Must visit temples in Bangalore
Bangalore is a metropolitan city known for many things, most of all its soulful sites and myriad of temples. From Jain temples to Buddhist temples to Hindu temples, Bangalore proudly represents and welcomes diverse beliefs. Most of these famous temples in Bangalore are ancient and built with Dravidian designs of architecture.
The old temples in Bangalore often represent a significant landmark that influences the area around it with its culture and heritage. The devotees spend a lot of time and resources on the upkeep of these temples around Bangalore. If you live in a city or are planning a trip there, we have a list of the best temples in Bangalore as well as some of the famous temples around Bangalore that you simply cannot miss. And while you are learning about the divine temples in this megacity, check out this detailed guide on Bangalore tourism that includes things like its prime tourist attractions, the best ways to reach bangalore, best time to visit Bangalore, and lots more.
Here is a list of the must visit temples in Bangalore:
Bull Temple
The Dodda Basavanagudi Bull Temple Is a landmark that has such significance that the road around it is called the bull temple Road. Located in South Bangalore in the Basavanagudi area, this is one of the most famous temples to visit in Bangalore that is dedicated to Nandi.
The temple sports a 15 feet high statue of the divine bull Nandi carved from a single block of black granite. During the groundnut festival, devotees visit this unusual idol and offer groundnuts as homage.
You can visit the bull temple during its opening hours from 6 in the morning to 12 in the afternoon and again from 5:30 in the evening to 9 PM.
Shiva temple
Among the myriad of temples, the Shiva temple in Bangalore is by far the most enigmatic. To begin with, the temple displays a statue representing Lord Shiva in his almighty glory which is 65 feet tall. The statue is intricately placed in a man-made pool. The water in this pool is situated to represent Lord Shiva’s holy habitat up in the Himalayas on Kailash Parvat.
The Shiva temple also houses statues of Lord Ganesha which are spectacularly praised during Ganesh Chaturthi. The celebration of Lord Shiva of course overpowers all other festivals at one of the famous temples in Bangalore during Maheshwari with the high priest pouring milk over the Linga that represents Lord Shiva. On Mondays, they also perform an aarti dedicated to the gods housed in this magnificent temple.
You can visit the Shiva temple from 8:30 in the morning to 12:00 PM or from 5:30 in the evening to 8:00 PM.
ISKCON temple
As divided as the mythologies and religious differences in Hinduism are, the ISKCON temple is dedicated to the devotees of Lord Vishnu along with his most famous avatar in the form of Lord Krishna. It is by far one of the most famous temples near Bangalore and devotees come from all over the world to pay their respect to the many avatars of Lord Vishnu.
It is one of the largest temples in Bangalore with 5 dedicated sections where people come to pray. You can also attend classes at the complex where learned gurus speak of the life of Lord Krishna and all the sacrifices that he has made for humankind.
The temple itself is a treat to the eyes with its neoclassical architecture and stone carvings that reach the hilt. It is possibly one of the best temples in Bangalore in terms of architecture, prayer, devotion, practices, and spiritual calmness. Located in the popular area of Rajajinagar, the ISKCON temple has quickly made its way to one of the must visit temples in Bangalore.
You can visit these sites at any time during the day for learning sessions and prayer. However, if you wish to catch a glimpse of the famous idols in one of the popular temples in Bangalore, you can do so between 4:15 to 5:00 AM, then again from 7:15 to 1:00 PM, or from 4:00 to 8:30 PM.
Banashankari temple
Among the old temples in Bangalore, the most famous one is the Banashankari temple where the local devotees worship Banashankari Amma. What makes this one of the most famous temples around Bangalore is the special devotion of the people to pray on the ominous day of Rahu Kaal, which is considered seriously ill-fated according to Hindu mythology. The goddess of Banashankari Amma is known to grant optimism and well-being to her devotees during this inauspicious time.
While the temple attracts many devotees from around the city as well as tourists on Tuesdays, Fridays, and especially Sundays, the grand festivals are a spectacle that warrants witnessing in person. During Dussehra as well as September 13th, which is a day dedicated to the deity of Banashankari Amma, the celebrations are accompanied by feasts. During the months of December to January falls the anniversary of the building of the Banashankari temple which also exhibits one of the best festivities that truly honours one of the prestigious temples in Bangalore.
You can visit the temple on any day of the week from 6:00 AM in the morning to 8:00 PM in the evening. In addition to checking out the must-visit temples in this megacity, consider going through some popular Bangalore tour packages within the margin of your ideal budget.
Chokkanathaswamy temple
One of the old temples in Bangalore that simply must make the list is the Chokkanathaswamy Temple located near the Bangalore airport. It is another temple dedicated to Vaishnavism and was built by the Cholas back in the 10th century. The divine architecture of this temple reflects Chola designs along with inscriptions made on the pillars in Tamil, which is a language dating back 5000 years.
The pillars of the Chokkanathaswamy temple are what make it one of the most famous temples near Bangalore. The intricate designs sculpted with the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu are a primary attraction for both devotees as well as tourists. The enigmatic sculptures also emanate positive energy which devotees have often said helps them connect with the divine source.
You can visit the Chokkanathaswamy temple between 6:00 to 11:00 AM in the morning and in the evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Dodda Ganesh temple
Another one of the temples to visit in Bangalore in the Basavanagudi area is the Ganesh temple commonly known as the Shakti Ganapati temple and sometimes the Satya Ganapathy temple. What makes it one of the famous temples around Bangalore is the idol of the deity Ganesha which towers over 18 feet and is created out of a monolithic structure.
During the Ganesh festival, the locals often Decorate the statue to represent different avatars of Lord Ganesha. The charms that make it one of the best temples in Bangalore occur during the graceful creation of Benne Alankar, which is when the idol is covered in butter worth at least 100 kilograms.
Much like the bull temple and several other temples in the Basavanagudi temple complex, the visiting hours of the Dodda Ganesh temple are from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the morning and from 5:30 to 9:00 PM in the evening.
Shrungagiri Sri Shanmukha Temple
In Raja Rajeshwari Nagar you will come across one of the famous temples to visit in Bangalore that truly witnessed divine presence. Lord Shanmukha Is known to have inhabited the area in which the temple is built. The divine Lord was known to have six faces which are depicted on the exterior structure of the temple design while the interiors are closely related to Indian architectural phenomena of spiritual representation.
While the Shrungagiri Sri Shanmukha temple invites devotees and tourists for many reasons, what makes it one of the famous temples near Bangalore is the gigantic Dome made of crystal placed above the Gopuram with six faces. The towers of the temple are equally extravagant with beautiful designs made of crystals and stones representing prosperity and holy vibes all around.
You can visit the Shrungagiri Sri Shanmukha temple from 6:30 in the morning to 12:30 in the afternoon or from 4:30 to 9:00 PM.
Kote Venkateshwara Temple
The list of the most divine temples to visit in Bangalore would be incomplete without the Kote Venkateshwara temple in BasavanaGudi. Built back in the late 1600s, it is one of the old temples in Bangalore that celebrates the Dravidian style of architecture as well as designs from the Vijayanagar Kingdom.
This is one of the most famous temples in Bangalore for Hindus simply because it encompasses the divine source in its entirety. The pillars of this temple carry representations of the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva with intricate carvings. Even the inscriptions on the pillars have a story to tell that celebrates divinity as well as the history of Hindu mythology. As one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, Kote Venkateshwara is known to emanate positive vibes and goodwill to all who come to worship at the home of the Holy Trinity.
The best time to visit the Kote Venkateshwara temple is on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM or on any other day throughout the week from 3 AM to 8:00 PM.
Regardless of whether or not you are a religious person, these famous temples around Bangalore Will certainly bring you a level of serenity and wholesomeness that is welcome in this era. It is not just about the religious experience, but rather finding a place which is quiet and where you can feel like you are part of a crowd yet alone with your thoughts.
You will be amazed at how quickly you can make important decisions or overcome any disturbance in your mind such as depression, loneliness, and other not-so-good feelings that often tend to bring us down. Just sitting in these temples in Bangalore with the rhythmic chiming of the bells and otherwise silent atmosphere helps our mental focus. It is a great way to channel our energy in the right direction and let go of what is unimportant. The famous temples in Bangalore are not just spiritual tourist spots but enigmatic forces that help us reflect upon ourselves. This is just one of the many wonders of Bangalore tourism, and you can get more details on marvellous travel destinations and holiday packages in India by visiting our page.
