Mahabaleshwar Temple

Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is one of the seven mukti-kshetras of Dakshina Kashi — a powerful, ancient Shiva temple housing the self-manifested Atmalinga (Pranalinga), brought from Lanka by Ravana himself. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside. The temple is the spiritual reason for Gokarna's existence and draws thousands of Shaivite pilgrims annually. The surrounding Gokarna town with its agrahara (Brahmin settlement) of traditional temple houses is a living heritage landscape in Karnataka.