Photo 1 / 4Long outer hall and gopuram. Photo: Naturefoof, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple
About the Temple
Srikanteshwara Temple stands on the bank of the Kapila river at Nanjangud, about 23 km south of Mysuru. Shiva is worshipped here as Nanjundeshwara, the god who swallowed poison, and the town is known locally as Dakshina Kashi. Its tall nineteenth-century gateway tower and large pillared halls make it one of the biggest temples in the region.
Why visit
- See one of Karnataka's largest temple complexes and its nine-storey gopuram.
- Join pilgrims at a riverside Shiva shrine known as the Kashi of the south.
Temple Timings
- Daily except Sun morning
- 6:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Daily except Sun evening
- 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Sun morning
- 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Official source, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
Karnataka Tourism lists weekday hours with a midday break and continuous hours on Sundays. It does not say whether Saturday follows the weekday pattern, so check locally. Expect very large crowds and changed rituals during the chariot festivals in March or April and in November or December.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
1 hour to 2 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Wear traditional, modest clothing. Men must remove their shirts before entering the inner courtyard.
Official source, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
- Phones
A phone rule for the temple was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Access
Step counts and wheelchair routes were not confirmed. Ask temple staff about the easiest entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Photography
Photography is strictly banned inside the active worship areas.
Official source, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
Highlights
- Nine-storey gopuram
The 120-foot gateway tower with nine storeys was built in 1845 under a queen of the Mysuru royal family.
- Hakim Nanjunda
Tipu Sultan is said to have named the deity Hakim Nanjunda, the healer, after his elephant's eye ailment was cured, and to have gifted a jade lingam.
- A temple built over a thousand years
The sanctum goes back to the Ganga period, with later pillars and shrines added by Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara rulers. The complex covers more than 50,000 square feet.
- Kapila riverbank
The temple stands on the right bank of the Kapila (Kabini), and pilgrims bathe at the river steps. The town is called Dakshina Kashi.
Sources: karnatakatourism.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple
- By air: Mysore Airport (Mandakalli) (MYQ) · about 15 km
- By train: Nanjangud Town (NTW) · about 1 km
- By road: Nanjangud is about 23 km south of Mysuru and about 163 km from Bengaluru. Kempegowda International Airport is about 200 km away.
Sources: karnatakatourism.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Parashurama Kshetra and SangamaThe meeting point of the Kapila and Kaundinya rivers, with a Parashurama shrine.1.5 km by road
- Sri Raghavendra Swamy MuttA mutt beside the Shiva temple.0 km by road
- Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi HillThe hilltop goddess temple above Mysuru.17 km away
- Mysore PalaceThe Wadiyar royal palace in central Mysuru, lit up during Dasara.21 km away
Sources: karnatakatourism.org, en.wikipedia.org, wikidata.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Can I take my phone inside Nanjangud Temple?
A phone rule for the temple was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
What are the Nanjangud temple timings?
Karnataka Tourism lists 06:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, and 06:00 to 22:00 without a break on Sundays. Confirm Saturday hours locally.
Is there a dress code at Nanjangud?
Yes. Wear traditional, modest clothes. Men remove their shirts before the inner courtyard.
Is there an entry fee at Nanjangud temple?
No. General entry is free. A quick-darshan line has a small charge that Karnataka Tourism does not state.
Why is Nanjangud called Dakshina Kashi?
Devotees hold that worship at this temple on the Kapila river carries merit like a visit to Kashi, so the town is called the Kashi of the south.