Chikkamagaluru
A historically and spiritually significant district in Karnataka's Western Ghats — home to the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the first monastic institution established by Adi Shankaracharya.
Connection to Adi Shankaracharya
Chikkamagaluru district holds foundational significance in the legacy of Adi Shankaracharya. It is here, at Sringeri on the banks of the Tunga river, that the Acharya established the Sringeri Sharada Peetham — the first of the four cardinal mathas (monastic institutions) he founded to preserve and propagate Sanatana Dharma and Advaita Vedanta. According to tradition, Adi Shankaracharya chose Sringeri after witnessing a cobra shading a pregnant frog from the midday sun — a sign of the extraordinary sanctity of the place. He installed a sandalwood image of Goddess Sharadamba and appointed his senior disciple Sri Sureshvaracharya as the first pontiff.
Source: Traditional accounts preserved at Sringeri Sharada Peetham (sringeri.net); documented in the Shankaravijaya literature and referenced in the Peetham's official institutional history.Places of Interest
Belvadi
An ancient village known for the Veeranarayana Temple, a remarkable example of Hoysala architecture dating back to the 12th century.
Hiremagaluru
A historically significant settlement in the Chikkamagaluru region with connections to the broader cultural landscape of the Malnad area.
ChandradronaParvata
The mountain associated with the legend of Chandra (the moon god) performing penance. The town of Chikkamagaluru derives its cultural heritage from this sacred geography.