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This age-old temple was built by the founder of Bangalore , Kempegowda I , around the year 1537 . th
In fact , this 16 centurytemple gives one of Bangalore ' s oldest suburbs its name – Basavana Gudi ( Bull temple ). What is unusual about the Bull Temple is the massive monolith of Nandi ( bull ) that it ensconces , which teeters at 15 feet , and stretches across 20 feet . This sacred bull is carved out of a single stone of grey granite , which is then polished with groundnut oil and charcoal to give it a black sheen . Built in the Dravidian style , the Bull Temple is still a bustling and energetic place of worship , especially during puja times . The tradition of venerating the Nandi still holds , and an annual groundnut fair is held every November . Called the ' Kadalekai Parishe ', the event is a colourful one that spills onto the streets . Worshippers are known to propitiate the Nandi with groundnut garlands during this time . Near the Bull Temple is the Dodda Ganesha Temple , another ancient city landmark .
Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Raj Bhavan Road , Closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays Bang in the middle of Raj Bhavan Road is an unusual attraction – a multimedia show featuring lights , music
Shiva Temple Kemp Fort , Airport Road A 65-foot marble statue of Shiva holds centrestage at this recently built temple on Old Airport Road . The ginormous Shiva idol is seen seated in meditation , with Goddess Ganga flowing out of his matted locks – an artificial waterfall depicts her descent . A manmade replica of the Manasarovar lake with artificial caves and ' Jyothrilingas ' make this temple a popular attraction among the religiously-inclined .
and dancing fountains . With the backdrop of a park , these gushing fountains powered by a thousand nozzles move to the riffs of Western and Indian music , making fifteen formations in all . Two shows are put up everyday , from 7pm to 7.30pm , and from 8pm to 8.30pm .
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple Gavipuram Guttahalli This over-five-hundredyear-old Shiva temple was built in Kempegowda ' s time . Today , it is a protected monument and an active temple still in worship . The remarkable thing about this ancient temple is that the Shiva linga that is worshipped here is set in the heart of a natural cave , or ' gavi ' as it is called in Kannada . Other sculptural highlights are granite monoliths carved with discs of the sun and moon , a stone umbrella , Shiva ' s trident and an idol of Agni , the Vedic god of fire . Every year , a rare spectacle can be witnessed at this cavetemple – on the day of Makara Sankaranthi ( a harvest festival in January ), the sun ' s rays passes through the horns of the stone bull seated in front of the linga and spotlights the inner sanctum for an hour or so . A must-see for temple architecture buffs , it is also believed that sage Gautama , one of the ' Saptharishis ' or ' seven great sages ' in Indian lore , meditated here .
ISKCON
Hare Krishna Hill , West of Chord Road , Rajajinagar , Open from 7am to 1pm and 4pm to 8.30pm Built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness , this temple dedicated to Krishna and Radha , fuses modern architecture with traditional elements . Perched on the top of the ' Hare Krishna Hill ', the temple complex soars over the surrounding landscape with trademark towering ' gopurams '. One of the biggest Iskcon temples globally , the campus is large and airy with the main hall
featuring a medley of deities from Balarama to Prahlada Naramsimha . An open theatre , a bakery and a Vedic Museum are also part of the temple ' s offerings .
Someshwara Temple Ulsoor This ancient temple in Ulsoor has a history of over five hundred years . Built by the chieftain of Bangalore , Kempegowda , the Someshwara Temple is a wonderful instance of Chola architecture . Dedicated to the deity Someshawara and his consort Kamakshi , this temple like so many Bangalore temples , has an icon of the sacred bull Nandi flanking the sanctum sanctorum . There are also visible influences of Vijayanagara architecture , as seen in a hall with 48 carved pillars and the massive ' gopuram ' or pyramidal tower at the entrance .
Jamia Masjid
KR Market This beautiful mosque looks almost otherworldly in the midst of crowded jumble of KR Market . The all-white , five-storied Jamia Masjid has striking architectural features including carved latticed windows , floral motifs , and capacious interiors replete with Rajasthani white marble . Jamia Masjid was built in 1940
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