Bhagamandala

Bhagamandala, also spelled Bhagandeshwara, is a temple town in Kodagu district, Karnataka, India. It is best known for the Bhagandeshwara Temple, a Shaiva shrine located at the confluence of the Kannike and Brahmavati rivers, which together form the river Kaveri downstream. The temple complex is a focal point of local religious life and is visited by pilgrims seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Architecturally, the temple reflects the regional Dravidian style and houses a Shiva lingam, with surrounding shrines and a mandapa typical of Karnataka temple complexes. The site has ancient origins; local tradition ascribes its establishment to earlier dynasties, and it has been maintained and expanded through successive centuries by regional rulers, including those of the Kodagu kingdom and later powers.

Bhagamandala is part of Kodagu's pilgrimage circuit, with visitors often combining a visit here with Talakaveri, the source of the Kaveri, located nearby. The site is associated with sacred river confluence rituals, and festivals such as Shivaratri attract devotees from across the region.

Access is by road from Madikeri, the district capital. The nearest railhead is in Mysore, and the region is served by air links via Kannur or Mangalore airports. The town remains a smaller but enduring center of Shaiva worship in Kodagu.