Sogal Someshwara Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Belagavi is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Belagavi is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Sogal is 500 km from Bengaluru and 63 km from Belagavi, the district capital. Taxis can be hired from Belagavi to reach Sogal, but buses are limited.

Rules to know

• Keep decorum inside the temple complex, especially in the Kalyana Mantapa.

Why devotees come here

Sogal Someshwara Temple is a Shiva temple in Sogal, a town on a hill range in Belagavi district, Karnataka. The town lies about 16 km from Bailhongal and is known for its ancient temples. Each year, hundreds of devotees gather for its Rathotsav chariot festival.

Sogal is a town known for its ancient temples, and the Someshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is the best known. The complex has a marriage hall, the Kalyana Mantapa, where Shiva and Parvati are believed to have married. One tale says Kempe Gowda was guided in a dream by Someshwara to build the temple, using hidden treasure.

The town is also called Sri Sogala Kshetra, a historic temple town. This spiritual site is traditionally attributed to the revered sage Sugol Muni. Its origins are traced to the Chola period, when the temple was dedicated to Shiva. Later, rulers including Hiriya Kempe Gowda II of the Vijayanagar Empire and the Chalukyas expanded it over the ages. The architecture is linked to the Rashtrakuta period.

The main hall, or mantapa, has 48 ornate pillars. The doorways are carved, and the pillars come in square, cylindrical and octagonal shapes. The town is on a hill range. The ruins of the Kadamba Narayana Fort, named after a Kadamba king, are nearby.

Festivals

• Phalgun monthRathotsav

  A decorated wooden chariot carries the festival image of Shiva, and hundreds of devotees gather to see it.

Tips for your visit

• The town sits on a hill range, so wear comfortable shoes for exploring.
• Visitors can trek on the hill range to the Kadamba Narayana Fort ruins, which are nearby.

Questions people ask