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Dodda Ganapathi Temple, Basavanagudi
Dodda Ganapathi Temple in Basavanagudi is open daily from 6:00 to 12:00 and from 17:30 to 21:00, and entry is free. Its Ganesha is carved from a single block of rock, some eighteen feet high and sixteen wide, and every few years it is coated in around a hundred kilos of butter. The Bull Temple is a minute's walk away, so the two are almost always visited together.
A single block of rock carved into a Ganesha some eighteen feet high and sixteen wide, among the largest in Karnataka and associated with Kempegowda's time. Devotees hold that the image keeps growing. Periodically it is coated in around a hundred kilos of butter (the benne alankara), which is afterwards shared out among those who come, and the scent of it stays in the hall for days. The Bull Temple is a minute's walk, so the two are never visited separately. Free entry, shoes off, rarely empty.
A colossal butter-anointed Ganesha a minute from the Bull Temple: two icons in one stop
Opening hours
Official hours: сверка редакции 03.09.2026 · checked 3 September 2026
Temple timings and entry
- Morning: 6:00–12:00.
- Evening: 17:30–21:00.
- Entry: free, every day.
The temple closes in the afternoon, so do not plan a visit between noon and 17:30. It is a working neighbourhood temple and is rarely empty. For the Bull Temple next door, Karnataka Tourism notes that mornings tend to be quieter, while evenings bring a steady flow of local devotees after work, so come early if you want to stand in front of the image for a while.
The Ganesha and the butter offering
Dodda means big in Kannada, and the name is literal. The Ganesha is a monolith, a single block of rock some eighteen feet tall and sixteen feet across, among the largest images of Ganesha in Karnataka, and associated with the time of Kempegowda, the 16th-century chieftain remembered as the founder of Bengaluru. Devotees hold that the image is still growing.
The temple is best known for the benne alankara, the butter decoration. Every few years the whole figure is coated in around a hundred kilos of butter, which is afterwards shared out among those who come. The scent of it hangs in the hall for days.
Dodda Ganapathi and the Bull Temple: two temples, one stop
They are different temples, a minute's walk apart. The Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi, the Big Bull Temple) stands on Bugle Rock and holds a monolithic Nandi, Shiva's bull, about 15 feet tall and 20–21 feet long. Karnataka Tourism dates it to 1537 and Kempe Gowda I. Its Nandi has turned from grey to a deep black sheen under centuries of coconut oil.
The usual order is Ganesha first, then up the steps to Nandi, then a walk in Bugle Rock Park next door. In the Hindu month of Karthika, usually November or December, the streets around both temples fill for Kadalekai Parishe, the groundnut fair, when farmers bring the first groundnut harvest to offer to Nandi and to sell.
✅ Temple etiquette
Simple rules, the same as in most Hindu temples in Bengaluru.
- Shoes off — Leave footwear outside before you enter; there are usually stands near the entrance.
- Dress modestly — Karnataka Tourism recommends covering shoulders and knees at the Bull Temple next door, and the same suits this one.
- Ask before photographing — Check with temple staff before taking pictures of the image in the sanctum.
- Small change — Carry a few coins or small notes if you want to make an offering.
How to get there
The temple is in Basavanagudi, in old South Bengaluru, on the same stretch as the Bull Temple. The nearest metro station is National College on the Green Line; from there it is a short auto ride, about 15–20 minutes. BMTC buses stop at Bull Temple Road. City Railway Station (Majestic) is about 7 km away. Parking is limited, with more space near Bugle Rock Park, so in festival season take public transport.
❓ FAQ
What are the Dodda Ganapathi Temple timings?
Daily 6:00–12:00 and 17:30–21:00. It is closed in the afternoon.
Is the Bull Temple the same as Dodda Ganapathi Temple?
No. They are two separate temples a minute's walk apart: Dodda Ganapathi houses the giant Ganesha, the Bull Temple houses a monolithic Nandi.
What is the significance of Dodda Ganapathi Temple?
Its Ganesha is carved from a single rock and is among the largest in Karnataka. Devotees believe it keeps growing, and it is known for the benne alankara, a coating of about a hundred kilos of butter.
How old is Dodda Ganapathi Temple?
The image is associated with the time of Kempegowda, the 16th-century founder of Bengaluru; the neighbouring Bull Temple is dated to 1537.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry is free.