Dharmasthala Vintage Car Museum

The Dharmasthala Vintage Car Museum is a section of the Manjusha Museum in Dharmasthala, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. Maintained by the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmothana Trust under Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade, it displays a collection of vintage cars, carriages and automobiles from the early to mid-20th century. Located near the Shri Manjunatha Temple, it preserves automotive heritage alongside temple-related artefacts.

Visitors can expect an indoor museum display within the Manjusha Museum complex featuring well-maintained vintage cars, classic automobiles, horse-drawn carriages and related automotive memorabilia. The collection is housed in a dedicated hall with informational plaques, allowing close viewing of vehicles from different eras. The setting is within the temple town of Dharmasthala, adjacent to the main temple and museum buildings, with a calm, educational atmosphere focused on sightseeing and photography.

The vintage car collection is part of Manjusha Museum, established in 1987 by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala. The museum was created to preserve heritage objects, temple artefacts, and gifts received by the Dharmasthala temple administration. The automobile section preserves cars used in the early to mid-1900s, reflecting transport history of the region.

The museum is part of the cultural and educational initiatives of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala, a major pilgrimage centre in coastal Karnataka. It complements the temple visit by showcasing heritage, craftsmanship and historical lifestyle artefacts, contributing to heritage preservation promoted by the Dharmasthala trust.