Dharmasthala, located off Shiradi Ghat in south canara district of Karnataka is a highly popular pilgrimage destination in South India. The temple is about 800 yearsold. To know the legend of the deity Lord Manjunatheshwara check out https://shridharmasthala.org/ Devotees believe that vows made to Lord Manjunatha always work. What struck me most about the temple at Dharmasthala was the highly non commercial nature of the place and the excellent management of the temple and the temple town. I’d go so far as to say that this is probably the most pilgrim friendly temple I have been to.
The temple management, run by the Heggade family has created excellent accomodation facilities for devotees at unbelievably low rates so that even the poorest of the poor can afford them. While the facilities are basic, the lodgings are impeccably clean and well maintained. Darshan and prasad of the Lord is guaranteed to everyone and the lunch provided by the temple tastes simply divine. On the overall Dharmasthala makes you feel that god really resides there. You can get to Dharmasthala by bus or road from Bangalore.
If you are going by road, take NH48 to Mangalore cross Hassan and Sakaleshpur and deviate to Dharmasthala near Gundya. NH 48 is a good road. The road narrows down once you deviate from the highway. It’s a winding road, so watch out. The best time to visit Dharmasthala is between November and May. Monsoons are avoidable as the rains are heavy and the ghats are prone to landslides.