- Idol size
- About 18 ft high and 16 ft wide
- Location
- Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi
- Nearest railway station
- KSR Bengaluru City Junction
- Nearest airport
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
About the temple
The shrine dates from around the 16th century and is linked with the founding era of old Bengaluru. Because the idol is carved straight from the rock, the sanctum is built around it rather than the other way round. The temple is compact, and the best view of the deity is from directly in front of the sanctum.
The alankaras
The temple is known for its elaborate decorations, or alankaras. The most famous is the Benne Alankara, when the entire idol is covered in a thick layer of butter and decorated with dry fruits and nuts, a job that takes a large team many hours. Other occasions see the image dressed in grapes, vegetables or flowers.
- Benne (butter) Alankara
- Grape and vegetable alankaras
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Kadlekai Parishe (groundnut fair)
- Maha Shivaratri
- Tripurari Purnima
Best time to visit
The temple is busy throughout the year, but it is especially lively during Ganesh Chaturthi and the week-long Ganesha festival that follows, when a new alankara is shown on different days. The Kadlekai Parishe, a groundnut fair held around the Bull Temple each year, fills the surrounding streets with stalls. Early morning is the calmest time for darshan.
How to reach
The temple is in south Bengaluru and is easy to reach by city bus, auto or taxi. The nearest main station is KSR Bengaluru City Junction, and Kempegowda International Airport is on the northern edge of the city, so allow time for traffic. Pair your visit with the Bull Temple next door, the Bugle Rock park and the Basavanagudi market; we can include all of them in a Bengaluru city tour.
Also nearby
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