Viral picture of temple is from Maharastra, not Karnataka

The WhatsApp message shared along with the picture reads, "For the revival of the ancient Indian civilization. Another trend that started in Karnataka! Locals are restoring the ruined ancient temples and preparing for worship."

FACT CHECK:

NewsMeter performed a reverse image search and found the same photo on the Ratnagiri Tourism website. Ratnagiri is a district in the state of Maharashtra. According to the website, these ancient temples are located in Kasba, Sangameshwar. In 1108 AD, devotees built about 306 temples in Kasba, Sangameshwar.

A Marathi report said that some students went to Kasba, Sangameshwar in 2016 to restore and clean such ancient temples. But, there is no evidence that the locals restored the temples for worship.

Recently, media outlets reported that locals in Karnataka had restored several dilapidated ancient temples. People of Varur in Dharwad took the initiative to restore a 500-year-old temple. Locals contributed to the renovation of the Yelia Sri Vishnumurthy, an 800-year-old structure about 65 km from Mangalore. People in Hoddur came together to restore Bhagavathi Temple in the village at Rs 1.5 crore. (read more here)

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/mangaluru/villagers-unitedly-develop-temples-1015279.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/villagers-unite-to-bring-800-year-old-temple-back-to-life/articleshow/89375290.cms

https://www.thehansindia.com/karnataka/residents-took-the-initiative-to-clean-the-500-years-old-temple-in-karnataka-and-urged-governmental-help-for-restoration-716423

A picture of a temple in Maharashtra is being falsely shared as locals restoring a temple in Karnataka.