Ikkeri - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 6 km from Sagara, 32 km from Jog Falls, and 77 km from Shimoga, Ikkeri is a small town situated in the Sagara taluk of Shimoga district, Karnataka. It is one of the of the best heritage places to visit during your Jog Falls trip.

The historical town of Ikkeri was the erstwhile capital of the Keladi Nayakas for 120 years during the 16th-17th centuries. The Keladi rulers built temples, a citadel, and a palace in Ikkeri during their rule. At that time Ikkeri also had a mint that minted coins. A lot has changed since those ancient times and Ikkeri has lost much of its grandeur. The only vestige of its former greatness is the temple of Aghoreshwara. The word Ikkeri in Kannada means 'Two Streets'.

The magnificent 16th-century Aghoreshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a large granite structure built in a unique style that has the influences of the Dravidian, Kadamba, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara schools of architecture. The temple faces north and has a lofty roof with ornamental doorways on the west, north, and east. There are three shrines, the biggest dedicated to Aghoreshwara (Shiva), a Parvati shrine to its left, and a Nandi in the front.

The Garbhagriha, which is built of huge stones, contains a gigantic pedestal occupying nearly three-fourths of the whole space and is sculptured all around with 32 seated female figures called Shakti Peetha. The main deity Lord Shiva is in the form of Linga in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The intricate carvings on the walls of the temple showcase excellent engineering and craftsmanship. At present, it is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Timings: 8 AM - 8 PM

Entry: Free