Temples Near Bangalore

From the UNESCO-listed Hoysala soapstone marvels at Belur and Halebidu to the elemental Shiva shrines of Tiruvannamalai, the interfaith harmony of Dharmasthala, and the world's most visited temple at Tirumala — 30 verified sacred sites ranked by significance, architecture, and accessibility.

30 temples found

Belur Chennakesava Temple

VishnuHoysala Heritage

Deity: Vishnu (Vijayanarayana)

The pinnacle of Hoysala architecture, built in 1117 CE by King Vishnuvardhana with unparalleled stone craftsmanship.

October to April

architecturehistoryspiritualphotography

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

VishnuInterstate

Deity: Venkateswara (Vishnu)

The richest and most visited temple in the world, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara atop the seven hills of Tirumala.

November to February

pilgrimagespiritualdevotion

Dharmasthala

ShivaPilgrimage

Deity: Shiva (Manjunatha)

A unique interfaith pilgrimage center administered by a Jain Heggade family but worshipping Lord Shiva, famous for free meals and social justice.

October to March

interfaith harmonypilgrimagespiritualsocial justice

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple

Deity: Shiva

One of the oldest and most beautiful temple complexes in Karnataka, situated at the base of Nandi Hills with 9th-century origins.

October to February

architecturespiritualscenicphotography

Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple

ShivaInterstate

Deity: Veerabhadra

A marvel of Vijayanagara architecture and engineering, famous for its suspended pillar and ancient murals.

September to March

architecturehistoryspiritualmystery

Halebidu Hoysaleswara Temple

ShivaHoysala Heritage

Deity: Shiva (Hoysaleswara)

A twin Shiva temple with over 340 large reliefs — the most decorated Hoysala monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

October to March

architecturehistoryUNESCOphotography

Somnathpur Keshava Temple

VishnuHoysala Heritage

Deity: Vishnu (Keshava)

The most complete and symmetrically perfect Hoysala temple, with 16 unique ceiling designs — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

October to March

architectureUNESCOphotographyhistory

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

VishnuPilgrimage

Deity: Vishnu (Ranganatha)

One of the five Pancha Ranga Kshetrams, this island temple on the Kaveri features one of Karnataka's largest reclining Vishnu idols.

October to March

pilgrimagehistoryspiritualscenic

Chamundeshwari Temple

ShaktiHill Temple

Deity: Chamundeshwari (Shakti)

A powerful Shakti temple atop Chamundi Hills offering panoramic views of Mysore and home to an iconic monolithic Nandi.

September to October (Navaratri)

scenicpilgrimagespiritualphotography

Shravanabelagola

Deity: Bahubali (Gomateshwara)

Home to the world's tallest monolithic stone statue — the 57-foot Gomateshwara (Bahubali) — a 1,000-year-old Jain pilgrimage center.

October to February

historyarchitecturespiritualJain heritage

Annamalaiyar Temple

ShivaInterstate

Deity: Shiva (Annamalaiyar)

One of the five Pancha Bhoota Stalas representing Fire, with a massive 25-acre complex at the base of the sacred Arunachala Hill.

November to December (Karthigai Deepam)

elemental Shivaspiritualpilgrimagefull moon ritual

Kukke Subramanya Temple

OtherPilgrimage

Deity: Subramanya

Karnataka's most important Subramanya temple, famous for Sarpa Dosha remedies, set amid pristine Western Ghats forests.

October to March

spiritualSarpa Dosha remedynaturetrekking

Horanadu Annaporneshwari Temple

ShaktiPilgrimage

Deity: Annaporneshwari (Shakti)

A Shakti temple in the Western Ghats coffee country, famous for providing free meals to every visitor.

October to March

pilgrimagenaturefree mealsscenic drive

Ghati Subramanya Temple

Deity: Subramanya / Lakshmi Narasimha

A unique temple with a dual-facing idol — Lord Subramanya on one side and Narasimha on the other, viewed through a mirror.

spiritualSarpa Doshaunique idol

Srikalahasti Temple

ShivaInterstate

Deity: Shiva (Kalahasteeswara)

One of the five Pancha Bhoota Stalas representing Wind (Vayu), uniquely open during eclipses for Rahu-Ketu worship.

January to February

elemental ShivaRahu-Ketu poojaspiritual

Melukote Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

VishnuPilgrimage

Deity: Vishnu (Cheluvanarayana Swamy)

A sacred Sri Vaishnava pilgrimage center associated with Ramanuja, famous for the Vairamudi jeweled crown festival.

March to April (Vairamudi Festival)

heritagespiritualSri Vaishnava traditionscenic

Talakadu Panchalinga Temple

ShivaPilgrimage

Deity: Shiva (Panchalinga)

An ancient Ganga dynasty capital buried under sand dunes, with five Shiva temples unearthed every 12 years.

October to February

mysteryhistoryriverspiritual

Shivagange Hill Temple

ShivaHill Temple

Deity: Shiva

Known as 'Dakshina Kashi,' this hill resembles a Shiva Linga and offers a trek through rocky terrain and cave shrines.

October to February

trekkingscenicadventurepilgrimage

Devarayanadurga Temple

VishnuHill Temple

Deity: Narasimha (Vishnu)

A hilltop near Tumkur with two Narasimha temples — one at the base and one at the summit — popular for sunrise treks.

October to February

scenicsunrisetrekkingphotography

Kotilingeshwara Temple

Deity: Shiva

A one-of-a-kind temple campus aiming to install one crore Shiva Lingas, featuring a towering 108-foot Shiva Linga.

October to March

uniquephotographyspiritual

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

VishnuHill Temple

Deity: Krishna (Venugopala)

A mist-covered Krishna temple at the highest peak of Bandipur National Park with panoramic Nilgiri views.

October to February

scenicnaturewildlifemisty views

Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple

ShivaPilgrimage

Deity: Shiva (Srikanteshwara)

An ancient Shiva temple on the banks of the Kapila river, known as the 'Dakshina Kashi' of Karnataka.

October to March

heritagespiritualKaveri riverside

Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple

VishnuInterstate

Deity: Vishnu (Varadaraja Perumal)

One of the 108 Divya Desams in the ancient temple city of Kanchipuram, known for its 100-pillar mandapam.

October to March

heritageDivya Desamarchitecturesilk shopping

Chikka Tirupati Temple

Deity: Vishnu (Venkateswara)

A smaller replica of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, offering the Tirupati darshan experience just 40 km from Bangalore.

local pilgrimagequick visitTirupati alternative

Kurudumale Ganesha Temple

Deity: Ganesha

One of Karnataka's oldest temples with a massive ancient Ganesha idol carved from a single rock, dating to the 5th century.

October to March

ancient historyspiritualGanesha worship

Antharagange Cave Temple

ShivaHill Temple

Deity: Shiva (Kashi Vishwanatha)

A Shiva temple set within natural volcanic rock caves, popular for night treks and cave exploration near Kolar.

October to February

adventurecave explorationtrekkingnight trek

Savandurga Temple

ShivaHill Temple

Deity: Veerabhadra / Lakshmi Narasimha

Home to ancient temples at the base of Asia's largest monolith hill, popular for trekking and rock climbing.

October to February

scenictrekkingphotographyrock climbing

Magadi Ranganatha Temple

Deity: Vishnu (Ranganatha)

A Vishnu temple built by Kempegowda I (founder of Bangalore) with Chola-era foundations, an important heritage site.

October to March

historyarchitectureKempegowda heritage

Kengal Hanuman Temple

Deity: Hanuman

A revered Hanuman temple in a peaceful rural setting, popular for Saturday worship among Bangalore devotees.

spiritualHanuman devotionrural experience

Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi)

Deity: Nandi / Ganesha

A 16th-century temple housing one of the world's largest Nandi monoliths, in the heart of Bangalore with an iconic peanut festival.

Year-round (November for Kadalekayi Parishe)

urban templehistoryBangalore heritagephotography