This is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore. The Bull Temple is dedicated to the sacred bull Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The temple was built in 1537 by Kempegowda in the Dravidian style. It is one of the popular places to visit in Bangalore. A 17th century inscription mentions a stream called Vrishabhavathi originating here. The tower above the shrine was built in the early 20th century and is decorated with figures and figures of deities.
Bull Temple also known as Basavanagudi Nandi Temple is Hindu temple situated in Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi area of South Bengaluru. The temple also houses the idols of God Surya and Chandra, on their chariots. It is said to house one of the largest Nandi murthis in the world. The height of the murthi is approximately 15 ft (4.6 m) and it is approximately 20 feet.
The temple was built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda under the Vijayanagara empire in the Vijayanagara architectural style, he also founded the city of Bengaluru. The temple is named after the large granite Nandi monolith placed on a plinth in the temple shrine (garbhagriha) which has become blackened from years of being rubbed with charcoal and oil. The temple is a small one, consisting only of the shrine fronted by a porch in the Vijayanagara style. The current tower (vimana) over the shrine was constructed in the early 20th century and is adorned with Saivite figures and motifs.
According to legend, a bull destroyed the groundnut crops and angered a farmer who struck the bull with a stick. The bull sat stunned and suddenly turned into a stone. Shocked, the farmer decided to build a temple to appease the bull, but was shocked to see the bull growing in size. The worried farmer prayed to Shiva, who advised him to retrieve a trident buried a few feet away from the bull and place the trident on the stone idol's forehead so that it would not grow. Traditionally, the farmers of Basavanagudi organize a groundnut fair known as Kadalekayi Parashe, near the temple in the months of November and December by offering their first harvest to the bullock.
Most of the tour operators including the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation make Basavana Gudi a regular destination for tourists. Best Time to Visit this place June to February
Location: Bull Temple Rd, NR Colony, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru – 560004 (MAP).
Visiting Hours: 6:00 am to 12:00 noon and 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm, every day
Entry Fee: Free Entry
How to Reach Bull Temple
By Air: The Bengaluru International Airport is the nearest airport to the Nandi Temple, and is located approximately 38 kilometres away.
By Rail: Nearest railway stations include the Bengaluru City Junction Railway Station, Krishnadevaraya Halt Station, Nayandahalli Station and Jnana Bharati Halt Station.
By Road: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) runs buses regularly through the Basavanagudi route. As such, getting to the Nandi Temple by bus is recommended if you are not too familiar with the region.
traveling by car, then you can take the Corporation-Lalbagh-Basavanagudi route. Make sure to have a GPS device.