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Nandi temples in Bangalore
नन्दि
The Nandi temple of Bangalore is the Bull Temple, Dodda Basavana Gudi, in Basavanagudi: a small Vijayanagara-style shrine from 1537 built around a granite Nandi about 4.6 m high and 6 m long. It is the only temple on the list built for Nandi himself. Gavi Gangadhareshwara nearby is a Shiva cave temple with Nandi at its entrance, and Dodda Ganapathi next door is a Ganesha temple; all three fit into one south Bengaluru morning. The general guide to choosing a temple in the city is on the [Bangalore temples page](/en/bengaluru/temples/); this one is about Nandi.
Nandi
The sacred bull, mount and first disciple of Shiva. He sits facing the lingam in every Shaiva temple.
Why Bangalore has a temple to the bull
Nandi is Shiva's bull: his mount, his gatekeeper and, in the Shaiva tradition, his first disciple. In almost every Shiva temple he sits outside the sanctum facing the lingam, and people lean in to whisper a wish into his ear so that he passes it on. A temple with Nandi himself as the main deity is much rarer. Basava is the Kannada name for Nandi, and the whole district carries it.
The story told in the neighbourhood is a farmers' one. A bull kept raiding the groundnut fields here at every full moon; the villagers chased it up a hillock, where it vanished and a stone Nandi stood in its place, still growing. They drove an iron peg into its head to stop it and promised the bull their first groundnuts every year. It is told as a legend, and the fair that keeps the promise is real (see below). More about Nandi himself: Nandi.
The Bull Temple and its two neighbours
All three are in Basavanagudi and Gavipuram, south Bengaluru. Shoes come off at each.
Bull Temple: Nandi as the main deity
Built in 1537 under Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru, it is little more than a shrine and a porch; the tower above it was added in the early 20th century. Inside, the monolith is blackened by years of oil and charcoal. The temple stands in the Bugle Rock park (Bugle Rock), and coconut sellers wait at the gate. Open 6:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00 (on-site check, September 2026); entry is free.
Gavi Gangadhareshwara: Nandi as a gatekeeper of light
A Shiva shrine cut into the rock of Gavipuram, given its present form under Kempegowda I in the 16th century. Its Nandi stands outside, and on Makar Sankranti the setting sun passes between his horns and lights the lingam in the inner chamber. On other days the cave is dim, cool and quiet. Free entry.
Dodda Ganapathi: Ganesha's temple next door
A Ganesha temple, not a Nandi one, listed here because it is the Bull Temple's neighbour: an image about 18 feet high carved from a single rock and periodically coated in butter. It stands a minute's walk from the Bull Temple, and the two are usually visited together. Open 6:00–12:00 and 17:30–21:00 (editorial check, September 2026). More: Dodda Ganapathi Temple.
✅ Nandi's days in Bangalore
Dates from the India GO festival calendar; projected dates are confirmed shortly before.
- Kadalekai Parishe, 7–9 December 2026 (projected) — The groundnut fair keeps the farmers' promise: for three days from the last Monday of the lunar month of Karthika, growers bring their first groundnuts to the bull and the lane outside the temple fills with stalls selling them raw, boiled and fried. The temple department fixes the dates about a week ahead; a smaller fair in Malleshwaram comes a little earlier. In 2027 it is projected for 22–24 November.
- Makar Sankranti, 15 January 2027 — The evening of the sunbeam at Gavi Gangadhareshwara. The courtyard fills early, so come in good time, and know that an overcast sky simply cancels the effect. See Makar Sankranti.
- Maha Shivaratri, 6 March 2027 — Shiva's great night is Nandi's too: it is one of the main festivals of Gavi Gangadhareshwara. See Maha Shivaratri.
How to fit it into a morning
Start at the Bull Temple soon after 6:00, walk a minute to Dodda Ganapathi, then go on to Gavi Gangadhareshwara. Both Basavanagudi temples close in the middle of the day (the Bull Temple from 13:00 to 16:00, Dodda Ganapathi from 12:00 to 17:30), so a late-morning start leaves you outside locked doors. Next to the Bull Temple is Gandhi Bazaar, the flower street, for the walk back.
Other great Nandis within reach
Two more places are linked with Nandi. Nandi Hills, north of the city, has the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple, a Shiva temple, at its foot and the Yoga Nandeeshwara temple on top. In Mysuru, about halfway up the 1,008 steps of Chamundi Hill, a Nandi carved from a single block of black granite stands 4.9 m tall and 7.6 m long, larger than the one in Basavanagudi (Chamundeshwari Temple).
❓ FAQ
Where is the Nandi temple in Bangalore?
The Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi) is on Bull Temple Road in Basavanagudi, south Bengaluru, inside the Bugle Rock park and a minute from the Dodda Ganapathi temple.
What are the Bull Temple timings?
6:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00 every day, according to an on-site check in September 2026. Entry is free.
How big is the Nandi at the Bull Temple?
About 4.6 m (15 ft) high and 6.1 m (20 ft) long, carved from one granite block. It is often called one of the largest Nandi images in India.
When is Kadalekai Parishe 2026?
Projected for 7–9 December 2026 at the Bull Temple; the temple department confirms the dates about a week ahead.