Temples of the Indian State of Karnataka illustrate the variety of architecture prevalent in various periods. The architectural designs have found a distinguished place in forming a true atmosphere of devotion for spiritual attainment. Most famous temples of Karnataka Shri Agnidurga Gopalakrishna Maha kala Bhairava Temple, Karamogaru, Mangaluru Shri Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru Shri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna Shri Chamundeswari Temple, Mysore Navagraha Jain Temple, Hubli Shri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangaluru Sri Kollur Mookambika Temple, Kollur Shri Subramanya Temple, Kukke Subramanya Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala, Dakshina Kannada Shri Rajarajeswari Temple, Polali Shri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateelu Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Kudroli, Mangaluru Sri Mahalakshmi Lakkamma devi Temple, Keresanthe. Kadur Tq, Chikkamagaluru (dist ). International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple, Bangalore Sri Hasanamba Temple, Hassan Sri Chennakesava Temple, Belur, Hassan Sri Mahantheshwara Mata Karegudda Sri Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Hassan Padutirupathi Venkataramana Temple, Karkala Kudalasangama Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri Sri Gude mahalineshrawara Temple, Herenjalu Kundapura tq, Udupi dist Santhoor Subramanya Temple Mandyada Shri Shiradi Sai Baba Mandir, Mandya, Mandya District, Karnataka Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple, Gadag, Gadag District, Karnataka Narasimha swamy Temple, Seebi, Tumkur Shri Kalaseshwara temple, kalasa, Chikkamagaluru district SriKshetra horanadu, chikkamagalur district Mahatobara Idagunji Mahaganapathy Devastana, Honnavara, Uttara Kannada Puttur Shree Mahalingeshwara Temple, Puttur, Dakshina Kannada Architecture Temples of Karnataka feature many architectural styles: Hoysala Architecture Badami Chalukya Architecture Vijayanagara architecture Dravidian Architecture Western Chalukya Architecture Badami Cave Temples Rashtrakuta style Ganga Architecture Most temples have some features in common: Nandi (bull) sculpted in black stone at the entrance of a temple is symbolic of the start of the divine place and temple area. Pushkarani (a stepped bathing area), with neatly sculpted steps, for temple devotees travelling from far places to take a breather and cleanse. The pushkarani is typically a square-shaped construction which has arrangements to keep the water flowing so it does not stagnate. Gopura are ornate monumental towers which mark the entrance to the temple. Garbhagudi (garbha meaning womb in Sanskrit/Kannada) is the inner sanctum, which can be of various sizes and shapes according to the architecture. Garbhagudi may be placed on an elevated position on a stone foundation. Artists may find a place to practice and display devotional sangeetha (music) and naatya (dancing). Vigraha is an image of the God, typically a black stone lingam, inside the inner sanctum (garbhagudi). Normally the oldest temples are built on hilltops, where people view God being placed on top