Religious Places in Bangalore

Iskcon Sri Krishna Temple:



ISKCON Temple, Bangalore is situated on a seven acre hillock called 'Hare Krishna Hill' on West of Chord Road. ISKCON Temple, Bangalore or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a replica of the Gaudiya Vaishnava faith based on the teachings of Bhagvad Gita and the Bhagvad Purana.



ISKCON Temple, Bangalore is also known as Sri Radha Krishna temple and cultural complex. It is well known all over the world for its architectural style. ISKCON Temple, Bangalore at Karnataka attracts lots of global tourists.



ISKCON Temple of Karnataka was set up to mark the birth centenary of its founder Sri Prabhupada. ISKCON Temple, Bangalore is built in neo-classical style thereby mixing the traditional element of temple architecture with modern facilities. The arches of the ISKCON Temple, Bangalore are very well decorated and the illuminated water falls lead you to the heavily designed Rajagopuram.



Within the Rajagopuram at ISKCON Temple, Bangalore in Karnataka lies an open air theater for organizing concerts and festivals. The four temple gopurams combine through glazed glass canopy to form the 10000 square feet hall named 'Hari Naam Kirtan'. This hall of ISKCON Temple, Bangalore is very popular for its painted ceilings.



One of the major attraction of ISKCON Temple in Karnataka are the idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Apart from these, you must also check out the Vedic museums and exhibition hall that display the facts on religious beliefs. The lecture hall with multiple language translation system where some great spiritual and religious leaders speak on certain spiritual and religious topic is another must visit place within ISKCON Temple, Bangalore.



You can relax and meditate in the beautiful garden in the complex of ISKCON Temple, Bangalore in Karnataka. Moreover, do not forget to watch the multimedia Vedic film shown in the ISKCON Vedic Theater.



More details available on this site.



-->

http://www.iskconbangalore.org/



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 40 kms ,

From city railway station - 10 kms

From city bus station - 10 kms





Gavi Gangadeshwara temple:







-->
The Gavi Gangadhareswara temple, an unusual cave temple was built by Kempe gowda, founder of Bangalore. This temple, located near Basavanagudi is well known for its architecture & a rare phenomenon .
It has been designed in such a manner that, on the festival of Sankranti, a local festival, the rays of the sun pass between the horns of the Nandi placed outside the temple, illuminating the image of Lord Shiva. This rare phenomenon occurs generally on14 / 15 January every year. It attracts large number of devotees. The precision of the event shows advancement in the technical and scientific knowledge of our ancestors.
The architect of this temple combines 'Vastukala' with astronomy which gifts the world an amazing phenomenon Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple Bangalore is a natural monolith carved cave temple and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Dedicated to Lord Gangadeshwara and Goddess Honnadevi (i.e., Lord Shiva and Parvati), are two well known shrines. Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple consists of thirty three idols..Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple Bangalore was built by the great Kempe Gowda, who was the founder of Bangalore. The type of construction that was followed while building the picturesque Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple Bangalore was the 'Ancient' type of building temples.The temple is natural monolith carved cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are two famous shrines dedicated to Lord Gangadeshwara and Goddess Honnadevi i.e. Lord Shiva and Parvati. The temple has 33 idols


Distance:



From BIAL airport - 40 kms ,

From city railway station - 10 kms

From city bus station - 10 kms







Banashankari temple:








-->The Banashankari temple of Bangalore dates back to the year 1915. It was founded by Somanna Shetty, a devotee of Banashankari Amma. He brought a deity of Amma from Badami, in Bijapur district, and installed it inside the temple. Situated on the Kanakapura Road, the temple now comes under the management and control of the Endowment Department of the Government of Karnataka. Given below is more information on the Banashankari Temple of Bangalore, India.



Unique Time and Form of Offering Prayers

One of the unique features of this temple is that the deity is worshipped in Rahukala, considered to be an inauspicious time according to Hindus. It is believed that worshipping Banashankari Amma in Rahukala rids one of all the hardships and paucities in life. There is a large rush of devotees in the temple, especially on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, considered to quite auspicious for doing puja. The prayers are offered by lighting multiple oil lamps in half cut lemon peels, whose pulp has been removed.



Annual Cultural Ceremonies

Three cultural ceremonies are held at the Banashankari temple of Bangalore, every year. The first ceremony, commemorating the birth anniversary of Banashankari Amma, is held on 13th September. The second one is held as a celebration of the Dussehra festival, in October-November. The third, and the last, ceremony is held in the last week of December or the first week of January, to mark the anniversary of the temple




Distance:



From BIAL airport - 50 kms ,

From city railway station - 15 kms

From city bus station - 15 kms





Bull Temple:








--> Bull Temple is a religious shrine that is unique in itself. Located in Basavangudi, the Temple is positioned at the southern end of Bull Temple Road in Bangalore. The term 'Basavangudi' is derived from the word 'Basava', which means 'Bull'. The special attraction of the temple is a colossal image of bull. The temple is said to have been built by Kempe Gowda in 1537 A.D. Perched at the top of Bungle Hill, Bull Temple is easily accessible from the city of Bangalore through local buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis.



Nandi - the Bull


The temple boasts of a huge image of Nandi (bull) that commemorates the mount of Lord Shiva. The giant image extends to 5 meters in height and 6 meters in its length. The monolithic bull is believed to be much older than the temple itself. The image of 'Nandi' has been made out of a single granite stone. Initially, the color of the bull was grey and gradually, it turned black as devotees apply coconut oil to it. As per the sayings, the river Vishwa Bharathi originates from the feet of 'Nandi, the bull.



Behind this enormous image, there is a Shiva lingam. Like most of the other temples of India, Bull Temple also has a story behind its establishment. It is believed that the temple was constructed to pacify a bull, who tried to gnaw away the entire groundnut grown in the fields nearby. It is also thought that the statue keeps on growing in size further and further. One can see a trident on the forehead of the bull. It is said that the trident was placed here as per the advise of Lord Shiva, to prevent the bull from growing further.



The architectural style of the temple rejuvenates the notion of Dravidian architecture. In the vicinity of this temple, there is a shrine of Lord Ganesha by the name of Dodda Ganesha Temple. The unique feature about this shrine is that the huge image of the Lord is made out of 110 kilograms of butter after every four years. It is amazing to know that the butter never melts. After every four years, the butter deity is broken and distributed amongst the devotees.



Festival


Bull Temple observes a Kadalekaye Parishe (Groundnut Fair) every year. It is held in the month of November or December. In the ceremony, the farmers offer their first harvest of groundnut to Nandi. It is kind of farmer's appreciation and gratitude towards the Bull, Nandi. The sheer size of the Bull attracts people from far and near to this shrine of religious significance.

Distance:



From BIAL airport - 45 kms ,

From city railway station - 12 kms

From city bus station - 12 kms



Raagi Gudda Anjaneya Temple :







-->The Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a temple dedicated to Hanuman and is located in the J P Nagar suburb of Bangalore. It also has a Shiva linga and the Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman shrine in the same presinct. The temple is located off the ring road between BTM layout and Jayanagar after the Jayadeva circle flyover. The temple is situated on a hillock (accessible by stairs and a lift). There is a smaller temple dedicated to Ganesh, Surya and Rajarajeshwari at the base of the hillock. The temple has two halls - the smaller one that can be rented for performing small Hindu ceremonies like the thread ceremony, seemantham, etc. and the bigger one for major events like marriage.




Distance:



From BIAL airport - 50 kms ,

From city railway station - 15 kms

From city bus station - 15 kms



Trayee Brindavan :




Brindavan’ is the Ashram of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba located near Whitefield, a suburb of Bangalore. The Ashram is 24 km from the centre of Bangalore city and is located adjacent to the Whitefield Railway Station. It was inaugurated by Bhagawan Baba on 25th June, 1960. It enjoys the presence of the Divine for about three months during summer every year.



Trayee Brindavan: This beautiful lotus shaped edifice in yellow and pink was inaugurated by Baba on 26th of April, 1984. It serves as the residence of Bhagawan Baba whenever He is in Bangalore.




Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall: This spacious and elegant hall with an enchanting statue of Lord Krishna in the centre of the dais was built in 1992. This is the venue for daily Darshan and Bhajans as well as festival celebrations held during Baba’s stay in Brindavan. This hall has a seating capacity of six thousand.
Brindavan Campus: The Brindavan Campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is located here. The students’ hostel is located within the ashram premises itself, adjacent to Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall.
Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandapam: This building is situated between the students’ hostel and Trayee Brindavan. Inaugurated by Bhagawan Baba on 25th of March, 1999, this auditorium serves as the venue for all cultural programmes and conferences.
Sri Sathya Sai Vriddhashram: About 2 km from the Ashram is located this ‘Vriddhashrama’ or ‘Home for the Aged’ which was inaugurated by Bhagawan Baba on Ugadi Day in 1999. The inmates are provided shelter, food and medical care completely free of cost.




Distance:



From BIAL airport - 65 kms ,

From city railway station - 25 kms

From city bus station - 25 kms



 

Jamma Masjid :



The oldest mosque of Bangalore, Jumma Masjid was earlier known as Sangian Jamia Masjid. Situated in the busy K.R. Market area, the mosque is renowned for its beautiful architecture. The prayer hall of the Jumma Masjid stands on an elevated ground and stands adorned with soaring, ornate granite pillars. It is believed that the mosque was built somewhere around 1790. The brick and mortar structure of the masjid has an impressive facade, embellished with elaborate jali-work and floral motifs. Read on to know more about the Jumma Masjid of Bangalore, India.



There are magnificent twin minarets inside the masjid that stretch upto the spherical domes above the balconies. These minarets have been ornamented with a graceful assembly of a large number of pigeonholes. A few years back, a delicate pattern, previously concealed under successive layers of white paint, was discovered inside the Jumma Masjid of Bangalore. The festive season sees the minars as well as the entire edifice of the masjid getting beautifully decorated with lights, adding to its beauty.



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 45 kms ,

From city railway station - 5 kms

From city bus station - 5 kms

 

St. Mark Cathedral Church :



St. Marks Cathedral is situated on the busy M.G. Road of Bangalore. The foundation of this cathedral was laid down in the year 1808 and the construction work was completed in 1812. However, it was only in 1816 that St. Marks Cathedral got consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta. The cathedral was first expanded in the year 1901 and then reconstructed in 1927. The architecture of St. Marks Cathedral is inspired, to quite an extent, by the 17th century St Paul's Cathedral. Built in the colonial style of architecture, it stands adorned with a semicircular chancel, having a huge, magnificent dome. The Roman arches embellishing the walls of the cathedral add to its splendor. Saint Mark's Cathedral boasts of having one of the best-maintained external bells amongst all the churches in the Bangalore city of India. The exquisite woodwork as well as the intricate carving merges beautifully with its elegant ceilings and domes. Even the stained glasswork of the cathedral adds to its beauty.



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 50 kms ,

From city railway station - 8 kms

From city bus station - 8 kms



St. Mary's Basilica church:



St. Mary's Basilica is situated opposite the Russel Market Square in Shivajinagar, Bangalore. Initially, the basilica was built as a small chapel by Abbe Dubois, in the year 1818. However, later, Reverend L.E. Kleiner got it converted into an ornate Gothic style church. In 1882, St. Mary's Basilica was adorned with a large number of stained glass windows, imported from Paris. However, during World War II, these windows were removed and then again restored in the year 1947, the year of India's independence.



The Basilica has an imposing tower and gothic-style pointed arches. It was only in 1973 that Saint Marys Church of Bangalore was given the status of a Basilica, making it the sixth Basilica in India. The status was awarded through a Papal order by Pope John Paul VI. One of the major attractions of this basilica is the St Mary's Feast, held every year in the month of September. Devotees from far and wide come to Bangalore in September to attend this grand feast.



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 50 kms ,

From city railway station - 8 kms

From city bus station - 8 kms





Shiv Mandir :



This majestic 65 foot open-air idol of Lord Shiva is located on HAL Air Port Road, behind the famous Kemp Fort. Shiva is portrayed in the posture of Padmasan with the replica of the holy Ganga flowing from his topknot.



Behind the idol is the holy cave.The Cave Yatra is traditionally called the ' Amarnath Yatra'. Within the cave are twelve beautifully decorated Jyotir Lingas. There is the reverberation of "Om Namah ShivShivaya" mantra within the cave. The cave yatra is open to the public from 9 am to 9 pm. It attracts a large number of devotees, especially during festivals like Shivaratri, when four to five lakh devotees come here in a day. Puja services are offered free of charge for everyone.



There is a wishing pool. The priest of the temple says, "Devotees can get their wishes fulfilled by lighting a candle, dropping a coin in the pool and by chanting ' Om Namah Shivaya' seven times."

Ravi Melwani, a well-known business personality and owner of Kemp Fort, who is also a staunch devotee of Shiva, was instrumental in the construction of this idol and temple.



More details on shiv mandir visit - http://www.shivmandir.org.in



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 60 kms ,

From city railway station - 20 kms

From city bus station - 20 kms







RajaRajeshwari temple:



Rajarajeshwari Nagar received its name from the famous Rajarajeshwari Nagar temple that is located just over one kilometer from the arch. The temple, which was built in the late 1960s, has Jnanakshi Shri Rajarajeshwari as its deity, and is maintained by the Kailasa Ashrama Trust. Devotees can visit the temple between 7.00 AM to 7.00 PM





Distance:



From BIAL airport - 35 kms ,

From city railway station - 8 kms

From city bus station - 8 kms







 

 

St.Patrick's Church:



The church is second oldest in Bangalore (St. Mary’s being oldest). Originally built for Irish soldiers, the church is now frequented by numerous during weekends. It is located at the junction of Brigade road and Residency Road. Apart from the church, its premises has a shrine, plenty of open space - for parking and strolling.



Inside the church, three columns of seats (5 in a row) were teeming with people. Most were dressed in their best. Men were in usual dark suits. Women were more colorful, wrapped in flamboyant saris, frocks, skirts (of all possible lengths) and salwar-kameez. Every seat had a booklet - of lyrics of Carol Service and Holy Mass. We arrived pretty early (10:15 pm) in the hope of getting a front seat only to find that numerous others thought on similar lines and arrived earlier . This meant only a few seats were left unoccupied. Unable to find a front seat, we settled at whatever was available.



On Left and Right sides of the church, live feeds of the sessions was screened. Seating arrangement was really good. In fact, those who were standing at the back, several church volunteers managed seats for them, especially women and children. Standing the back center position inside the church gave a majestic view of the proceedings. We left our much coveted seats and stood at the back.







Distance:



From BIAL airport - 40 kms ,

From city railway station - 8 kms

From city bus station - 8 kms





 

Venkataramana Swamy Temple:



The Venkataramana Swamy Temple was built by Maharajah Chikka Devaraya Wodiyar. The temple is 300 years old. Some of the best characteristics of the Dravidian temple art is depicted in the temple. The temple is situated adjacent to Tipu’s summer palace.



The beautiful stone pillar which is supported by lion brackets was ruined by the cannon balls. The flowery stone pillars which are supported by lion brackets have imprints of the cannon balls which struck it. This took place during the third Mysore war. After Tipu Sultan fell the Wodiyar dynasty repaired the temple to its original magnificence.



Distance:



From BIAL airport - 45 kms ,

From city railway station - 5 kms

From city bus station - 5 kms