Sahashralinga, Sirsi - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 9 km from Sonda, and 14 km from Sirsi, Sahashralinga is a pilgrimage place situated near Hulgol in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Uttara Kannada, and among the must-visit attractions in Sirsi.

Sahashralinga is an open-air temple having thousands of stones with Shiva Linga carved on them along the banks of the Shalmala River. According to history, these lingas were installed by Sadashivaraya, the king of Sirsi, sometime between 1678 and 1718. The unique thing about these lingas is that each linga features a carving of Nandi, the bull right in front. Some of the large rocks on the river bed also have carvings depicting mythological stories.

Every year, on the pious occasion of Maha Shivratri, devotees from across the state visit this place to perform Shiva puja. The place looks truly mysterious and gorgeous too at the same time when you get to see so many lingas together playing hide and seek with the river waters.

The best time to visit Sahashralinga is in Winter, and early Summer when there is less water in the River Shalmala. During the monsoon, most of these lingas are submerged in the monsoon-fed river, and the water currents are so high that it would be dangerous to get into the water and reach out to the lingas.

Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Free