Happy TravellerWelcome to Moodabidri, a small town located in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India. Known as the ‘Jaina Kashi of the South’, Moodabidri is a town steeped in history, culture, and tradition. Let’s take a closer look at what this charming town has to offer.
Moodabidri gets its name from two Tulu words, ‘mūḍu’ meaning east and ‘bidiru’ meaning bamboo. The town was named after the bamboo that was widely grown in the area in ancient times. The town is located 34 km northeast of Mangalore, the district headquarters, and is easily accessible by road.
Demographically, Moodabidri has a population of 25,710 as per the 2001 India census. The town has an average literacy rate of 88.57%, with male literacy at 93.13% and female literacy at 84.13%. The town is home to several villages, including Pranthya and Marnad.
Religion and culture play a significant role in Moodabidri. Jainism is strongly practiced in the town, and the Thousand Pillars Temple (Saavira Kambada Basadi) is a holy shrine for Jains across the country. The temple also houses the treasured Dhavala text. Other Basadis in the town include Ammanvara Basadi and Leppada Basadi. There are several other Jain temples in Moodbidri, along with a number of Hindu temples. The Hanuman temple of Moodbidri is one of the most famous temples in the area, and devotees offer tender coconut as an offering to the God. On Saturdays, an average of about four to five thousand tender coconuts are offered to Lord Hanuman. The Shri Venkataramana temple is a rock-built temple and is known for the celebration of Karthika Deepotsava, holy Keredeepotsava, Sharada Mahotsava, and other functions. There are carved Dashavatar statues in the other veranda. A sizable number of people practice Roman Catholicism in Moodbidri, and there are around 14 churches in and around Moodbidri Varado. Among them is the 16th-century old Portuguese-built church Igreja da Santa Cruz Hospet or Hospet Church.
Moodabidri is also known for its rich tradition and festivals. Hulivesha, a unique form of folk dance in Dakshina Kannada, is performed during the Dussera celebration. It is also performed during other festivals like Krishna Janmasthami and Ganesh Chathurthi. Moodbidri is famous for Hulivesha performed on Ganesha Chathurthi, just as Mangalore is famous for Dashera Hulivesha and Udupi for Janmashtami Hulivesha. Other festivals celebrated in Moodabidri include Navaraatri, Maari Pooja or Rashi Pooja, Bhoota Kola, Kambala, Korikatta, Nagaradhane, Dindu / Karthik Poornima (Lakshadeepotsava), and Muslims Eid-al-Fitr.
Moodabidri has a rich history, and during the 14th–16th centuries, the town emerged as a center of Jain religion, culture, art, and architecture. 18 Jain temples, known as Basadis, were constructed during this period. The Jain Math at Moodabidri is headed by a Bhattaraka belonging to the Mula Sangh order. The most famous among them are Guru basadi, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi (known as Thousand Pillar Temple) and Ammanavara Basadi. The town was ruled by the Jain Chowta dynasty until 1603 when they moved their capital to Moodabidri. They lost power when the region was taken over by Tipu Sultan. The remains of the 17th-century Chowta Palace are known for its carved wooden pillars and ceilings.
Moodabidri is also known for its sports and entertainment. Yearly and monthly sports activities are held at Swaraj Maidhan and SMC ground. State-level and national sports meets are held here, and cricket, volleyball, badminton, and different types of matches are played. Many floodlight cricket and volleyball matches are held here. The town is also known for Yakshagana, a unique drama-like play on epics that lasts a whole night, starting at 9:30 pm and ending at 6 am the next day. Private Tulu drama companies play comedy drama at regular intervals between November and June.
In conclusion, Moodabidri is a town that is rich in history, culture, and tradition. From its Jain temples to its unique folk dances and festivals, there is something for everyone in this charming town. So why not plan a visit to Moodabidri and experience the magic for yourself?
