At the base of the Kadri Hills stands the Kadri Manjunatha Temple, which was originally constructed as a Buddhist temple but was later converted to a Hindu one, dedicated to Manjunatha, an incarnation of Shiva. A number of notable bronze statues are within the temple, including a 1.5-meter-tall (five-foot-tall) seated Lokeshvara, considered one of the finest bronzes in southern India. Nine water tanks adjoin the temple, and steps lead from its eastern entrance along a path to a series of smaller shrines. Visit at 8 a.m., noon or 8 p.m. to see the mahapooja ceremony, when the local priests give a fire blessing accompanied by musicians.
