shrine was historically a small structure and was renovated and expanded into its present form in 1973, while retaining the ancient idol. It has since developed as a major pilgrimage centre in the Malnad region.

Dedicated to Goddess Annapoorneshwari, a form of Goddess Parvati as the provider of food, the temple embodies the principle of Annadana - the sacred offering of food. Serving free meals to every visitor irrespective of caste, creed or status is central to its religious practice. Pilgrims seek blessings for nourishment, prosperity and well-being.