By Sri Gangadhareshwara Seva Trust · Published March 2025 · Updated June 2026
Quick answer
Anna Danam is Kailasagiri Cave Temple's free-meal service. Begun in 2001 and continued unbroken ever since, it offers a free vegetarian meal to every visitor, regardless of background. More than 400 devotees are served daily, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, funded entirely by donations to the Sri Gangadhareshwara Seva Trust.
What is Anna Danam?
In Hindu tradition, Anna Danam — the giving of food — is held to be among the highest forms of charity. To feed a hungry person is to serve the divine in them. At Shri Kailasagiri Guhantara Devalaya, this teaching is not a saying on a wall; it is a kitchen that opens every single day.
Every visitor who comes for darshan is welcome to share a free, freshly cooked vegetarian meal. No one is asked their caste, their faith, or their means. The pilgrim who arrives by car and the labourer who walks up the hill sit and eat the same food in the same hall. That equality, offered with reverence, is the heart of Anna Danam.
How long has Anna Danam run at Kailasagiri?
The Anna Danam program began in 2001, a few years after the principal deities were consecrated. Since that year it has run unbroken — through droughts and good harvests, through festival crowds and quiet weekdays, and through the difficult years of the pandemic. That continuity is itself a form of devotion: the kitchen does not close.
More than two decades on, Anna Danam has become one of the most enduring daily feeding traditions in the Chintamani region. It is woven into the same story of patient service that built the temple itself, told on our temple history and about the temple pages.
How does the daily free-meal service work?
The service runs every day from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, fitting naturally within the temple's darshan hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. More than 400 devotees are served on an ordinary day, with far larger numbers on festival days such as Maha Shivaratri and Karthika Pournami.
The food is simple, wholesome, and entirely vegetarian, prepared fresh in the temple kitchen and served in the dining hall. There is no charge and no token; you simply come and are fed. If you are planning your day around it, our darshan timings and plan your visit pages will help you time your arrival.
Feeding hundreds of people daily takes a great deal of rice, vegetables, oil, and fuel, along with the hands to cook and serve it. The entire program is sustained by the generosity of devotees rather than any ticket revenue, since entry to the temple is free.
How can you support Anna Danam?
Because Anna Danam depends on donations, every contribution directly helps put a meal in front of a devotee. You can give a one-time donation, contribute regularly, or sponsor a full day of meals to mark a birthday, anniversary, or remembrance of a loved one. Contributions are made to the Sri Gangadhareshwara Seva Trust through our donations page, and meal sponsorship can be arranged through seva and puja.
To sponsor a day or ask questions, you can also contact the temple directly at +91 88849 23104 or by email at [email protected]. However you give, you become part of an unbroken offering that began in 2001 and continues to this day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Anna Danam at Kailasagiri Cave Temple?
Anna Danam is the temple's free-meal service. Begun in 2001, it offers a free vegetarian meal to every visitor, regardless of caste, creed, or background. More than 400 devotees are served every day, served daily from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
What time is Anna Danam served at Kailasagiri?
Anna Danam is served daily from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the temple dining hall. The meal is free for all visitors. Darshan timings at the temple are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day.
How can I support the Anna Danam program?
You can support Anna Danam by making a donation to the Sri Gangadhareshwara Seva Trust through the temple's donations page, or by sponsoring a day of meals. You may also contact the temple at +91 88849 23104 or [email protected].