The Nandi Temple in Bangalore is famous for its massive statue of the holy bull, Nandi. In fact, at about 4.6 meters in height and about 6.1 meters in length, the idol of Nandi in this temple is said to be one of the largest in the world. This special feature draws many devotees and visitors to the place.
According to Hindu beliefs, Nandi, meaning ‘joy’ in Sanskrit, is the holy bull. Although the Nandi statue appears to be black in color, when it was installed, it was not really the case. Originally, the idol was grey in color. But it blackened over the years as devotees regularly added charcoal and oil to the statue.
The iron plate on the bull’s head was set there by Lord Shiva, according to a myth, to stop the idol from rising. An inscription at the temple states that the river Vrishabhavathi flowing through the western part of Bengaluru originates from a spring underneath the statue of Nandi.
The temple is estimated to have been founded by a ruler named Kempe Gowda in the year 1537, who is famous as the founder of the capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru. While much of the temple has remained unchanged over the centuries, during the early 20th century, the new ‘Vimana’ that towers over the shrine were constructed. The temple’s architecture is strongly inspired by the style of Vijayanagara, prevalent during the 1500s. Nandi’s idol is carved from a single granite block and features a Shivalingam behind it. Meanwhile, Shaiva motifs adorn the Vimana.
The closest airport to Nandi Temple is Bengaluru International Airport, which is located about 38 kilometers away. Bengaluru City Junction Railway Station, Krishnadevaraya Halt Station, Nayandahalli Station, and Jnana Bharati Halt Station are the nearest railway stations. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates buses on the Basavanagudi route on a daily basis. As such, if you are not too familiar with the area, it is advisable to get to Nandi Temple by bus. You can then take the Corporation-Lalbagh-Basavanagudi route if you are commuting by car. Make sure you mount a GPS system or an app on your smartphone.
Location:-Bull Temple Rd, NR Colony, Basavanagudi
Entry fee:- free
Timings:- 6:00 Am to 8:00 Pm
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