Kukke Subramanya Temple

Built-in reverence to Lord Kartikeya by the subramanya, this 600 year old temple is at a distance of 74 km from Sakleshpur. Kukke Subramanya Temple or Subrahmanya Temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya or Subramanyeshwara, also known as Lord Murugan or Kartikeya, who is the son of Lord Shiva. It not only offers the mesmerizing view of the forested mountains and river but also attracts pilgrims for the Sarpa Samskara and Ashlesha Bali Puja. It is located along the Railway Bridge Trek in the Subrahmanya village of the Sullia Taluk, south Kanara.

It was earlier Kukke Patana and was renamed as Kukke Subrahmanya from the Subrahmanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram where Sri Shankaracharya called the place as Bhaje Kukke Lingam while he camped here during his holy expedition. The temple premises are considered as sacred because according to mythology, Subramanyeshwara used to live here as their protector of the divine serpent named Vasuki, his consort and other snakes from Garuda.

As you move towards the Adi Subramanyeshwara Temple from the rear side of Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, you will spot the shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Devi Saraswati. Pilgrims cross and take a plunge into the Kumaradhara River before entering this temple. Mythology states that the demons Shoorapadmasura and Taraka were killed by Lord Kumaraswamy in a war and he washed the Shakti Ayudha in the river, from which it derived the name Kumaradhara.