Sringeri Travel
Sringeri is a temple town situated in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. It is a world-famous tourist destination that houses the Sri Sringeri Sarada Peetham, one of the four primary temples of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The Sarada Peetham was established by Adi Shankaracharya and is considered one of the Shakti Sthalams of India. Apart from this, Sringeri boasts of a number of ancient temples which are significant in Hindu belief systems. Therefore Sringeri sees a huge number of religious tourists almost throughout the year.
Sringeri is situated on the banks of the Tunga River. Built along the Western ghats, Sringeri offers very picturesque views of the valleys and waterfalls around the area. The region sees great tourist footfall on their way to the Jog Falls, one of the highest waterfalls of India and a very popular travel destination not far away from Sringeri. The Sharada Navratri Festival during autumn draws thousands of devotees from all over the country to Sringeri.
Places to Visit
The temples of Sringeri draw tourists from around the world through the year. The main Sringeri Math established by Adi Shankaracharya dates back to the 8th Century AD and was originally made in wood and eventually was restored in traditional South Indian Temple style. The Sharada Navaratri is one of the most important festivals for the Math. Apart from the math, various other temples such as the Adi Shankara Temple dedicated to the Advaita Vedanta philosopher and saint, Shankaracharya; the Sharadamba Temple; the Kere Ajnaneya temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman; the Malayala Brahma Temple; the Sri Parswanath Jain Tirthankara Temple;the Mallikarjuna Temple; and the Torana Ganapati Temple are present in Sringeri. There are many other auspicious temples that fall within the travel itineraries of religious tourists.
Sringeri and its surroundings offer other smaller but equally significant pilgrimage spots. The holy town of Horanadu with its Annapoorneshwari Temple and the picturesque village of Kigga, 10 Kms away from Sringeri town, with its natural surroundings and temples are some of the other attractions nearby.
Best Time to Visit
Sringeri is an ideal tourist destination all throughout the year because of its overall moderate climate. Most pilgrimages happen between October and April as the winter months are especially suitable for such tours. Besides, most of the prominent festivals of many of the temples in Sringeri happen during the winter months.
From June to February, Sringeri offers unparalleled scenic beauty of the Western ghats and the lush surroundings draw many pilgrims who want to cool their heels in a spot where they can be close to nature.
Summers in Sringeri see the temperature soar up to a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius, which is very moderate. Monsoons, starting in June and ending around September, experience mild to medium intensity rainfall that rejuvenates the vegetation of the area, making the hills and valleys turn a lush green. Winter temperatures remain between 16 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius. All through the year, therefore, Sringeri is ideal for pilgrimages and relaxation.
How to Reach Sringeri
Sringeri, being a part of a busy pilgrimage route of South India, is very well connected to the rest of the country by air, road and railways.
The closest airport to Sringeri is the Mangalore International Airport, which is a 98 Kms drive away from Sringeri town. It is very well connected with most South Indian cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai etc., by operators such as Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, SpiceJet, JetKonnect and IndiGo. The airport offers prepaid as well as private AC taxis which take tourists to Sringeri directly.
Sringeri is accessible by train through the nearby stations of Udipi, which is 88 Kms away, and Shimoga, which is 95 Kms away. Buses, cars and taxis ply at regular intervals between these stations and Sringeri. Regular trains connect these stations to cities of South India as well as Western part of the country. Some of the long-distance trains connecting Udipi to the rest of the country are Mangalore Express (connecting Mumbai) and Poorna Express (connecting Pune). The Shimoga Express and the Sbc Smet Express connects Shimoga to Bangalore.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Bus services are available to reach Sringeri from Bangalore, Mangalore, Udipi, Mysore, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Dharmasthala, Kollur, Koppa etc. Taxis and private cars are also available from Bangalore, Mysore, Udipi, Shimoga etc.
Local Transport
While in Sringeri, pilgrims mostly prefer travelling by the very well-connected Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation local bus services. These buses also connect Sringeri to the nearby popular tourist destinations such as Horanadu and Kigga. Private bus services are also available that ply between Udipi, Shimoga and Bangalore. Tourists often opt for private car and taxi services which are also available in and around Sringeri. But within Sringeri, the best mode of local transport is auto rickshaws that are ideal for day trips and tours of the temples around town.
While in Sringeri, tourists are urged to explore the beautiful natural surroundings in the area. The ghats offer a spectacular array of valleys and waterfalls for nature lovers and exploring these hidden treasures demands an adventurous heart and good walking shoes. The more unusual tourists are encouraged to opt out of the traditional means of local transport and go for a hike or a short trek through the ghats surrounding Sringeri.
Hotels
Since Sringeri is mainly a pilgrimage town, most of the affordable accommodation is provided by the Sringeri Math and its administration. There are a number of lodges and guest houses which provide safe and hygienic accommodation options close to the temples and the main Math. Shankara Kripa, Sharada Kripa, Yatri Niwas and Bharati Vihar are the main accommodations provided by the Math. The Shree Bharathi Teertha Kripa, a newly constructed luxury lodge in the Math premises also provides deluxe AC rooms. Tourists have to keep in mind that none of the Math lodgings serve non-vegetarian food and do not allow consumption of alcohol or other substances.
Apart from the Math accommodations, there are many budget accommodation options available on Bharathi Street, which is not far away from the temple. One of the popular budget hotels on Bharathi Street is the Vidya Bharathi Lodge.
For the more luxurious traveler, the Advaith Lancer Hotel offers luxurious and relatively expensive rooms overlooking the banks of the Tunga River.
Travel Tips
Tourists are advised to keep in mind the decorum of a pilgrimage spot when travelling through Sringeri. Male tourists have to take off their shirts before entering many of the temple premises and tourists are advised to not carry too much of loose cash or other valuables in their pockets as many temples do not allow personal belongings to be brought into the premises. Tourists are advised against wearing valuable jewelry as many temples do not allow valuable metals to be brought into their premises. Pilgrims are strongly advised not to approach touts while offering pujas or seeking accommodation in the Math or other temple premises.
Travellers visiting Sringeri are always advised to carry an umbrella, a torch and a thin blanket with the as the weather remains moderate to cold throughout the year and rains, though mild are a possibility any time. Torches come of great use while camping or trekking and in the nearby forested or hilly areas.
How many days are enough to travel
Sringeri is treated mostly as a weeklong or weekend destination, especially for pilgrims and other believers. Tourists who are going for the Navratri festival at the Sharada Peeth Temple are advised to stay on for longer in order to experience the festivities better. Tourists have to keep in mind that reservations and bookings must be done well in advance for this season.
Many tourists club their Sringeri itinerary with their travels to Udipi and Tirupathi and that kind of plan is definitely more time-efficient and will need about two weeks or a week and a half. This is a preferred plan by most travelers doing a survey of the holy spots around Karnataka.
Sringeri is full of surprises for nature lovers as it boasts of many picturesque spots from waterfalls to lush green ghat valleys. Hiking and camping trips, although not explored very widely, are a delight around these parts. For these kinds of trips, travelers are advised to come to Sringeri for a longer duration.
Tourism department contacts
Most of the tourism that takes place in Sringeri is under the aegis of the Math, which is to be contacted in order to make bookings and other prior reservations. Travelers are strongly advised to get in touch with the Math authorities well in advance to make reservations as the Math accommodations are much sought after throughout the year. Tourists can gather prior information by contacting the Math at the following addresses and telephone numbers.
The Administrator,
Sringeri Math and its Properties,
Sringeri, Chickmagalur District,
Karnataka
PIN-577139
Phone Numbers +91-8265-250123
+91-8265-250594
+91-8265-250192
Fax Number +91-8265-250792
Department Contacts
Queries pertaining to donations, pilgrimages etc. are to be addressed to The Peshkar.
Queries pertaining to Tax benefits etc. are to be addressed to Administrative Office.
Queries pertaining to Publications are to be addressed to Publications department.
8265 is the STD prefix, required for all calls from outside Sringeri.
Emergency Contact Numbers
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