The Goddess Marikamba in the form of Durga or Parvati is the reigning deity of the temple. This temple is believed to be built in the sixteenth century by King Venkatappa Nayak who was the ruler of Ikkeri and Keladi. Goddess Marikamba was the family deity of Nayaka Dynasty. The Goddess was held with great reverence by the Nayaka’s.

History of Marikamba Temple

Adi Shankaracharya the popular saint and philosopher of the Hindu religion once visited Sagar during his tour of South India. It is believed that Goddess Marikamba appeared in his dream and asked him to construct a temple in Sagar. He placed the holy foot prints of the Goddess in the upper limits of the city. During the sixteenth century, Sagar was the centre of battle field for the Chalukyas, Kadambas and Hoysalas. During this time, King Venkatappa Nayaka, the ruler of the Ikkeri and Keladi kingdom, adopted the Goddess as his family deity. With the blessings of the Goddess, he attained victory in the ongoing battle. After the battle, he shifted the holy foot prints of the Goddess from outskirts of the city to a centre location and built a majestic temple. He took special interest in maintaining the grandeur of the temple.

In early 1950s, there was a proposal to shift the temple from the center location to outskirts of the city. This time the complete city got affected by plague and many people died due to the epidemic. It was believed to be the result of the anger of the deity due to shifting of the temple.

Fair and Rituals of Marikamba Temple

Marikamba Jathara (Fair in local language) is held once in three years in the month of February for 10 days at the temple premises. It is one of the popular festivals not only in the Shimoga district but also in the entire Karnataka state. The Goddess is worshipped as the presiding deity of all epidemics like floods, cholera, cyclones and famines which takes the life of thousands of people every year. Thousands of devotees throng the temple premises to have a glimpse of the deity. A procession of the devotee is held on sixteen feet tall chariot. The chariot is beautifully decorated and has excellent light and sound shows. Taking part in the procession is considered very auspicious by the locals. 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Sagar is the period from Aug to December. The winter in this region is pleasant and nature is at its best. Tourists can enjoy the picturesque locations during this period. The nearby Jog falls which is located at a distance of 30 km remains voluminous and provides excellent view.

How to Reach

By Air

The nearest airport is located at Mangalore at a distance of 212 km. The KSRTC has regular buses from Mangalore to Sagar. Cab facility is also available to reach Sagar.

By Train

Shimoga is the nearby railway station having good connectivity from Bangalore. However, train from other parts of the country reaches the Birur railway station which is located at a distance of 31 km from Shimoga. Sagar is located at a distance of 70 km from Shimoga.

By Road

There are adequate buses plying between Sagar and Shimoga. Shimoga has a new bus station with all the facilities catering for approximately nine hundred departures in a day. Buses are available to all the major destinations within the state and neighboring state.