At the top of Nandi hills

Posted on June 18, 2019

Sorry it took so long for me to get this post on the twin temple posted. My auto rickshaw driver got lost on the way home from Delhi so there was a slight detour ! So the Yoga Nandeeshwara is Lord Shivs final renunciation stage. The temple os not grand at all, just plain simple but worth the trip since it’s at the top of the hill ! Remember that the twin dates back to the 9th century and this one is supposedly older !(dating back to the Chola dynasti, longest ruling dynasti that ruled between 3 century BCE until 13th century CE)

we are on our way to the top of that hill ! but when I saw all these grapes I just had to get
out and get a picture. Don’t they look wonderful and so yummy?
Up up and up to about 1650 meters at the top. Different landscape with all these rock formations. So to the right in the picture is “tipu sultans drop”. It’s said that the sultan Tipu dropped his “not wanted” people from the top of the rocks.
ancient steps leading to the Yoga temple
leading all the way to the entrance
it holds a temple tank.
At the top overlooking the landscape
So this is the downside of India. You can always find a or many dumpsite,s of trash. The “funny” thing is that we where there on World environmental day and still many Indians just threw the trash all over the nature.

Have a nice day and enjoy whatever you are doing this summers day. I’m all into repair today. I’m not doing the repairs ! I’m just being around to see that everything is getting done. Usually days like this turns into a funny story after a while….only after a while. So I’ll be back a.s.a.p

 Category: Bangalore, Nandi hills, South Indian temples, Temples    Tagged: , , , ,

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Early 9th century temple ! Bhoga Nandishwara.

Posted on June 9, 2019

Today our rickshaw is heading for Chikkaballapura, just say that out loud a couple of times, makes you giggle doesn’t it? Chikkaballapura is about 60 km north of Bangalore and in the village of Nandi in the foothills we will find the Bhoga Nandishwara temple that dates back to the early 9th century. A hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and a twin temple. The twin is up in the hills and is even older. Let’s start with this one and see what we think.

I walked inside the gates and saw this beautiful flame of the forest tree against the mountain in the back. Also spotted the first monkeys for the day. ( makaks)
An old wooden chariot with amazing carvings was the first thing that caught my eye. All signs around where in Kannada so no information on how old and what the purpose was.
Me in profile…
Before entering temples in India you must remove your shoes and here there’s a stall outside where you pay 2 rupees to leave them. Don’t try with a rs 10 coin because they will not accept it since it’s bad luck ! apparently.
Outside the entrance we found these enormous unused stone wheels for a temple chariot.
Maha mantapa, the main hall . The original construction for the temple was commissioned by Bana King Vidyadhara in 810 A.D
Yali pillars…the carvings at the temple is truly amazing.
the drain with a “yawning” sculpture ? hmmmm…..
Parvati shrine
amazingly carved windows
Pillars with intricate details. Also to the right you can see the temple chariot in a glass box.
Sculptures in soap stone and probably from the 13th century. Amazing work.
different carvings on all the pillars …..
An old pillar outside the entrance that looks more like a ladder…..

So I missed the part that I really wanted to see and that was the water tank. Kind of like a baoli- step well but not. Never found the entrance to it and since no signs and no information. Well, well, next time I will. This old temple in this small village and not a lot of people is really worth the trip out here. And once you are out here and you have seen this you might as well travel on really winding roads to the top of the hills and have a look at the twin – the Yoga Nandishwara temple. (and Tipu’s drop)

Hope you enjoyed the little ride and noticed all the grapes growing and the cows with their sharp horns. You didn’t ? Then you have to have a peek now and then. Hope to see you.

Oh!, don’t forget to wash your feet ! It was a pretty long stroll in the temple .

 Category: Bangalore, Hinduism, South Indian temples, Temples    Tagged: , , , , , ,

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