About Horanadu Temple Or Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple
Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shree Annapoorneshwari temple is in Horanadum in Chikamagalur district, the coffee country. It is about 70km from Sringeri, and can be reached via Jayapura and Balehole.
Shree Annapoorneshwari temple was relatively unknown a few years ago, but is no firmly in the radar of devotees from all over Karnataka. It is said that sage Agastya had installed the deity of Sri Annapoorneshwari way back in one of the past yugas. The present hereditary trustees took possession of this temple about 400 years ago when it was a small structure, in the midst of a thick forest. Expansion and massive renovation began in 1962, and was completed in 1973. Sri Annapoorneswari stands for 'Feeding one and all." the temple has been feeding devotes for several generations now, but under the present family trustee, Sri G. Bheemeshwara Joshy, the process has been streamlined by incorporating the latest cooking technology. Devoteesare given free breakfast, lunch and supper.
There is a huge arch at the entrance to the temple. In the middle of the arch is a concrete image of Sri Annapoorneswari, flanked by Sri Lakshmi and Sri Saraswati. The shrine is at an elevation and has to be accessed through a series of steps. The tiled front mandapam will take you straight to the sanctum of Sri Annapoorneswari. The Goddess is entirely adorned in gold, and stands on a peetam, with four hands. In one She holds the shanku (conch), in the other the chakra (discus), the Sri Chakram in the third and Devi Gayatri in Her fourth.
Up o the hills is a Jain temple, beyond which is a minor waterfall. The River Bhadra runs nearby.
How to get there:
There are direct buses from Sringeri (70km), or you could come via Jayapura, Balehole and Kalasa, changing buses, or via Kudremukh (90km). Kalasa (7km) is the nearest town KSRTC buses connect Horanadu with Bangalore (330km). Chikmangalur is 100km, Dhramasthala 108km.
Accommodation : Excellent Devasthanam guesthouse (restricted to one night).