Mookambika Temple at Kollur, 80 km from Udupi, is one of the most important places of pilgrimage on the west coast of India, attracting pilgrims from all over the country. The temple, dedicated to the divine mother, Goddess Mookambika, stands in the valley of the great Kodachadri peak, on the banks of the perennial river Sauparnika.
It is believed that the great religious leader Sankaracharya consecrated the metal idol of the Goddess behind the lingam.The main idol, a Shivling called the Jyothirlingam, is placed in front of the image of Mookambika. Jyotirlingam is divided by a golden line into two unequal parts. 
The greater representing the three Goddesses, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Mahakali, and the smaller Brahma, Maheshwar, and Vishnu. The temple has a gold plated crest and copper roofs, and a temple dome and kalasha made of solid gold. 
There are a couple of places worth visiting in the vicinity such as Arasina Makki, a famous waterfall, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kodachadri mountain range. The Kodachadri houses two temples dedicated to Kalabhairava and Umamaheshwara. There are sufficient facilities for food and accommodation in the area.
The Goddess Mookambika shrine at Kollur is one of the most important places of pilgrimage centers in Karnataka (and in Kerala). It is located at a distance of 147 km from Mangalore, 80 kms from Udupi. Kollur is considered as one of the Seven Muktistala (Mukti = Liberation) pilgrimage sites in Karnataka which are Kollur, Udupi, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana, and Gokarna. 
Divine Mother made him dumb (mooka, hence the name mookambika) and when the Lord appeared before him, he could not ask for anything. Thereupon he got enraged and began troubling Kola Maharshi who prayed to the Divine Mother and devine mother killed the demon.
The highly revered shrine of Devi Mookambika at Kollur on National Highway - 17 after travelling 1 km from Byndoor at Yadthare (Kollur bypass)turn towards left and you reach Kollur after covering just 27 km.
If you come via Mangalore city on NH-17, at Tallur, after 5 km from Kundapur or at Hemmady, 7 km from Kundapur, turn towards right, you will reach Kollur after covering 35 km.
By Train: The nearest railway station is at Kundapur, 45 km from Kollur (Konkan Rail Route)By Air: The nearest air port is at Mangalore, 140 km from Kollur. 
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