Sringeri

The Seat of Learning

The quaint town of Sringeri is located along the banks of the scenic Thungabhadra River with the towering Sahyadris in the backdrop. The town was developed into a centre of philosophy, science and religious ethics by Saint Adi Shankaracharya.  There are quite a few temples in and around Sringeri constructed by the saint himself - the Kalabhairavi temple, the Durga temple, the Anjaneya temple and the Kali temple. The Advaita Mutt, a well-renowned Hindu monastery, was also established here by Saint Adi Shankara.

The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyashringa - a chief priest who finds mention in the great Indian epic of Ramayana. Sringeri was under the rule of the Hoysalas, until Mallik Kafur – a Muslim invader from Delhi defeated the kings in the year 1311 AD. The invaders ruined the Hindu temples, stole the idols, and almost destroyed the Sringeri Mutt. Later, Sringeri rose to prominence as a political hub which eventually led to the formation of the Vijayanagar Empire. Sringeri continued to be the centre of learning and was visited by students and scholars from far and wide even after the fall of the mighty Vijayanagar Empire.