Chandramouleeshwara Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

05:00 – 20:30

Established

8

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Ancient Swayambhu Shiva Lingam adorned with crescent moon insignia and silver kavacha

Religious tradition

Agamic Shaiva Tradition of Tulunadu

Sanskrit name

श्री चन्द्रमौलेश्वर मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Udupi Chandramouleshwara Gudi, Moon God Shiva Temple Udupi, First Darshan Temple Udupi

Darshan hours

Daily

05:00 AM - 01:30 PM, 04:30 PM - 09:00 PM

Break timings

01:30 PM - 04:30 PM

Special days

Maha Shivaratri, Paryaya: 04:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Festival timings

Open till 11:00 PM on Maha Shivaratri

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

07:00 PM

Night aarti

8:15 PM

Special aarti days

Every Monday, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Purnima

Ritual schedule

Suprabhatam, Ksheerabhishekam, Rudrabhisheka, Bilvarchana, Deeparadhana by hereditary archakas

Pooja timings

05:30 AM - 01:00 PM, 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Abhishek timings

06:00 AM - 08:30 AM (Daily continuous milk/water abhishekam)

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

Yes

History & heritage

Historical period

Medieval

Built by

Alupa Dynasty; patronized by the local chieftains and integrated into the Udupi temple circuit

Architect / builder

Traditional artisans of coastal Karnataka

Construction materials

Laterite stone masonry, dark granite sanctum, carved wooden pillars, copper tile roofs

Historical events

The Moon God (Chandra) performed penance here to get rid of Daksha Prajapati’s curse; Lord Shiva released him, giving the town its name Udupi ("Udu" means stars, "Pa" means lord)

Renovations

Protected and renovated under Karnataka Religious Endowments (Muzrai) Department and Ashta Mathas

Archaeological importance

Crucial mythological and historical landmark identifying the etymological origin of Udupi

Legends

The Moon God did penance here in a forest surrounding the lake to regain his luster after being cursed by Daksha

Inscriptions

Stone records of Alupa rulers preserved in the temple courtyard

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

8th Century CE foundations with later renovations

Structure

Traditional rectangular courtyard shrine with sanctum, circumambulatory corridor, and wooden entrance porch

Floors

1

Gopuram

Two-tier coastal copper-tile covered shikhara with golden stupis

Mandapa

Pillared wooden hall with heavy timber beams and oil-lamp railings

Sculptural features

Ancient Swayambhu Shiva Lingam; carved stone Nandi facing sanctum; Ganapati and Parvati shrines

Artistic elements

Carved wooden ceiling panels and brass hanging oil lamps

Construction technique

Laterite block masonry joined with lime mortar and timber framework

Unique features

Customary traditional rule that pilgrims must visit Chandramouleeshwara first before any other shrine in Udupi

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Magha Bahula Chaturdashi (Shivaratri)

Special celebration days

Every Monday, Pradosham, Purnima

Cultural events

Devotional bhajans and classical music during Shivaratri and festival days

Annual events

Maha Shivaratri Deepotsava around Car Street

Peak crowd season

October to February

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

100+ Vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.