Shambulingeshwara Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Hubballi Airport is a domestic airport serving the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad.

• By train

  Dharwad railway station is a major station of the Hubli division of South Western Railway.

• By road

  Kundgol is 40 km from Dharwad and 20 km from Hubli.

Why devotees come here

Shambulingeshwara Temple stands in Kundgol, a panchayat town in Dharwad district, Karnataka. It is an 11th-century Shiva temple known for its carved pillars and soapstone architecture in the Western Chalukyan style.

Shambulingeshwara is an 11th-century Shiva temple in Kundgol, a taluk centre in Dharwad district, Karnataka. It is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. The temple is known for its carved pillars and decorative architectural details. Kundgol is 40 km from Dharwad and 20 km from Hubli.

The temple is credited to the Western Chalukyas. Its stones are highly polished and fitted together with dovetail joints. The temple suffered damage over time. A local chief repaired it in 1808 and 1809. Kundgol later came under the Vijayanagara Empire. A district government page says the temple supports Kundgol's place in the Western Chalukya core area.

The temple is an example of Western Chalukyan architecture. Builders used soapstone, intricate carvings and lathe-turned pillars. Despite the damage, the outer walls still show lotus motifs, kirtimukha faces and many Brahmanical figures. Lions bearing the Hoysala emblem appear across the temple.

Tips for your visit

• The Rameshwara, Basavanna, Kalmeshwara and Siddalingeshwara temples are about 8 km from Kundgol.
• Murugharajendra Math, a significant religious and cultural institution, is also in Kundgol.
• Hubli Junction is the main railway station in Hubli and the headquarters of South Western Railway.

Questions people ask