Śrī Mārikāmbā Temple, Sirsi
The eight-armed mother of the Malenadu, and her biennial jātre
⭐ Why it is famous
A 7-foot eight-armed Mārikāmbā riding a tiger, and the Sirsi Mārikāmbā Jātre held every alternate year — a nine-day fair that fills the town with over a lakh of pilgrims, chariots and Yakṣagāna troupes.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Local tradition dates the image to 1688, recovered from a tank at nearby Hanumanthi and installed at Sirsi. The temple's red-and-white painted hall, wooden pillars and huge festival chariot are classic Malenadu craftsmanship.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 06:00 – 13:00 and 16:30 – 20:30
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan; ticketed sevās such as kumkumārcane at the counter
- Photography restricted inside the sanctum
- Jātre years bring day-long queues — arrive before dawn
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Śrī Mārikāmbā Temple, Sirsi, Sirsi, Uttara KannadaTalaguppa (TLGP) — 75 km
Sirsi bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Hubballi (HBX) — 105 km
Direct buses from Hubballi, Sirsi–Karwar and Bengaluru (400 km); NH-63 through the Ghāṭs.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Hotels and lodges in Sirsi town, ₹800–₹3,000
- Homestays around Yana and Sonda
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,800 | ₹3,500 | ₹7,500 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Yana rocks
- Unchalli falls
- Sahasralinga on the Shalmala river
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
November–February; the Jātre falls in Phālguna of alternate years