Chandrala Parameshwari Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Kalaburagi Airport (GBI) is the nearest airport. The government page also lists Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad.

• By train

  Kalaburagi Junction (KLBG) is the nearest railway station.

Rules to know

• Only the naivedya, the food offering, prepared by designated temple staff is presented to the deity.

Why devotees come here

Chandrala Parameshwari Temple sits on Chandrala Hill, about 70 km from Kalaburagi city centre. It is built of sand and black granite in the Chalukya style. The deity here is a form of Devi Lakshmi, worshipped as Chandralamba Parameshwari.

Chandrala Parameshwari is the family deity of many Brahmin and Hindu families in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Legend says the deity came to the banks of the Bhima river at Hongunti to save her devotee Chandravadani, the wife of a rishi, who was held captive by the local king Setu Raya. The deity sent her paduka, a sacred sandal. 5 bumblebees came out of it and drowned the king in the Bhima.

The government tourism page says the temple's roots date to the 6th century, when the Chalukya empire was at its height. The main deity, Shree Chandrala Parameshwari, sits in the sanctum, crowned with a Shree Chakra gopuram. Sannati is a village on the banks of the Bhima, the same river the legend places the deity on.

Tips for your visit

• Coconuts, fruits and dry items are welcome as offerings.
• Families starting children on Aksharabhyasa, the first-letters ceremony, should bring a slate and a piece of chalk.
• Mahaprasadam, a blessed meal, is served after the naivedya and aarti.
• To take part, get seva tickets before the 11 AM cutoff.

Questions people ask