Located 7 km away from Kasaragod town, Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara-Siddhivinayaka Temple rises on the banks of the Mogral river, also popularly known as Madhuvahini. Though Lord Shiva, also known as Madanantheshwara, is the major deity of this temple, the idol of Lord Ganapathi, located in the main sanctum facing south is said to be powerful and is revered the most. The temple draws followers because of its distinctive and beautiful architectural appeal.
Various legends abound including the story of Tipu Sultan, who changed his mind about an invasion when he arrived here, and left the mark of his sword, signifying an attack. The story goes that an old woman found the ’Udbhava Murthy’ (a statue that is not manmade) which is now worshipped as the Shiva lingam.
The temple has a three-tiered dome in the shape of a Gaja prishta (the hind part of an elephant). The dome is covered with copper. This temple's mamaskara mandapam is striking, with exquisite carvings of mythological figures. One can see intricate wooden carvings on the dome illustrating scenes from the Ramayana. The idol can be seen from outside the main dome. The complex contains many smaller temples too. It is a great blend of Kerala and Karnataka architecture, with a gorgeous and intriguing scenery of hills, rice fields and gardens with the river Madhuvahini flowing gently in front of the temple.
