Bhoganandishwara Temple
Bhoganandishwara Temple is sited in the span of Nandi hills which is in Bangalore Rural district. It is worshipped and visited in the honour of God Shiva and his companions i.e. Parvati and Nandi. It is not only the temple site but also a picnic spot. It is popular due to presence of big idol of the bull which is placed in front of the temple. This temple had found its establishment in the 19th century. It is a splendid
instance of Dravidian Architecture. Bhoganandishwara Temple entails following temples:
- Arunachaleshwara- signifies the childhood of Shiva.
- Bhoga Nandeeshwara –signifies the youth of Shiva.
- Uma Maheshwara- reveals the bridalsights of Shiva and Parvati and is visited by newly married couples so as to get blessed by Shiva and Parvati.
- Yoga Nandeeshwara- signifies final renunciation stage.
Getting There
The distance between Bangalore and Nandi Hills is 60 km. The buses are available for reaching towards Nandi Hills from Bangalore. We can reach the Bhoganandishwara Temple from the Nandi Hills by mean of auto-rickshaw. There are three modes by which we can reach towards this temple via bus, train and aero-plane. The route from train can be carried out from Nandi Railway Station and Devanahallli Railway Station and the route from air is carried out from Bangalore International Airport.
Security And Some Tips
There is a security guard at the main gate of the temple which guide visitors to do the darshan and also approves them to have the tickets. The security guard use to do the checking of visitor in order to avoid the entry of terrorists and criminals. There should be the separate group of ladies. None of the person should be allowed to take the visit of the temple alone.
When To Visit
We can visit Bhoganandishwara Temple at any time within the whole of the year. The best time to visit this temple is during Shivratri that is the month of October to May. The entrance gate from where visitors use to get the tickets is opened at 6:30 AM.
What To See And Do
The entry gate of the temple is very big. It consists of lawn of big span which reveals the green beauty. The entrance of the temple entails a big wheel which is made up of stone and is circular in shape on one side and there is a cart of wood on other side. The campus is surrounded by a number of trees. It consists of many mandapas in which “Vasantha Mantapa” is very famous and it is a saying that the Shiva and Parvati had got married at that place. Visitors use to have the darshan of the idol of Shivas and other statues in the temple. When we further move to the temple there is a huge pond called as Sringeri Teertha which gives a beautiful picture. This temple comprises Arunachaleshwara, Bhoga Nandeeshwara, Uma Maheshwara temples in which Arunachaleshwara reveals childhood of Shiva, Bhoga Nandeeshwara reveals the youth of Shiva and Uma Maheshwara symbolizes bridal sights of Shiva and Parvati .
Where To Stay
The best place to stay is at hotels of Bangalore and at the hotels of Nandi Hills. The Hotels of Nandi hills comprises Hotel maurya Pine top managed by KSTDC.
Where Else To Stay
Visitors can also stay at Traveller Bunglow managed by the horticulture department. The bunglow is need to be booked a month before of visiting the temple.
Festivals
The festivals of Deepavali and Shivratri are celebrated here with great joy and enthusiasm. 100,000 lamps use to be lit on the steps going down covering all of the four sides of temple’s pond, thrice a year on the days of festivals like Deepavali, Shivratri etc.
Side Trips
There are so many places near-by this temple. These places are- Nehru Park, Tippu drop, Yoga Nandeeshwara temple, Tippu’s summer palace, Amruth Sarovar, Gavi veerabdhadra Swamy Temple and Ganesh Temple.
Travel Tips
The restaurants are not available near Nandi hills it is better for the visitors to take their own food. The visitor should take camera with themselves so as to trap the sacred beauty. They should also take a diary with themselves so as to note down the memorable moments and have a record of each and every part of the temple.
Hence a visit to Bhoganandishwara Temple is not only a holy visit but it is also a great picnic.