A well-known pilgrimage among Hindus and among the top places to see in Chikmagalur, Annapoorneshwari Temple promises a unique spiritual experience, owing to its position on River Bhadra and the verdant beauty of Western Ghats all around. As the legend goes, in 8th-century, Agastya – the sage, established the icon of Goddess Annapoorneshwari (one of Goddess Parvati’s incarnations) here. What catches the eye is the way the entire idol is clad with gold, and devotees also believe that whoever pays a visit to the goddess will never go hungry. That’s because Anna means rice and Poorna means complete or perfect. The intricate carvings of the temple are awe-worthy, especially those on the gopuram, mandapam and ceilings. Festivals like Akshaya Tritya, Navratri and Rathotsaya are celebrated with a lot of splendour here.