The Mookambika shrine at Kollur is one of the most revered pilgrimage centers in Karnataka (and in Kerala). It is located at a distance of 147 km from Mangalore. The nearest railhead is Uduppi, and it is well connected with tourist centers such as Mangalore and Shimoga in Karnataka and Kannanur in Kerala.

The Temple :
Located in very picturesque surroundings, Kollur is on the banks of the river Sauparnika (said to possess medicinal properties) at the foot of the hill Kodachadri. The temple is located in a spacious courtyard, and is entered through the eastern gopuradwara. The western entrance is opened only on special occasions. It is believed that Aadi Sankara entered the temple through the western entrance.

Legends :
Kollur is referred to in the Skanda Purana. It was originally known by the name Maharanyapura. It is said to have been home to several sages and yogis. A sage by name Kola was advised to worship Shakti at Kollur. A lingam appeared on its own accord then at Kollur, and Shiva requested Kola Rishi to worship it and that in due course Shakti would manifest herself as Maha Lakshmi there. The name Kolapura eventually changed to Kollur.

Further, the ravages of the demon Kamha bothered the ascetics of Kollur. Upon being requested by Kola and other sages of Kollur, Shakti cursed the demon to become mooka or dumb. Undaunted, the demon continued his atrocities, and an enraged Devi vanquished him. Upon vanquishing Mookasura, Devi is believed to have merged into this self manifested Lingam in this temple. 24 km from Kollur is Maarana Ghat where it is believed that the demon Mookasura was destroyed. In the temple at Maarana Ghat, there is a Sri Chakra symbolizing Devi.

A trek to the peak of the Kodachadri peak and a hike to the Govinda Theertha waterfalls are noteworthy trips from Kollur.

Chamundi Hill is one of the landmark tourist attractions of Mysore, and it never fails to fall on the itinerary of those visiting Mysore.

The Chamundeeswari temple is located on a hill in the vicinity of Mysore and is accessed through a motorable road. Chamundeeswari the tutelary deity of the Mysore Maharajas has been held in reverence for centuries, and the Wodeyars of Mysore have made extensive contributions to this shrine.

Chamundeeswari or Durga is the fierce form of Shakthi who vanquished the demon Mahishasuran. A colorful image of the demon greets visitors as they reach the summit of the hill.

Also on this temple are several images of Nandi (the bull mount of Shiva). The best known of these is the colossal Nandi on the 800th step on the hill. This Nandi is over 15 feet high, and 24 feet long. It was created during the reign of Dodda Devaraja, who also built the steps leading up the hill.

Of the numerous temples that line the southern metropolis of Chennai, the Kalikambal temple in the heart of old Madras, in George Town stands out for its historic significance and its tradition of festivals, and it attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year. This temple has been visited by the great Maratha ruler Shivaji, and its visibility has grown steadily in the last two decades.

This temple enshrines Kalikambal (Kamakshi) and Kamateswarar and a host of parivara devatas. The history of the temple goes back to a few hundred years It is also believed that a fierce ugra form of the Goddess was held in worship earlier, and that this form was replaced with the Shanta Swaroopa form of Kamakshi, along with a Meru in the recent past.

The Kinnitter - a chariot lined with metal cymbals is unique to this temple, and the kinnitter procession in the month of Vaikasi attracts large crowds. The Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri festivals are also of a unique nature here. This temple has grown in popularity exponentially over the last two decades. Unprecedented crowds throng the neighborhood on Fridays and during special celebrations and the last two decades have seen major construction activities within the temple complex.

The Karumariamman temple at Tiruverkadu near Chennai is one of the most revered and visited temples in the vicinity of Chennai. It enshrines an image of Karumariamman, discovered in an anthill.

This shrine was enlarged and rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century. There are shrines here to Vinayaka, Subramanyar, Surya, Chandran, Maduraiveeran, Vaattavaraayan, the Nava grahams and Perumal.

An image of Renuka Parameswari is also enshrined in the sanctum, in front of Devi Karumaari Amman. A tank is located in front of the temple entrance. The stalavriksham here is the neem tree, or the Veppa maram.

The temple has been designed so that the rays of the sun illuminate the sanctum in the months of Thai and Aadi. The Aadi Utsavam, Thai Poosam, and Chitra Pournami are the festivals celebrated here.

This is one of the most visited temples in the vicinity of Chennai especially on Sundays and Fridays. The Kamakshi Amman temple at Maangaadu is located off of the highway linking Chennai with Poonamallee and is well connected with Chennai by frequent bus service.

This temple is believed to have been in existence during the period of Aadi Sankaracharya.

The sanctum here enshrines Kamakshi, and a SriChakram. Legend has it that Kamakshi performed severe austerities in a grove of mango trees. The processional image here is referred to as Raja Rajeswari.

The sanctum and the shrine to the Utsavar are enclosed within the inner Mandapam of the temple which is surrounded by a covered prakaram, enshrining other deities. Bhawathi Amman Temple.

Chottanikkara :
enshrines Bhagawati - the mother Goddess, one of the most popular deities in Kerala. The town of Chottanikkara is located near the city of Ernakulam. Enroute is the Poornatrayesa temple at Tripunittura.

Legend :
has it that a ferocious dacoit by name Kannappan, who dominated this area, brought home a cow with the intent of slaughtering it. The cow escaped his butchering knife, and set him running in hot pursuit. His chase in vain, Kannappan returned home to find his beloved daughter playing with the very same cow. Complying with her request, he forsakes the idea of killing the cow. His daughter passed away, and this greatly grieved him. Goddess Bhagawati appeared in his dream, and revealed to him that it was she who had come to him in the form of a cow. To his surprise, he saw two images in the cowshed the following day; the images were those of Devi and Vishnu. Kannappan built a humble shrine and worshipped the images in the cowshed. Eventually this shrine fell under repair and was discovered later and sanctified. It then grew into a shrine of the magnitude seen today, over a period of time.

The annual festival :
here is celebrated in the month of Kumbha or Aquarius (Feb - Mar). Maasi Makam, coinciding with the full moon, during this festival attracts vast crowds. Legend has it that the deity