Kotilingeshwara Temple Trip with Sightseeing

• All our arrangements are very basic; we do not/cannot provide luxury on such an event.

• In case of unforeseen Weather conditions, government restrictions, or permission changes, certain activities may be cancelled. In such cases, we will try to provide an alternate feasible activity or Postpone option. However, no refund will be provided.

• Once You Book The Kotilingeshwara Temple Day Trip Package there will be no cancellation.

• You agree to indemnify yourself for the risks involved in the outings varying from destination to destination.

• In case of damage or loss of any of the equipment or Items of Escape2explore, the responsible member has to bear the cost.

• We have designated pick-up and drop points to make your arrangements for transport to the desired pick-up point accordingly.

• We are dependent on a third-party transport agency; we don't have direct control over the vehicle or vehicle drivers. Issues about pick-up and drop times or the quality of the bus are quite rare. If you are too specific, please check before registering.

• Escape2explore is not responsible if any injuries or accidents occur during the event.

• Any client consuming Alcohol, Misbehaving, or causing delay during the event will be terminated from the event without any prior warning, and no refund will be given. Such clients should arrange their transport on their way back, and Escape2explore does not hold the responsibility of terminating clients.

• Littering, smoking & consumption of alcohol are banned for Trekking packages.

For Bookings made from Third Party Websites:

• It is the responsibility of the client to communicate with a third party (booking website) for cancellation.

• Cancellation / Refund is done by a third party based on their policies. 

Kotilingeshwara Overview

The Shrine of Kotilingeshwara is one of Karnataka, India's most famous temple complexes. This temple has a famous and notable Shiva Lingam, which, standing at over 108 feet, is believed to be one of the largest in the world. Its project to install 10 million (1 crore) Shiva Lingams in the temple grounds is notable. The enormous number of devotees and tourists flocking to the temple every year attest to its spiritual significance, architectural distinctiveness, and tranquillity. The name Kotilingeshwara stems from the Sanskrit words Koti, meaning crore (10 million), and Lingeshwara, which is a reverential name for Lord Shiva that symbolises His infinite and formless cosmic presence.

Sambha Shiva Murthy in the 1980s, the temple is, however, relatively modern, considering the ancient temples in India. Its spiritual inclination and chequered history, as far as devotion to Lord Shiva is concerned, make Kotilingeshwara a prominent pilgrimage site. This temple complex hosts the biggest Shiva Lingam, about 108 feet tall, which happens to be one of the tallest in the world, apart from many of the other smaller Lingas, which have been ceremoniously installed by the devotees. Deep spiritual devotion descends on one's consciousness amid an appreciation of the nearby serene surroundings coupled with the synchronized chantings of the Vedic hymns.

Apart from the main Shiva Lingam, shrines for Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Annapoorneshwari are also part of the temple complex. An impressive image of Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva with a height of 35 feet, stands before the main Shiva Lingam to show its devotion and strength. The temple is renowned for its unique practice, according to which people can take on the responsibility of installing Shiva Lingams and contribute to the ever-increasing Lingams placed within the temple premises.

Description of Kotilingeshwara Location

Kotilingeshwara is situated in the Kolar district, Karnataka, near the village of Kammasandra. Situated about 100 km away from Bangalore, it has easily become an ideal spiritual getaway for people from Bangalore and other nearby places. The temple is much more accessible when approached by road, as the routes of Bangalore-Kolar and nearby towns are well-connected. Gentle hills and fertile land surround the temple, with an abundance of flora. Another legend in the religious and mythical realm of Hinduism, this temple site is pointed out as a place where Lord Indra, the king of gods, performed penance for his atonement. There was a belief that he installed several Shiva Lingas there during his penance. His act subsequently inspired devotees to add more, thus going on to give birth to the idea of installing one crore Lingas.

The Contributions of Various Rulers and Dynasties

While its present structure has been created in recent times, the area around the Kotilingeshwara Temple had once witnessed the rule of various important South Indian dynasties, namely Cholas, Gangas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara Empire, and the Wodeyars of Mysore, who greatly contributed towards propagating this sect of Shaivism.

The Western Gangas could be classified among the earliest ruling dynasties that ruled in Kolar for not less than two centuries, from the 4th to the 10th century CE. They were determined supporters of Shaivism and constructed several temples to Lord Shiva. Although hard evidence failed to link them with the Kotilingeshwara site per se, the role of the Western Gangas in making Shiva worship very popular throughout Karnataka cannot be disputed. From 9 to 13 centuries, the Chola dynasty was known for their devotion to Lord Shiva and developed Shiva temples in the regions under them. Many of these Shiva temples built during their reign would have had much of the architectural styles we see at Kotilingeshwara complex today, suggesting that worship on the site would have existed in some form during the Chola period.

These temples dedicated to Shiva that the Hoysalas (11th-14th century CE) provided assured a special accretion of splendour to Shaiva architecture ingraining a future for temple building in the later Karnataka. Altogether many temples dedicated to Shiva were built during their patronage, thereby helping in the propagation of Shiva worship in and around Kotilingeshwara." From the 14th to the 17th centuries, the peak for Lord Shiva was constructed with funds and enfolded with his festivals and ceremonials by the Vijayanagara Empire. There could have been a contribution to Kenth's sanctity, based on a rise in the growth and support of the empire till the end of the 17th century.

Finally, from the 17th century to almost the end of the 20th century during Mysore Wodeyar's reign, Shaivism remained a stronghold, and Shiva temples were alive and kicking in religious activities. Those are the very reasons that have made Kothilingeshwar in the present tense; the modern temples may not have much in their favour in terms of the worship contribution to Shaivite worship from these dynasties would have greatly benefited in the form of cultural and spiritual significance.

Religious Significance of Kotilingeshwara Temple

The temple worships Lord Shiva and exhibits great religious significance, tracing back to Shaivism and other Hindu traditions. In the Kolar district of Karnataka, this temple is said to enshrine vimana or one of the largest Shiva Lingas in the world along with millions of Lingas, in witness the devotion paid to Lord Shiva. From the Sanskrit term "Koti" meaning "one crore" (ten million) and "Linga" referring to the symbolic representation of Lord Shiva, the name "Kotilinga" refers to the temple. The temple is held holy by pilgrims who visit it intending to seek Shiva's blessings for spiritual development, prosperity, and liberation from the cycles of birth and death (moksha).

Accordingly, after the belief that devotion to Lord Shiva is one of the fundamental doctrines of Shaivism, this temple has gained an indicated importance particularly. Shaivism is that aspect of Hinduism, which considers Shiva as the ultimate reality relatively speaking, within the Holy Trinity of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). From this standpoint, the most significant object of worship in this temple, the Shiva Linga, reputedly very ancient and most powerful, signifies Shiva as formless, beyond space, and timeless. The being putting in all his heart in worshipping this Linga is said to attain illumination and receive Divine blessings."

The idea of setting up Kotilingas, the idea that one crore Shiva Lingas have to be established is integrally tied to the Hindu ideas of bhakti (devotion) and karma (action). The scriptures of Hinduism assert that tilting the Shiva Linga for the abhisheka (ritual bathing) and praying for it would wash away their past sins and bless them for a good life. The acts of devotees directly placing Lingas in the temple grounds originate from the feeling that this very act counts in favour of the sacred count, for which there is an endless lot of merit and, in turn, Divine favour. Simultaneously, the grace of Lord Shiva, the most gracious deity, is said to be upon the practitioners performing such bona fide acts."

The extended presence of millions of Shiva Lingas in the temple premises is also taken as an expression of God's transcendence. God indeed bears many forms, and perhaps several of them have chosen to merge into one. Hence He is: He is the inside of everything; He is the outside of everything Wherever He is, visible and invisible, concrete and abstract! Therefore, the considered vastness of viewing Lingas in this temple strengthens prayer by instilling devotees with the notion of the actual presence of the deity. Again, the Linga is described in texts such as the Shiva Purana and Linga Purana as one with the highest value to secure salvation.

A stronghold of Shiva worship, the Kotilingeshwara Temple during the Maha Shivaratri, the festival of Shiva, receives thousands upon thousands of devotees. On this day, devotees engage themselves in an all-night vigil, chanting the names of Shiva and hymns to beckon his divine grace. This temple stands, today testifying to the undying faith and the devotion of the Lord Shiva's followers, endowed with the great resolve of a crore Lingas. Thus, the Kotilingeshwara Temple is not merely a place of worship but is in itself a testament to the deeply entrenched spiritual heritage of Shaivism.

Structural Attributes of the Temple Complex

The temple located here stands as a beautiful testimony of architecture, spirituality, and devotion. The heritage of ancient temple architecture has been expressed; tradition aligns and merges with modern engineering. The splendid entrance with intricate carvings, elaborately carved pillars with beautiful ornamental work, and intricately engraved domes leave a memorable great impression upon the very first view of its visitors and devotees. The representations of harmonizing the architectural elements of the self and place join from Dravidian, Nagara, and Vesara traditions. Each part of the temple was systematically designed to allow worshipers to experience an encasing spiritually sublime experience, while sacred geometry and principles of vaastu would effectively channel divine energy.

Organization of the Temple Complex

According to the principles of ancient Hindu temple architecture, the temple complex follows a well-ordered arrangement. At the very center stands the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum where the deity is placed. The sanctum is said to represent steadiness and balance, and many scholars argue that a square or rectangular shape is used for its construction. Around the sanctum lies the pradakshina patha, a circumambulatory passage meant for the performance of rounds of the deity.

Just outside lies the mandapa, which is essentially a long hall with highly carved pillars and a roof where the devotees congregate for public celebrations and discussions on the faith. Outside the temple, there are other areas with courtyards, water tanks for ritual purification, and lush greenery, and all of these help in enhancing the tranquillity of the sacred area. The main entrance, or gopuram, presents a tall archway profusely decorated with carvings of celestial deities, mythological creatures, and cosmic patterns; for these sculptures not only construct the access into the temple but also are an architectural wonder by themselves. Smaller subsidiary shrines dedicated to different gods and goddesses occupy very prominent places inside the temple, each having architectural individuality.

Tallest Shiva Linga (108 feet)

One of the tallest Shiva Lingas in the world, this temple houses a Shiva Linga, measuring an impressive 108 feet. This tall towering solid structure stands for the infinite presence and divine powers of Lord Shiva. 108 is the number associated with the cosmos and the bridge between matter and spirit, possessing great spiritual significance in Hinduism. A single stone block or a very solid material was used to carve this Shiva Linga. This has been an astounding engineering feat; the surface is polished to such a fine degree that it reflects and glows with otherworldly light. The shaft represents the unmanifested divine energy, while the base of the Linga, called the yoni, represents the divine feminine energy of creation.

The Linga is continuously bathed in auspicious water, milk, honey, and other offerings which trickle down through specially constructed channels onto the Linga to sanctify it further. Thousands come here to gain further sanctity to the sacred complex in the direction of spiritual uplift through divine blessings. Besides this central Shiva Linga, several other shrines are found in the temple complex, dedicated to other deities from Hindu mythology. The temples have been arranged in such a manner as to help realize an energy grid that would bring the visitor through the whole spectrum of the spiritual framework in one go.

1. Shrine of Goddess Parvati: This temple is dedicated to the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The idol of the goddess is beautifully adorned with jewels and flowers, symbolizing her Motherly and Protective nature.

2. Ganesha Shrine: A shrine has been erected for Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity, to whom devotees pray for wisdom and the removal of obstacles.

3. Kartikeya Temple: This is Lord Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati; this god stands as a warrior god. Another significance of this shrine in devotion is to attract worshipers who pray to this deity for bravery and power.

4. Navagraha Shrine: This space is for Navagrahas, the nine planetary deities. This area of the temple is approached by those asking for astrological remedies and cosmic balance.

5. Hanuman Mandir: This shrine for Lord Hanuman is a symbol of devotion and strength, endurance, whereby devotees come to recite prayers against obstacles.

6. Dakshinamurthy Shrine: The south-facing God, Lord Dakshinamurthy, is adored as the supreme teacher to be worshipped for his grant of wisdom and enlightenment.

Nandi Idol and Its Importance

The Nandi idol comes with a very big meaning at both the spiritual and symbolic levels in the temple complex. Nandi in particular stands sacred being a bull, the vahana of Lord Shiva, and is always placed directly towards the Shiva Linga in all Shaivite temples; hence the presence of Nandi symbolizes unflinching devotion, patience, and strength. This gigantic Nandi seated in an exalted posture with an expression of deep meditation and reverence is mostly carved out of a single monolithic stone. The elaborate workmanship after this includes carving interior ornaments, auspices, bells, and symbolic models to show the omnipresence in his divine form.

Nandi speaks and acts as the guardian of Lord Shiva's abode. In the Hindu tradition, Nandi represents dharma or righteousness and unwavering faith. The devotee often whispers into the ears of Nandi his prayers and wishes believing these to be delivered straightway to Lord Shiva. On a raised platform, the Nandi statue stands architecturally in alignment with the sanctum sanctorum thereby giving a clear indication of a permanent linkage between devotee and deity with Nandi being the omnipresent overseer of the Divine.

In addition to these, Nandi also stands for education and spiritual upliftment in the temple complex. Many of the ancient texts have referred to Nandi as an eminent scholar who could convey even wisdom concerning cosmic principles and the very secrets of existence. Some temples carry inscriptions or texts in proximity to the Nandhi. Some devotees conduct special poojas and sacred offerings to seek divine blessings for strength, wealth, and spiritual upliftment. In this category of unique poojas, the following are the special ones:

• Rudra Abhishekam: One of the world's most potent rituals, wherein peace, prosperity, and positive energy are invoked through Lord Shiva worship with the chanting of Rudram from the Yajurveda.

• Maha Mrityunjaya Homa: The fire sacrifice tied to healing and protection in which blessings are invoked with the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.

• Laghu Rudra Puja: An elaborate pooja where sacred water is poured over the Shiva Lingam along with chanting.

• Kaal Sarp Dosha Puja: All those suffering terribly from something inauspicious due to planetary alignments are subjected to mitigation by worshipping Lord Shiva for such a dosha.

• Panchamrit Abhishekam: A very special form of offering in which the Lingam is bathed with five substances, called nectar: milk, curds, honey, sugar, and ghee, which represents the five prime components of living beings.

The offerings made by the devotees consist of the Bael leaves for Lord Shiva, white flowers, coconuts, raw rice, and vibhuti. Some devotees offer silver or gold-plated Shiva Lingams. In Shiva temples, lighting diyas (oil lamps), deepa-daan (offering lamps), and annadanam (food donation) are considered equally very significant activities performed by devotees.

Religious Ceremonies

Festivals represent a significant entity in the spiritual and cultural realm of India, where people come together as a community to celebrate faith, traditions, and devotion. Amongst the countless festivals celebrated, Maha Shivaratri at Kotilingeshwara stands tall and proud, with thousands of devotees paying their homage to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity. This festival, which means 'The Great Night of Shiva', is of tremendous significance since it is believed that Lord Shiva performed his Tandava on this night's cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Kotilingeshwara temple of Karnataka, known to possess innumerable Shiva Lingas, sees thousands of devotees from different corners of the country flocking to it for this occasion. Devotees offer prayers, conduct poojas there, and seek divine blessings. The whole atmosphere oozes with the chants of 'Om Namah Shivaya' wafting in the air, with the Temple precinct beautifully decorated with flowers and lamps! All night long, special poojas, abhishekams, and bhajans are held while the devotees keep a full fast and engage in spiritual practices, hoping to win the grace of Lord Shiva Almighty.

Apart from Maha Shivaratri, Kartik Purnima is yet another meaningful occasion celebrated at Kotilingeshwar and alike celebrated all over India. This full moon day occurring in the last month of the Hindu calendar has immense importance since it is believed that at this very time, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Matsya fish incarnation. Sins would be washed away and prosperity bestowed upon devotees who believed in taking the holy dip in rivers, lakes, or temple tanks. The festival is celebrated at Kotilingeshwara through festive prayers, lighting lamps, and cultural programs glorifying Lord Shiva and other deities, with the temple being adorned with thousands of lamps. of oil lamps, painting a picture that mesmerizes visitors and devotees alike. Many people also do charitable acts like feeding the poor, donating clothes, and donating to other religious institutions to be considered devotees.

Other than the principal festivals, the crowds at Kotilingeshwara keep increasing due to other annual events that fall under the category of important occasions. Among these are the observances of Ekadashi, Pradosham, and Amavasya, which are held with pompous special prayers and rituals by the temple. The devotees go into vratas (vows) and often practice fasting with the belief that they are closer to divine blessings. The annual Rathotsava or chariot festival is also celebrated at the temple, where a kada entity, a glorious procession of the idol Lord Shiva around the complex temple area is presented. This festival is marked with bright celebrations, traditional music, dance performances, and community feasts to develop unity and the spirit of devotion in the participants.

Kotilingeshwara also has the noteworthy event of Guru Purnima, which commemorates all the spiritual teachers and gurus. All devotees come to seek blessings from the wisdom and piety of their sages, saints, and priests, who guide one toward righteousness. Many devotees are seen meditating, engaging in spiritual discourses, and chanting to add pureness to the occasion. Just like the month of Shravan, when offerings of water, milk, and bel leaves are made to Shiva Lingas by thousands of pilgrims, in the month dedicated to Lord Shiva, so also has the crowd of such devotees poured in, under the belief that it's a very commendable act of spiritual progress.

Apart from these Hindu celebrations, the temple grounds become important venues for social and cultural events, knitting very well into the whole of society and culture among people of different backgrounds. The temple authorities arrange various spiritual discourses, devotional music concerts, and community service programs that can bring people either devotees or tourists. With this, there would be an additional spiritual atmosphere along with upholding the cultural heritage of India.

Such festivals and celebrations are a sight to see at Kotilingeshwara, where the temple shines in all bright colours and floral decorations splashed with bright lights. The jingle of temple bells, devotional songs, and the beating of traditional drums echo throughout the quietness of these celebrations, creating for some an other-worldly atmosphere. Pilgrims, decked in traditional attire, participate in various rituals such as prayer, burning incense sticks, and offerings to the deity. The whole experience is of true devotion, spiritual refreshing, and cultural enrichment.

Moreover, the temple opens up possibilities of conducting special poojas and homes during auspicious times, thus enabling devotees to engage in religious ceremonies that are custom-tailored to their individual spiritual needs. By experienced priests chanting Vedic mantras, such blessings entreat health, prosperity, and happiness from the divine for devotees. Many would have also participated in annadanam, which, according to them, is merely a sacred activity of feeding the needy and thus garnering meritorious acts from God.

The festivals of Kotilingeshwara are beyond gatherings for religion; they become an event, where the devotees are strengthened and given a chance to express their devotion in many ways. Where such thousands of pilgrims can be, however, they are going here to experience a beam of spirituality, solace, blessings, and perhaps a closer acquaintance with the divine. Whatever the grandeur of Maha Shivaratri or the divine glow of Kartik Purnima, or for that matter other occasions sacred for visits during the year, Kotilingeshwara has been and shall always be a place of divine grace and spiritual enlightenment for all who visit.

Temples have been a central part of spiritual and cultural life since time immemorial, where millions of people seek blessings from God, do required religious duty, and have a heavenly touch with the divine. Pilgrimage is central in all religions as a vital act by which aspirants express their earnest desire to find spiritual fulfilment. Many people consider this journey purely as an act of devotion, purification, and transformation. Many believe that a visit to a temple, especially one of great historical and religious prominence, yields divine grace and fulfills wishes. The crosses to be carried are the great distance travelled and the hardships and rituals performed there, as such journeys remind us all by showing what a pure demonstration of faith and sincerity it is. These journeys are not simply physical for many; they carry the weight of much deeper symbolic meaning: they are the sojourns in search of enlightenment and salvation. Whether Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, or Christian names of the groups engaged do not matter because for all four, the power of pilgrimage transcends cultural and religious barriers, making it a truly universal phenomenon.

Most religions would then hold that temples perform the functions of want- and blessing-fulfillment. The faithful frequent these places, impelled by their faith, not only by prayer but also by lighting lamps, contributing a certain amount, and performing other personal rituals, in anticipation that divinity might enter into their lives through some miracle. Indeed, several miraculous stories have been told of a certain temple's miraculous deeds, firmly underpinning popular faith in that temple's spiritual power. Most temples carry stories that can be traced back to their deities and the granting of the wish: their devotees come flocking to those places, whether for health or wealth, for marital peace or educational accomplishments. The tendency is that as soon as a person's wish is fulfilled, he might again come to a temple to express his gratitude, usually offering sweets, flowers, or a symbolic representation of what he prayed for. Temples have thus developed active participation by divine forces in human affairs, which dramatizes the very deep relationship between devotees and their faith and makes their visit to the temple an important aspect of the religion.

State-of-the-Art Count and Installations that are Ongoing with this recent development, the installation of one crore Lingas has begun to go on track. Many temples have exceeded the number of lakh Lingas. Efforts are ongoing to complete the installation up to this point. All processes are documented, and the temples keep each phase recorded, ensuring that the process becomes transparent and devotion-driven participation is encouraged. Many temples have dedicated specific areas of their grounds for constructing the Lingas to create this vast spiritual landscape that can come to resemble a forest of Lingas, representing Linga Kshetras. These become some of the most sourceful places for spiritual experience, where devotees meditate, perform their rituals, and catch up on the sanctity of millions of consecrated Shiva Lingas in one spot.

Furthermore, there are special days during which many temples do Maha Rudrabhishekas, mass chanting of Rudram Chamakam, among various other holy ceremonies, to energize the emergent Lingas. Such a special but popular day is Shivaratri when numbers swell into the thousands who install Lingas.

Some temples adopt new-age themes by putting up sites where devotees can check online how many Lingas have been installed and even donate from afar. This has opened this great spiritual mission to the participation of devotees from all over the globe. Disciples Contributions towards New Lingas. The installation of one crore Shiva Lingas is the effort of one temple but of an entire heavenly community that finds its expression in the donations and faith of innumerable devotees. It is the devotees that would take a core role in this mission since it is these acts of donations that will ensure a perfect smooth flow of installations.

Many temples provide the opportunity for devotees to donate much less and sponsor a Linga. Costing less makes sponsorship options open for one and all. Many times several categories such as several individual Lingas, family sponsorship, and large sponsorships are taken into account wherein several thousand Lingas can be made at one instance by devotees. There are many reasons devotees take part in such an act; from pledging their health, wealth, and happiness to dedicating Lingas to their ancestors-most for this activity carry the belief that an installed Shiva Linga can rejuvenate the soul and wipe off one's past sins.

Most such people will pledge their contributions in money and have some who volunteer to help physically in the act of installing. People from different regions join hands with temple authorities to pour and consecrate the Lingas for high suspense and service, considered to earn great merit. Some temples also allow devotees to perform personal abhisheka on the newly installed Lingas; this also enhances their spiritual involvement. As another glorious aspect of the project, the artisans and sculptors are engaged whose skills are essential in crafting the Lingas. By supporting this initiative, devotees contribute indirectly to the households of these craftsmen, hence continuing this heritage of Linga-making while at the same time preserving sacred art.

Additionally, participation has gone further than just financial contributions or physical contributions. Quite a good number of individual and corporate institutions generally advocate this initiative by advertising through social media, taking pilgrimages to the temple, and even celebrating local Shiva Linga Pujas in connection with the temple's grand mission. The installation of one crore Lingas is not a mere religious act; it is going to be an exalted effort for many generations into the future to build a divine atmosphere that will reverberate for future generations. It intensifies faith, unites devotees into a common cause for spirituality, and guarantees forever the phenomenal worship of Lord Shiva in a tangibly awesome manner.

Nearby Attractions and Travel Options to Kotilingeshwara Temple

Nearby Attractions

Kotilingeshwara Temple, located in Kammasandra near Kolar in Karnataka, is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in the world for a large collection of Shiva lingas and visiting this temple can explore some of the nearby attractions with their varied histories, cultures and natures.

1. Kolaramma Temple: This ancient temple is about 15 km from Kotilingeshwara at Kolar and is dedicated to Goddess Kolaramma, who was built in south Indian kiratana architecture at the time of Chola in the 10th century. The temple is famous for its delicate carving and a powerful deity worshipped many by locals.

2. Antharagange: Approximately 20 km from Kotilingeshwara, it is a popular trekking and pilgrim destination. The area is known for volcanic rocks, caves, and a perennial underground spring flowing outside from the temple of Lord Shiva. The caves provide a great adventure for seekers Hungry for an ordeal.

3. Avani Betta: About 25 km away from Kotilingeshwara, there is Avani, a beautiful hill that has a very old Ramalingeshwara Temple complex believed to be associated with the Ramayana. Avani is a good place for trekking and spiritual journeying.

4. Mulbagal Anjaneya Swamy Temple: About 30 km away from Kotilingeshwara, this temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is an important pilgrimage site for the devotees. Such temples have history to themselves and are visited by many looking for blessings in strength and courage.

5. Bangaru Tirupati: Bangaru Tirupati is 29 km away, a temple dedicated to the Lord Venkateshwara of Andhra Pradesh and surrounding Karnataka, resembling the well-known Tirupati temple. A great place for devotees to go peacefully because of the pleasant environment and scenic beauty.

6. Markandeya Hill and Temple: Markandeya Hill lies near Kolar and has a temple dedicated to Sage Markandeya. The temple's location atop a hill allows breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape surrounding it and makes it a great place for photography and spirituality.

7. Someshwara Temple, Kolar: The architectural beauty in the Vijayanagara style is found only in Kolar. Historically important, this temple has great carvings and a wonderful gopuram.

8. Bhairaveshwara Temple and Cave, Kaiwara: This temple and cave is famous for ascetic feats of sage Kaiwara Tatayya and lies 40 km north of this town. A great blend of spirituality and nature.

9. Kurudumale Ganesha Temple: This venerable shrine, located about 10 km from Kotilingeshwara, is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is famous for its large idol, said to have manifested by itself; it serves as an important pilgrimage destination.

The Best Routes and Travelling Options

In terms of accessibility, Kotilingeshwara Temple is best accessible via roads linking it to major cities like Bangalore, Kolar, and Tumkur. Depending on your point of origin, there are a few ways mentioned to reach the temple conveniently.

1. By Road- It is the most popular approach to the Kotilingeshwara temple, an approximate distance of 100 km from Bangalore making it a perfect one-day trip.

2. From Bangalore- The best access would be via National Highway 75 (Bangalore-Kolar Highway). One can approach Kolar via Old Madras Road and then take a detour towards Kammasandra village. Roads are well paved and in great shape for a comfortable drive.

3. From Kolar- About 15 km from Kolar along the Kolar-Mulbagal Road, the temple is a well-indicated route to Kammasandra.

4. From Tumkur- About 130 km from Tumkur to Kotilingeshwara. From Kotilingeshwara, travellers can take NH 48 towards Bangalore and then proceed towards Kolar on NH 75.

5. From Chennai- Kotilingeshwara is approximately 260 km from Chennai. The best route is via NH 48 through Vellore and Kolar.

For those not having their vehicle, many private buses along with government buses from Bangalore and Kolar are also available to Kotilingeshwara. Visitors could also hire taxis or avail of cab app services.

By Train

Kolar Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Kotilingeshwara Temple, situated 15 km from the temple. However, Kolar has limited train connectivity. Travellers could board a train from Bangalore to Bangarapet railway station, which is about 30 km from the temple, from where a taxi or a local bus might be hired.