The Famous Temples of Bangalore

The Bull Temple

Bull Temple situated on Bugle hill at the southern end of Bull Temple Rd this is one of Bangalore’s oldest temples. Built by Kempegowda in the Dravidian style in the 16^th century, it contains a huge granite monolith of Nandi similar to the one on Mysore’s Chamundi Hill. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the temple and the priests are friendly. It’s especially interesting on weekends,When there are often musicians, wedding processions and even pujas (prayers) to bless new motor cars.

Sugreeva Venkateshwara

Pair of temples in the name of Sugreeva and Venkateshwara are found on the Balepet main road in the Majestic area. This temple is unique as a temple exclusively for Sugreeva, an important character in the Ramayana epic is very rare.

There are two temples facing each other in fairly large premises. The temple that faces the small door is that of Lord Venkateshwara. The inner shrine of the temple has an idol of Lord Venkateshwara on a pedestal. The idols come alive when they are decorated. It is believed that the temple was built by Kempegowda-I for the Uppara community.

On the same premises a few feet in front of the Garuda pillar is a small shrine with a big Sugreeva idol which is about six feet in height and appears like Hanuman. The long teeth on either side of the mouth are the only thing which diffrentiates it from Hanuman. The locals believe that this tall Sugreeva with folded hands was inside the Kempambudhi Tank and one of the devotees got a divine message to remove it from there and build a shrine for it.