Someshwara Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is about 50 km from Kolar.

• By train

  Kolar has its own railway station, connected to major cities in Karnataka.

• By road

  Regular buses connect Bengaluru and Kolar, a drive of about 90 minutes to two hours depending on traffic. Kolar sits along the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway, 68 km from Bengaluru.

Rules to know

• Remove your shoes before entering the temple.
• Dress modestly and respect the temple's customs.

Why devotees come here

Someshwara Temple stands in Kolar, the headquarters of Kolar district in Karnataka. Shiva is worshipped here as Someshwara, and the Archaeological Survey of India protects the temple as a monument of national importance.

Someshwara is another name for Shiva, and he is the presiding deity of this temple in Kolar. The Archaeological Survey of India protects the temple as a monument of national importance. The Chola dynasty built the original structure when they ruled the Kolar region.

Sources differ on its date. The Vijayanagara Empire expanded the temple in the 14th century, and the Archaeological Survey of India also dates it to early Vijayanagara rule. The historian George Michell dates it to about the 17th century.

The tall gopuram, the tower over the main entrance, is built of brick and stucco. An ornate kalyana mantapa, or marriage hall, of granite stands in the south-west corner, with pillars carved in relief. Some carvings show riders on yalis, mythical beasts. Inside the complex, a second shrine is set apart for the Navagraha, the nine celestial bodies of Hindu belief.

Festivals

• On the night of the festivalMaha Shivaratri

  This is the time of the largest crowds, with devotees gathering through the night for special prayers.

Tips for your visit

• Keep some cash for small offerings, since digital payment may be limited on the premises.
• Reach early in the morning to avoid crowds, especially on weekends.

Questions people ask