Tourist places › Fort & Temple
Varadahalli
Sri Sridhara Swami Ashram, a spiritual retreat in the forested hills near Sagara
Varadahalli, better known as the Sri Sridhara Swami Ashram, sits in forested hills just outside Sagara. It's dedicated to Sri Sridhara Swamiji, a 20th-century saint remembered less for ritual and more for the simplicity and humanitarian values he taught — the ashram still serves free meals to visiting pilgrims each day.
Beyond the samadhi shrine and meditation halls, the setting itself is a big part of the appeal: it's a genuinely calm spot, and pairs easily with Jog Falls or the Keladi–Ikkeri temples on a longer day out from Sagara.
Highlights
- Dedicated to Sri Sridhara Swamiji (1908–1973), remembered for his simplicity and humanitarian work
- A samadhi shrine, meditation halls and daily annadana (free meals) for visitors
- Set in Western Ghats forest, making it as much a quiet retreat as a pilgrimage stop
Getting there
Buses on the Thirthahalli to Sagara route get you to Sagara — Varadahalli is a short ~6 km hop beyond.