The Siddhaganga Matha is a large Lingayat monastery about 5 km from Tumkur on the Sira road. It is one of the most important religious institutions in Karnataka and draws pilgrims from across the state. The monastery is built around an ancient Shiva temple on a small hill, and the complex of prayer halls, dormitories, and school buildings spreads over a considerable area.
The matha is best known not for its architecture — which is functional rather than ornate — but for its social institutions. It runs one of the largest free residential school systems in India, providing education, food, and housing to thousands of children from poor families at no charge. The school campus is active and welcoming to respectful visitors. The atmosphere is calm and purposeful, quite different from a typical temple complex, and worth the short trip from town.