Tamboor Basavanna Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Hubballi Airport (HBX) and Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Bengaluru, are among the nearest airports.

• By train

  Dharwad Railway Station (DWR) is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Three daily buses and tempos run via Devikoppa from Kalghatgi, Hubli, Dharwad and Yellapur.

Why devotees come here

Tamboor Basavanna Temple stands in the village of Tamboor in Kalaghatagi, Dharwad district, Karnataka. It is devoted to Nandi as Basavanna, the holy bull and mount of Shiva. Tamboor is an important pilgrimage centre for the Lingayat faith.

Tamboor is an important centre of pilgrimage for the Lingayat faith. The temple is devoted to Nandi as Basavanna, the holy bull and mount of Shiva. A well-known legend says the divine bull Basavanna helped the villagers survive a terrible calamity.

The temple is believed to have been built during Chalukya rule. Its style is Chalukyan, with highly decorated pillars, well-detailed sculptures and domes. Sculptures around the inner sanctum narrate stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

The shrine is a focal point for religious and cultural activities in the area. People come here for blessings, peace and comfort. The annual Maha Shivaratri festival is observed here with great devotion. The Tamboor jathre, a congregation of devotees, draws pilgrims from all over Karnataka.

Festivals

• Every yearMaha Shivaratri

  Observed with great devotion. Thousands of devotees gather for night-long vigils, special pujas, devotional songs and cultural performances, with incense across the temple grounds.

Tips for your visit

• Travelling in your own vehicle is the better option for reaching this temple.
• Kavala caves, made on the rocks, are near the temple and have carvings and ancient writings.

Questions people ask