Tourist places › Fort & Temple
Chandragutti
A hilltop cave temple to Goddess Renukamba, drawing large crowds during its spring fair
The Chandragutti Renukamba Temple sits inside a natural rock formation on a hill in Soraba taluk, its sanctum carved directly from the stone — an unusual setting even by the standards of Karnataka's hill temples. It's dedicated to Goddess Renukamba, tied in local legend to Jamadagni Maharshi's wife Renuka Devi.
The temple is at its busiest during the Renukamba Jatre each March–April, when the surrounding roads fill with pilgrims; outside the fair, it's a quieter hilltop climb with views over the Malnad forest below.
Highlights
- A sanctum carved into natural rock, set inside a cave-like hill formation
- Dedicated to Goddess Renukamba, believed to be the site where Renuka Devi attained penance
- Draws thousands of pilgrims from across Karnataka during the annual Renukamba Jatre
Getting there
Buses on the Thirthahalli to Sagara route get you to Sagara — Chandragutti is a further ~40 km by local transport, via Soraba.