Welcome to Bhookailasapuri
Step into the 3,000-year-old legacy of Gummalapura—a sanctuary of 101 temples where borders dissolve and the divine becomes family.
A Living Monument to Human Devotion
Nestled in the lush, rolling terrain of the Deccan Plateau on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, Gummalapura—historically known as Kamalapura and later Bhookailasapuri (heaven on earth)—rests as a divine sanctuary. Here, Goddess Gowramma is revered as the mother of the village, making the almighty Lord Shiva the beloved son-in-law. This unique dynamic brings the gods down from the heavens, creating a familial warmth amidst 101 ancient wells and lakes, and the historic memory of 771 residing Shivasharanas.
A Footprint of Three Millennia
Four extraordinary pillars that make Gummalapura one of Karnataka's most sacred and culturally rich villages.
Ancient Antiquity & Royal Edicts
Roots tracing back to the 1000 BCE Megalithic period, and home to a towering 2.4-meter granite time capsule—a royal edict carved on November 17, 1606, by Immadi Kempegowda.
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Dynamic Celebrations & The Grand Jathre
Experience the explosive energy of the annual Gowramma Jathre, led by martial Veeragase dancers, celebrated grandly from Bhadrapada to Ashwayuja.
Learn More → Multilingual Cultural Unity
A vibrant melting pot where Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil cultures blend into a seamless folklore, united under the banner of Mother Gowramma's devotion.
Learn More →A Sacred Landscape of 101
Renowned for having 101 temples, 101 ancient wells, 101 lakes, and majestic Peepal tree platforms — a living spiritual geography unlike anywhere else.
Learn More →Sacred Events & Celebrations
Plan your pilgrimage around Gummalapura's vibrant spiritual calendar.
Makara Sankranti
AnnualHarvest festival — devotees offer first crop yields to Mother Gowramma with rangoli-adorned thresholds across the village.
Gowramma Jathre
Major FestivalThe grand 45-day annual fair beginning approximately 45 days after Ganesha festival. Veeragase dancers, nadaswaram processions, chariot festivals, and lakhs of devotees from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Deepawali at the Temple
AnnualThe 101 temple premises are illuminated with thousands of lamps. A breathtaking spectacle where the sacred landscape glows from dusk till dawn.
Daily Puja & Annadana
DailyTemple opens 6 AM – 8 PM. Free Annadana (meals) served daily to all devotees and visitors, sustaining a tradition of generosity rooted in centuries of Veerashaiva values.
What Devotees Say
When I first saw the 1606 granite inscription standing tall in the courtyard, I felt history alive under my feet. Gummalapura is not just a village — it is a living scripture.
ಗೌರಮ್ಮ ಜಾತ್ರೆಯ ವೀರಗಾಸೆ ನೃತ್ಯ ನೋಡಿದ ಕ್ಷಣ ಮೈ ರೋಮಾಂಚನಗೊಂಡಿತು. ಇದು ಕೇವಲ ನೃತ್ಯವಲ್ಲ — ಶಿವನ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ.
The nadaswaram echoes through the entire valley during the chariot procession. I've attended festivals across Karnataka, but nothing matches the spiritual intensity of Gowramma Jathre.
Standing where 771 Shivasharanas once composed their Vachanas is overwhelming. Gummalapura is a pilgrimage of the mind and soul.