Big Bull Temple, Bangalore: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

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Big Bull Temple Overview

Local call it ‘Dodda Basavana Gudi’ which is the oldest and biggest temple devoted to Nandi Bull and that is why it is fondly known as ‘Nandi Temple.’ The abode of Lord Shiva which is known as Kailashagiri was guarded by the famous Nandi bull who also served as a mount to Lord Shiva.

This Dravidian style temple was built by Kempe Gowda with a magnanimous granite sculpture of Bull that is carved out on a single rock welcomes people at the entrance.

The statue is 21 feet long and 15 feet high which was originally grey colored but the application of Coconut oil, benne and pure butter on the statue by the devotees has turned it black.

The temple also hosts a small temple of Lord Ganesh and where the artistic statue of Lord Ganesh is made of 110 kilos of pure butter which makes up for an intriguing sight to the visitors.

Big Bull Temple is one of the famous temples in Bangalore that witnesses hordes of devotees almost every day.

Location: No.28, 3rd Cross, Bull Temple Road, NR Colony, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004.

Best Time to Visit: During the evening aarti.In order to witness the auspicious celebration of Kadalekai Parsihe, visit on the last Monday and Tuesday of 'Kaarthik Maas.'

Price: No entrance fee is charged.

Timings: 6 AM to 8 PM on all days of the week.

Average time required to visit the place: Around an hour.

Distance from Kempe Gowda Bus stand: Approximately 4.5 KM.

Nandi temple, popularly known as “Dodda Basavana Gudi” by the locals is one of the heritage temples of Bangalore. Located inside a park known as Bugle Rock, this temple was built to appease a wild bull who used to destroy the peanuts cultivated in this region.

It is dedicated to Nandi, the bull who is known to be the ‘vahana’ of Lord Shiva and is one of the prime attractions in the city of Bangalore for the tourists. The temple depicts the Dravidian style of architecture and is touted as one of the oldest temples of Bangalore. Devotees from all around the world come to this temple to seek blessings from Nandi, who holds great prominence to Lord Shiva.

This temple was built by Kempe Gowda, who was the ruler of the Vijayanagara empire. The entire structure of the bull has been carved out with single granite rock, and the statue is 6.5 meters long and 4.5 meters high. The statue was originally grey, but over time it has turned to black due to the regular application of butter and coconut oil by the devotees.

This is also considered to be one of the biggest temples of Nandi in the entire world. The idol of Nandi also features a Shivalingam besides it, and the vimana is adorned beautifully by the Shaiva motifs. The temple also houses God Surya and Chandra’s idols on their chariots. The tower area over the shrine was built in the 20 th century and is beautifully adorned with the motifs and figures of god.

History of Nandi Temple:

The area where Nandi Temple has been constructed used to be very fertile for growing groundnuts, pea and rice. The cultivation and productivity of these products was the major source for the livelihood of the farmers in this area.

But to the plight of the farmers, a wild bull used to destroy the crops by rampaging through the fields during the harvesting season. This led to huge damage to the farmers who were solely dependent on the cultivation of crops for their livelihood.

The farmers, therefore, gathered to fight with the bull when it arrived, and one of the farmers hit the bull on its head with a stick during this terrible fight. But the bull, instead of getting angry or running, turned within a flash into a statue.

This statue kept on growing day by day, and the farmers got scared that if this continued they’ll be left with no place in this region. They, therefore, prayed to Lord Shiva and pleaded him to help them. Lord Shiva heard their prayers, and he placed a metal plate on the bull’s head.

Since then, the statue has not grown further, and the farmers considered it a blessing of Lord Shiva and started worshipping this statue. Kempe Gowda later built a temple around this idol, and it was known as Nandi Temple, which has become the spiritual spot for the Hindus all across the world.

The architecture of Nandi Temple:

The Nandi Temple is an excellent specimen of Dravidian style of architecture. It was built by Kampe Gowda in the early 20th century and is beautifully adorned with motifs and Saivite figures. This temple nestles in Basavanagudi, and it houses a sacred bull idol of Lord Shiva.

A Ganesh Temple is also situated inside the premises of this temple, with a large deity made of 110 kilos of pure butter. This deity of butter is distributed to the devotees in the form of prashadha. This huge temple features a granite monolith of Nandi on which Lord Shiva rides.

The most striking part of this temple is that the entire idol of Nandi has been carved out of single granite rock. This temple displays a medley of various styles on the ceilings, pillars, and the shrines and walls have intricate stone carvings that look truly splendid.

The temple stands on a square platform; the borders of the walls have the intricate carvings of an elephant. The entire temple is a testament to the skillfulness and the mastery of the workmanship of the artists in that era.

How To Reach

There is no direct flight for Nandi Temple. Bangalore airport is the closest airport from Nandi Temple, located at a distance of 39.1 km. You can take a taxi or cab or bus from Bangalore airport and then you can drive up to this place.

It will take around one hour to reach Nandi Temple from Bangalore airport by cab. The nearest railway station from Nandi Temple in Chikkaballapur, which is located at a distance of 19km from Nandi Temple. You can take a cab from Bangalore airport to reach Chikkaballapur railway station, and from here you can board a train and reach Nandi Temple.

Best Time To Visit

Nandi Temple can be visited at any time of the year as it is located in Bangalore which is best known for having a moderate climate all through the year. The average temperature remains between 20-24 degrees Celcius here, which is quite relaxing to chill out in this pristine destination.

Travelers strike over here in all the seasons, but the time between May to October is the best to have a breathtaking view of this temple as well as it’s nearby destinations. You can also try multiple activities during this time of the year over here.

Other Essential Information

- Location: Bull Temple Rd, NR Colony, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru

- Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM

- Price: No entry fee

Festivals at Nandi Temple:

Many festivals are celebrated by the visitors and locals alike at the Nandi Temple. Here are some of the most famous festivals that turn the temple into a celebration ground-

1. Kadalekai Parishe - This is a yearly festival that is celebrated on the last Monday of Karthika Mass near the Bull Temple, and a huge amount of people gather to celebrate this festival with fervor and happiness. The joy of this festival starts a few days before the start of this festival and people throng to the stalls to buy variety of groundnuts. This is the day when the vendors from the neighboring states, as well as that region, bring their first harvest in the market.

There is a famous legend behind the Kadlekai Parishe festival that states that in the olden days the farmers were scared because their crop was destroyed by a mighty bull in the night. This bull was none other than Nandi which is regarded to be Lord Shiva’s abode. The farmers collectively started offering their first crop to Lord Basava to come out of this misery and slowly, and gradually it turned out to be a huge fair.

2. Ugadi - This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor to mark new ventures. The entire city drowns in the spirit of celebration during Ugadi, and beautiful decorations and rangolis can be witnessed everywhere. It is a day-long festivity that welcomes the start of new life and is celebrated with great cheer and happiness.

Tips For Visiting Nandi Temple:

Here are a few tips that you must follow while visiting Nandi Temple:

1. You should refrain from visiting this place during monsoon as the frequent rainfall can ruin the fun of your trip.

2. There are only a few eateries over here, so it’s better to feed yourself well before you visit this place.

3. It’s always advisable to carry a camera to capture the splendid moments spent over here with your friends and family.

4. If you’re traveling to this place by car, then keep the window of your car closed all the time as there are lots of monkeys over here that might harm you.

Big Bull Temple FAQs

What is the other name of the Nandi temple?

The other name of Nandi Temple is Dodda Basavana Gudi, and it is located inside the Bugle Park in the South of Bangalore. This is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Nandi Bull, which is regarded as the vehicle of Lord Shiva.

Is a camera/photography allowed?

Yes, photography is allowed at Nandi Temple, and therefore you can carry a camera to click the most beautiful pictures of the temple and its architecture with your friends and family.

Is there any dress code for visiting Bull Temple?

No, there is no dress code to visit Nandi Temple. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable to visit this temple and seek the blessings of Nandi. You should, however, refrain from wearing western clothes that show your skin to respect the feelings of the devotees and the religious sentiments.

How much time is approximately taken at bull temple bangalore?

Bull Temple remains open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day, including public holidays. You’ll take around twenty minutes to worship this temple and seek the blessings of Nandi. If the queue is, however long to worship the idol of Nandi then it might take longer.