Kodlipet: Sacred Groves and the Festival in Nearby Bembaluru

Kodlipet is associated with the Veerashaiva tradition of sacred groves: these groves, known as Mutt kadu, are used for worship and include the Samadhi mausoleums of saints. A festival for Sri Banantamma Devi and Sri Kumaralingeshwara Swamy is celebrated in nearby Bembaluru. The cultural themes therefore differ by place and occasion: a longstanding tradition in Kodlipet and a festival held at a particular time in the surrounding area.

Sacred Groves as a Cultural Theme

In Kodlipet, the Veerashaiva sacred groves are known as Mutt kadu. Their religious function is central to this tradition. The Mutt kadu include Samadhi mausoleums of saints, who are revered by devotees. Together, the groves and mausoleums form a religious cultural theme that is not limited to a single structure. This context can be useful for planning your trip if you are especially interested in religious traditions and their different expressions.

A Festival in Nearby Bembaluru

A report dated January 15, 2026, describes the festival in the village of Bembaluru, which is part of Kodlipet Hobli, as an annual tradition that has been observed for around 400 years. It takes place on the day after Sankranti in honor of Sri Banantamma Devi and Sri Kumaralingeshwara Swamy. The festival is a distinct cultural occasion in the area around Kodlipet.

On the day of the festival, women make offerings at the lake named after Banantamma. Statues of Sri Banantamma and her son, Sri Kumaralingeshwara, are carried on a cross-palanquin to the festival grounds, accompanied by traditional music. The customs combine an offering at the lake with a festive procession of the two statues.

Those mentioned in the report as taking part include devotees from Shanivarasanthe and Kodlipet, as well as from Sakleshpur and Yasaluru in the neighboring Hassan district. The festival is therefore also connected with several places in the surrounding area.

One festival description gives the Banantamma Jatra as taking place on the day after Sankranti, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Banantamma festival grounds. According to the description, the Kumaralingeshwara Jatra follows on the same day, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Kumaralingeshwara festival grounds. If either Jatra is important to your trip, check the date in advance.

Other Cultural Sites and Choosing Accommodation

The Sri Manjunath Swamy Temple of Kirikodli Mutt is also located near Kodlipet, on school grounds. If you are considering visiting the temple, check visiting arrangements in advance.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to distinguish between the cultural theme in Kodlipet and the festival in the surrounding area. If you want to make the Mutt kadu the focus of your trip, search specifically for a holiday rental in Kodlipet. If you also want to attend the festival in Bembaluru, plan around its Sankranti date and check the specific festival times in advance. This lets you weigh the location and occasion separately.

Discover more destinations: Halligattu, Ulugulli, Nokya, Ponnampet, Kushalnagar, Chettalli, Virajpet, Badagabanangala.

For the overarching travel guide: Kodagu.