Omkareshwara Temple

The temple is located in Madikeri and was built by King Lingarajendra II in 1820. It was built to atone the killing of an innocent Brahmin. The temple is in the Indo-Saracenic style, combining typically Keralite tiled roofs with Islamic domes.

History

The King Lingarajendra II is said to have killed a Brahmin to fulfil his political ambitions. However, the king started to have nightmares for his cruel deed. In order to free himself from the nightmares, he sought the advice of a few wise men. They asked the king to build a temple of Lord Shiva to regain his mental peace.

The king followed their advice and brought a Shivalingam from the holy town of Kashi and installed it at a newly constructed temple. It is said that the king stopped having nightmares after the temple was built. This Shivalingam is worshipped as Omkareshwara.

Architecture

The temple displays a unique style of architecture. The design is quite similar to the ones seen in Muslim dargah. The structure of the temple comprises of a large central dome with four minarets at the corners.

There is no pillared hall as seen in most of the other temples. The history of the temple has been inscribed on a copper plate and is fixed on the entrance door frame.

The Omkareshwara Temple is a large and simple structure with a peaceful ambiance. A water tank exists in the temple premises. The tank has a mantapa built in the centre. This mantapa is connected by a walkway. The tank is home to large number of fishes and has also become a tourist attraction.