Hosanadu Kodyadka Annapoorneshwari Temple and Attur church

DATE OF TRAVEL: 26 Dec 2014, Friday
MODE: Car (4+1)
ROUTE: Ex UDUPI

COST: Petrol for 110 kms, Free Lunch (anna prasadam) at temple, Tea at Manipal

ROUTE TAKEN:

Udupi – Katpadi – Shirva – (Belman – Mundkur – Sacharipete – Kodyadka)

(Kodyadka – Sacharipete - Mundkur – Belman) – Nitte – Doopdakatte –Attur

Attur – Gundyadka – Moodubelle – Manipal - Udupi

ROAD STATUS: As of 26 Dec 2014, Road is decent. The route has curves and bends and traces of forest. Road widening (supposed state highway) is under construction between Belman and Attur. The Attur to Udupi route is under construction and around 4 kms of road in total at different places is very bad, but motorable

DETAILS: 

It was Christmas evening. We were in hometown for long holidays. One of those days when we were at home in Udupi and had nothing to do. I was seeking ideas for places to visit nearby and mom suggested Kodyadka Temple. And then when I checked google maps, I added Attur church (And to drive across Nitte College) to the plan as my parents hadn’t seen the church. And that was the trip plan

It was a Friday. Since the temple is of Devi Annapoorneshwari, we decided to see the noon aarti and have the annaprasadam(lunch) at the temple itself.

We started at 11:30 am at Udupi towards Katpadi junction for Belman. From Belman, when you drive for 500 mts towards Padubidri, you find the Arch for Mundkur Durgaparameshwari temple on left. Take this route.

Deviation Arch at katpadi towards Belman

Diversion to Moodabidiri (kodyadka) after Mundkur

After Mundkur, this road continues to Kateel Temple. There is a diversion to Moodabidri on this route that goes via Kodyadka. (I would strongly suggest to start a bit early and see the enroute Mundkur durgaparameshwari temple as well)

The temple entrance

The Annapoorneshwari temple is also called as Hosanadu Kodyadka Kshetra. We reached there around 12:30 pm. Parked the vehicle inside the temple arch. Tempo Travellers and bigger vehicles have to park the vehicle outside the arch itself. There stood an elephant at the temple entrance. There was average rush although it was a Friday. The afternoon pooja time is mentioned as 12 pm, and the lunch hall timings are 1:30pm to 2:30 pm. The official site seems to be this 

Temple elephant

Mini zoo in the temple premises

Durga idol

Apsara and the rotating granite stone

Radhe Krishna

Temple garden

Hanuman Idol, 61 feet tall

The temple surroundings is very beautiful. It is huge and well maintained. What we observed as we reached the temple first was a gaint Hanuman statue. The mammoth is 61 feet tall opposite to car parking. There are stables for elephants and horses (although we did not see horses on that day). There is a small garden adjacent to the beautiful statues of goddess durga, apsara and Radha-Krishna. A rotating water stone structure is unique. Tattirayas/Gaarudi gombes were also present. There is a mini zoo that had a stag, some wild hen and rabbits, ducks etc. And some petty vendors selling books and house articles.

As one enters the temple, the Devi idol is inside the garbhagudi, which is followed by a hall and then the main entrance area. The temple complex has idols of various gods and goddesses. Photography is prohibited. Offerings/Kanike can be made in cash and kind. Directions are installed to put everything in the hundi itself and nothing to be offered to the priests. We went around the temple and there was a separate line for entering the area in front of garbhagudi. A priest segregated gents and ladies and sent us in for aarti. The goddess idol itself is huge. I am approximating 6 ft tall. Very beautiful and appeasing. The Friday alankara was mesmerizing. We then came out to take the teertha and out in the entrance area to see the afternoon mangalaarti. Devotees were already sitting in the hall for the aarti. As the aarti finished, we went to the lunch halls. There are two halls. We were served with a sumptuous anna prasadam that included Rice, pickles, sambar, rasam, buttermilk and payasam. It was indeed very filling. We came out and visited the mini zoo and rested in the surroundings. The ladies did some bangle purchasing

And then we decided to start towards Attur Church. Drove back to Belman and towards Karkala, across Nitte college. Shocking to see how much the area outside the college has changed. The road widening has changed the landscape. The familiar shops were still there. As we reached Doopadakatte, we see the entrance arch of the church on left hand side. From here, it is another 3.5 kms to the church. The road seemed the same as when we were in college :(

Inside of Attur church

Xmas hut

Attur Church Sideview

Attur Church Front view

Church along with parking

Monkeys in church vicinity

We were at the church a day after Christmas. Attur church has a interesting read behind how the one foot idol of Saint Lawrence was installed. There was a board depicting the same to the visitors, but seems to be not there any more. The story of pious St Lawrence and his sacrifices is worth reading here at the wiki site for attur church. This is one of the beautiful and huge churches you will see in this area. One of the interesting things to see is the big lens. The are two huge church halls and there is a big lens in the separation wall through which you can see the one foot idol from the entrance of the second hall. The outer second hall is normally closed during non prayer hours. Inside the church is a feeling so calm and appeasing. The radiating idol of the saint is pleasing to the eyes as the face is highlighted by a light projection. Many devotees were present and praying. One can buy candles from the Church store and light them. The miraculous pushkarni (water pond) is close by and people can visit the same.

The Annual festival of the church happens in last week of Jan month. It is worth visiting. The celebrations run day and night with huge number of visitors during this time. We took some photos in the vicinity of the same. Then we started back to Udupi via Manipal. The road next to church continues to meet the Udupi route.

Butterfly

There were around 6-8 peacocks in the field

On the way back, we saw a group of peacocks in a open field which was not so common sight. We stopped at Manipal for a tea break.

We reached home back in the evening. It was a nice drive and time well spent.