of all in the midst of Prakṛti (nature). The steps to reach the top are carefully carved on rocky hills as most of the hard stone mountains rocks contain water. Shiva Gange at Therhalli is one such example. Other temples situated on hills include Chamundeshwari Hills, Mahadeshwara Hills, Biligiriranga Hills and Kodachadri Hills. Temples and Practices Some temples of Dakshina Kannada have the practice of not allowing ordinary clothing to be worn inside. People can drape a cloth over, or wear a Dhoti. This practice is especially found in the temples in Dakshina Kannada, which lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This is a very popular temple as the climate is suitable for visits all year long. Kollur, Kukke, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, Horanadu, Karkala, Murudeshwara and Gokarna are some other famous temples known for devotees thronging to them throughout the year. Many temples in Udupi represent the Dvaita philosophy and are mostly run by priests of the Ashta Matha monasteries. The Sri Krishna temple, also in Udupi, features the Kanakana kindi or Kanaka's Window, a small peephole in the wall of the temple through which a statue of the great Indian saint Kanaka Dasa may be viewed. Temples in Sringeri represent the Advaita Vedanta philosophy of Adi Shankara. Being one of the oldest institutions of Sanskrit learning, Sringeri Shaarada Peetha is seen as the abode of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and holds a very prominent place in the history of learning and in the hearts of Kannadigas. North Karnataka temples represent the old glory of long ago kingdoms, with some rituals still practised. Many of the magnificently sculpted temples include shaasanas (inscriptions) which depict various important historical periods. See also Karnataka North Karnataka Tourism in Karnataka Tourism in North Karnataka Temples of North Karnataka Jainism in North Karnataka Chettikulangara Devi Temple History of Karnataka Culture of Karnataka