Kere Basadi

Kere Basadi is a 12th-century Jain temple situated in the middle of a lake at Varanga village in Hebri Taluk, Udupi District, Karnataka. Dedicated to Lord Parshwanatha, the Chaturmukha basadi is accessible only by boat and is known for its serene lake setting surrounded by low hills. Built in traditional Jain architecture with granite pillars and a four-faced idol, it is an important Jain pilgrimage site and a distinctive example of a lake temple in coastal Karnataka.

Visitors can expect a small lake surrounded by greenery with a stone Jain temple located on a small island in the centre. Access is by a short row-boat ride operated by the temple caretaker. The temple is a modest stone structure with pillared halls and four Tirthankara images facing four directions. Visitors can walk around the temple platform, view the lake and surrounding hills, observe daily prayers, and take photographs of the exterior and lake landscape.

Kere Basadi is believed to have been built in the 12th century and is dedicated to Lord Parshwanatha. The Chaturmukha design enshrines idols of Parshwanatha, Neminatha, Shantinatha and Anantanatha facing four directions. Constructed in granite in traditional Jain style, it reflects the historical Jain presence in coastal Karnataka under local Jain rulers and remains an active place of worship.

An important Jain pilgrimage centre in coastal Karnataka, Kere Basadi is revered by the Jain community and visited by devotees for prayer and religious observance. Its unique location in the middle of a lake and Chaturmukha iconography exemplify Jain religious architecture and traditions of the region.