SHRI VADABHANDA BALARAMA TEMPLE

The Vadabhandeshwara Balarama Temple is situated close to the beach at Malpe, and the ancient village of Kodavuru.  

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The temple underwent many renovations in different historical periods, as indicated by the architectural evidence. The inner portion is built entirely out of stone, which is common in temples of the Udupi region. However, these predominantly date to the later Vijayanagara period of the 14th -15th centuries. Naga worship can be assumed to have started in an open nagabana or sacred grove. In subsequent centuries, this practice must have been converted to temple worship. The sanctum or the garbhagriha is in a purely Dravidian style and has an upper storey. It belongs to 12th or 13th century, as indicated by architectural elements such as the presence of inner pradakshina patha, and the angled stone roof. The teerthamantapa, agrasabha and Sakshishwara shrine were later additions of the 14th-15th centuries as indicated by art and architectural features. According to Gururaja Bhat, the inner idol dates to the 13th century based on iconography.