Bull Temple, Bengaluru – Overview
The Bull Temple is located in the Basavanagudi area of Bengaluru. This Bull Temple is also known as Dodda Basavana Gudi and Nandi Temple. This temple is dedicated to the auspicious bull Nandi, which is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
This famous temple is located inside a park called Bugle Rock which is believed to be millions of years old. The bull is in a sitting posture and measures 4.5 meters in height and 6.5 meters in length. This makes it as one of the largest Nandi statues in the world. It is made of a single piece of granite stone and has gradually turned black due to the application of charcoal and oil on its surface by worshippers.
This is one of the few temples where the Vahana of lords is worshiped and gets more priority than their lords. Nandi has great religious significance in Hinduism and many hindus regard the bull as a deity. The giant bull is venerated as Basavanna and the entire area is named after the temple, which indicates its importance.
History of Dodda Basavana Gudi and Nandi Temple
In the 16th century the temple was built by Kempe Gowda of the Vijayanagara Empire. He is also known as the founder of the city of Bangalore. The vimana that is still present on top of the temple was constructed in the early 20th century. It is adorned with Shaivite figures and motifs which are amazingly beautiful and added the charm of the temple.
The Bull Temple is a small temple, built in the Dravidian style of architecture and fronted by a portico in the Vijayanagara style. South Indian artisans are renowned for their creative skills and have left their mark on this auspicious temple. The exquisite idol of Nandi is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and mesmerizes with its beauty. The ambiance in the temple is also calm and serene where people can experience peace and tranquility.
Nearest tourist attraction to The Bull Temple
Tipu Sultan’s Fort – This Fort is one of the main tourist attractions near Bull Temple. It was built by Hyder Ali, who was the father of Tipu Sultan.
Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple- The temple is located at the Nandi Hills in Nandi village and is considered to be one of the few ancient temples in India that have been well preserved. This temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Amruth Sarovar- It is one of the most popular places of attractions near Nandi Temple. This lake is known as the lake of nectar. The lake has been formed by several perennial springs and calm water bodies that serve as the primary source of water in the surrounding areas.
Channapura Falls- This waterfall is situated amidst the magnificence of nature. People especially come here during the spring season to see a glimpse of the breath-taking beauty of this waterfall.
Also Read: Buddha Temple Dehradun- History, travel guide and how to reach
How to reach Bull Temple
By Air: The nearest airport to bull temple is Bangalore airport which is at a distance of approximately 37km. This airport is well connected to the entire country.
By Train: You can also easily reach this temple by train. The city’s nearest railway station is at a distance of approximately 6 km from the temple.
By Bus: you can easily reach this temple by road also. Buses were going at regular intervals of time to neighboring towns and cities as well as you can also reach here from the rest of India by bus or another road vehicle.
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