Coorg - Cofee Plantations in Western Ghats, Karnataka

Mudabidri was also the place of the Chowtas, a Jain ruling family. They were originally situated at Puthige, about 5 km from Mudabidri. However, in the 17th century they shifted their capital here. The ruins of the 17th century Chowta Palace are famous for its beautiful carvings on the wooden pillars and ceilings. There are wonderful idols of Jain Trirthankar, Yakshas and Yakshis in the Jain basadis of Mudabidri. The stucco images in the Leppada basadi and Ammanavara Basadi are a visual treat.

Jain literature also flourished in Mudabidri. Ratnakara Varni, author of Bharatesha Vaibhava belonged here. The famous Jain canonical texts, Dhavala texts, are to be found in these monasteries. These manuscripts along with the palm leaf ones are of great historical significance. The Mughal invasions on Mudabidri, Karnataka were quite common. As a result the ancient Jain texts were shifted to Mudbidri from Shravanabelagola. Digambara traditions are elaborately explained in these texts. There is a Jain Math near the main temple. It has a library that contains the texts dating back to 12th and 13th centuries.