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Bhoganandishwara Temple, Nandi
Shiva · Foot of Nandi Hills · Karnataka
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
The Bhoganandishwara Temple at Nandi village, below the Nandi Hills in Karnataka, is among the oldest temples in the state, with a core dating to the 9th century under the Nolamba dynasty. Two sanctums stand side by side — Arunachaleshwara and Bhoganandishwara — representing Shiva in youth and in householder life, and at its heart stands an exquisitely carved Kalyana Mandapa, the hall of the divine wedding.
Two shrines, three stages of life
The temple is unusual in housing twin sanctums of equal size. Arunachaleshwara represents Shiva in youth and Bhoganandishwara represents him as a householder, while a smaller Uma Maheshwara shrine evokes his old age — so the complex maps the stages of a life onto a single deity. Worship moves between the linked sanctums, an arrangement found in very few temples.
A thousand years of patronage
Begun by the Nolambas in the 9th century, the temple was added to over six hundred years by the Bana, Ganga, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara dynasties. Each left its mark in stone, so the building is read by historians as a layered record of South Indian architecture, from early simple sanctums to the ornate pillared halls of the Vijayanagara age.
The Kalyana Mandapa and the temple tank
The jewel of the complex is the Kalyana Mandapa, a pillared marriage hall where the wedding of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated, its black-stone columns carved with deities, dancers and intricate friezes. A large stepped tank, the Shringi Teertha, lies within the walls, fed by a spring associated with the source of the Arkavati river that rises in the hills above.
Below the Nandi Hills
The temple sits at the base of the Nandi Hills, a cool hill station north of Bengaluru, making it an easy and rewarding stop for visitors to the area. Its setting of old stone, water and greenery, away from city crowds, has kept it a favourite of those drawn to heritage and quiet worship alike. Maha Shivaratri is the principal festival.
How to reach the temple
- By road: Nandi village is about 60 km from Bengaluru, near Chikkaballapur, at the foot of the Nandi Hills.
- By train: Chikkaballapur and Bengaluru are the nearest railheads.
- By air: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, is about 40 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Bhoganandishwara Temple?
Its core dates to the 9th century under the Nolamba dynasty, making it one of the oldest temples in Karnataka. It was expanded over six centuries by the Bana, Ganga, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara rulers.
Why does the temple have two sanctums?
The twin sanctums of Arunachaleshwara and Bhoganandishwara represent Shiva in youth and as a householder, while a smaller Uma Maheshwara shrine evokes his old age — mapping the stages of life onto one deity.
What is the Kalyana Mandapa?
It is the temple’s finely carved marriage hall, where the wedding of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated, with black-stone pillars worked with deities, dancers and friezes — the artistic highlight of the complex.
Where is the Bhoganandishwara Temple?
It is at Nandi village near Chikkaballapur in Karnataka, at the foot of the Nandi Hills, about 60 km north of Bengaluru.
What is the Shringi Teertha?
The Shringi Teertha is the large stepped temple tank within the walls, fed by a spring associated with the source of the Arkavati river that rises in the Nandi Hills.
How do I reach the temple?
Nandi village is about 60 km from Bengaluru by road, near Chikkaballapur. The nearest airport is Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International, about 40 km away.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Temple Name | Bhoganandishwara Temple |
| Primary Deity | Shiva (twin sanctums) |
| Location | Nandi village, Chikkaballapur |
| State | Karnataka, India |
| Significance | One of Karnataka’s oldest temples |
| Architecture | Nolamba → Vijayanagara |
| Period | 9th century onward |
| Key Festival | Maha Shivaratri |
| Sacred Tank | Shringi Teertha |
| Nearby | Foot of Nandi Hills |
| Nearest Airport | Bengaluru (~40 km) |
| Entry | Free |