Manjusha Museum.
Most Dharmasthala visitors come for Manjunatha Swamy darshan + the legendary annadana (mass-feeding) and leave by mid-afternoon; few realise the Manjusha Museum on the temple complex holds one of South India's largest private antique collections — 10,000+ artifacts curated since 1953 by the 21st Heggade Veerendra Heggade. Tucked behind the main temple, it gets a tiny fraction of the 5 lakh weekly pilgrim footfall.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
A 5-floor museum holding 10,000+ artifacts gathered over 70 years: traditional South Canara wooden Bhuta-aradhane masks, Chola and Hoysala bronze idols, terracotta from Maski + Banavasi, palm-leaf Yakshagana manuscripts, hand-loom Halagaru saris, ivory miniatures, copper-plate land grants, 18th-century Tulu coinage, antique musical instruments. Allow 90 min; cameras allowed but no flash. ₹10 entry; open 9am-1pm + 4-7pm; closed Mondays. The neighbouring Vintage Car Museum needs a separate ticket.
