1000 Pillar Temple- Moodabidri.

Moodabidri...

Moodabidri is a town in Dakshina Kannada District which lies around 30 KM northeast from Mangalore, on the way to Karkala. A small town with a big heart & lot of attractions.

The town was named after the abundant bamboo growing in the area, it is a compound word made up of Moodu(East) Bidiru(Bamboo).  Moodabidri is famous for its temples, especially Jain temples aka. Basadi's. 

It is being said that it is a town with 18 roads linking with villages, 18 lakes, 18 temples & 18 Basadi's. We did not had much time to check it out, but I am sure it will be.

The main attraction is  Saavira kambada Basadi i.e, 1000 Pillar temple (Do not confuse with 1000 Pillar temple in Andhra).A Jain temple/basadi built by Vijayanagara Ruler Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430, this shrine has a 60 feet Monolith Manasthamba. This temple is also called as Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi or "The crest jewel of the three worlds". I don't know about the other 2 worlds, but for sure it is a jewel for our world. As per the information we got from local people it has taken 31 years to build it & an equivalent amount of 9 crores was spent (9 crores.... that time).

The sanctum sanctorum contains eight foot idol Chandranath, which is the reason the temple also known as the Chandranath Basadi. This sanctum sanctorum was the first phase of construction. The second phase oversaw the construction of the magnificent prayer hall with its innumerable pillars, which gave the basadi its name Saavira Kambada Basadi or 1000 pillar temple. The last phase of construction was the erection of the Manasthamba, a 60 foot monolith in front of the temple commissioned by Queen Nagala Devi.

In fact the temple complex feature three separate stories, devotees are allowed on the upper floors only once in a year. Being one of the oldest & biggest Jain temple the upper floors are in many ways a well-kept secret.

 

The temple boasts of many mantapas, each one supported by pillars. The pillars carved from granite have stories carved on each one. Every pillar is unique and the figures carved on them are unique. 

Mythical tales of animals mingle with carvings of African giraffes and Chinese carvings harking back to a time of prosperous commercial trade routes between continents.

Stone chandeliers that seemingly defy gravity and other such architectural marvels form a part of the landscape of the temple and never fail to boggle the modern man’s mind.

In conclusion, the basadi is one of those magnificent jems preserved by history for the coming generation who are some times both ignorant and too busy to notice the valiant nature of our history. (too busy to notice .... because most of the visitors are too busy to notice that the carvings in each pillar is unique & different from one another)

Those who passes through Moodabidri can see the entrance to the Basadi from the main road itself, better not to miss.

One of the wonders ... a single sculpture with 3 different angles

1.Side view of the sculpture showing a Horse

Front view of the same sculpture.

2. Once you hide some part of the sculpture 

 a man holding a sword downward

3. 

An elephant's front view with head & trunk.

Ambience : Great, silent

Visit : Must
Reach : 30 Km from Mangalore railway station/ bus stand - frequent bus service to Moodabidri, 23 Km from Mangalore airport.
Stay : Available.
Language : Tulu, Kannada, Konkani. Tourists can manage with Hindi or English.
Nearest main attraction: Agumbe(70 Km) Kudremukh (65Km)