Saundatti Yellamma Temple

Saundatti Yellamma Temple, also known as Renuka Yellamma Temple, is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage temple located on Yellammagudda hill near Saundatti in Belagavi district, Karnataka. Dedicated to Goddess Yellamma (Renuka), revered as a form of Shakti, the temple attracts lakhs of devotees annually. Built in 1514 with Chalukyan and later architectural influences, it is known for its hilltop setting, religious festivals, and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple complex on Yellammagudda, about 5 km from Saundatti town, accessed by road and steps. The complex includes the main sanctum dedicated to Goddess Yellamma, smaller shrines, pillared halls and courtyards. The surroundings offer views of the Saundatti plains and reservoir. Visitors can observe daily pujas, darshan queues, devotional offerings, temple shops selling flowers and prasad, and crowds especially during festivals and full moon days.

The present temple structure is attributed to Bomappa Nayaka in 1514, built on a site with earlier Chalukya and Rashtrakuta associations. The temple is dedicated to Renuka, mother of Parashurama, worshipped as Yellamma, and has been a continuous centre of Shakti worship for centuries.

One of the most revered Shakti shrines in North Karnataka, the temple is the principal centre for Yellamma worship. It holds deep religious importance for devotees across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh, with traditions of vows, fairs and the annual Yellamma Jatre that form a major cultural gathering.