Bengaluru is a very old city dating back to 890 CE. It has lots of ancient temples which are not only places of devotion but also tell its ancient history. Either you want to go to a spiritual place or you want to see ancient architectural marvels, you should definitely visit these places. Let’s see the ancient temples in Bangalore:
1. Sri Dakshinamukha Nandi Tirtha Kalayani Kshetra
Sri Dakshinamukha Nandi Tirtha Kalayani Kshetra is believed to be a 7,000-year-old temple. Most parts of the temple were buried for centuries, only the south-facing Nandi Statue was there with a continuous stream of water flowing from its mouth. Seeing this, it was excavated in 1997, a Shiva Statue and a small pond (Kalayani) with fish and turtles were found. Shiva Linga was directly under the Nandi and water from Nandi’s mouth falls directly on Shiv Ling. No one knows from where the water comes, it is still a mystery.
2. Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple
Dedicated to lord Shiva, Shri Someshwara Swamy Temple dates back to the 10th century during the Chola dynasty. It was later expanded by the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. The temple showcases traditional Dravidian architecture, featuring carved pillars, towering gopurams and a spacious courtyard. Located near Ulsoor Lake, the temple reflects Bengaluru’s age-old heritage, devotion and history.
3. Begur Nageshwara Temple
The Begur Nageshwara Temple is one of the most ancient temples near Bangalore. It is a 9th century temple built by the Ganga dynasty. It was later expanded by the Chola and Hoysala dynasties. Located in Begur, near Bangalore, it is among the oldest temples in the region. Also, the temple provides evidence of early use of the Kannada language. Even the word “Bengaluru” find its earliest mentions here in an inscription stone which dates back to 890 CE. It is dedicated to lord Shiva in the form of lord Nageshwara.
4. Sri Banashankari Devi Temple
Dedicated to Goddess Banashankari, an incarnation of Maa Parvati, Sri Banashankari Temple is one of the most revered religious landmarks and a centre of devotion for the goddess. The temple’s origin dates back to the 16th century during the Vijayanagar Empire period. The temple is famous for celebrating Banashankari Jatre, which is held annually during January or February and attracts thousands of devotees.
5. Chokkanathaswamy Temple
Chokkanathaswamy Temple is located in Domlur, Bengaluru. This ancient temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore. It dates back to the Chola dynasty in the 10th century. Here lord Vishnu is worshipped as the lord Chokkanathaswamy. The temple displays early Dravidian features – granite construction, a sanctum and small mandapa. Stone inscriptions found here were written in old Tamil and Grantha scripts.
6. Dodda Basavana Gudi Temple
Dodda Basavana Gudi is built in 1537 by the founder of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda 1 during the Vijayanagara Empire. It is dedicated to Shiv Bhakt Nandi, the sacred bull and vahana of Lord Shiva. The temple houses a massive 15 ft high and 20 ft long monolithic Nandi idol which is carved from a single granite rock. Next to this temple, there’s another one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, Dodda Ganesha Temple, which houses an 18 ft tall Ganpati idol. Both these temples feature Dravidian-style architecture and remain a timeless symbol of devotion and heritage.
These are some of the historical temples in Bangalore that everyone should visit not just for devotion but also for experiencing the history of Bengaluru. However, there are still some temples which we have missed, temples like Sri Suryanaarayana temple and Kashi Visheshwar temple are also very ancient. We will see them some other time.
Until next time, keep traveling and take care of nature.
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