Kotilingeshwara
Date: 30-Nov-2014
This weekend, my parents were visiting us in Bangalore. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of popular one-day tourist destinations around the city that are suitable for taking visiting relatives. Among them, Nandi Hills, Dodda Alada Mara, and Kotilingeshwara are some of the most well-known options.
Thilak had already taken my in-laws to all three places. However, my parents had not yet visited either Nandi Hills or Kotilingeshwara. Since a trip to Nandi Hills requires an early morning start and we had returned home quite late the previous night, that option was ruled out. That left us with only one choice – Kotilingeshwara.
Although my parents were initially hesitant because of the distance, we encouraged them to join us. We were confident that they would enjoy the place once they saw it.
The drive to Kotilingeshwara
After lunch, we started from home at around 2:00 PM. Fortunately, the weather was pleasant and traffic was lighter than usual. We took the KR Puram–Hoskote route towards Kolar. The drive was smooth and comfortable, thanks to the excellent National Highway connecting Bangalore and Kolar. Covering the initial stretch took very little time.
As we approached Kolar, massive rocky hills and boulders began appearing on both sides of the road. My father was fascinated by these unique landscapes and thoroughly enjoyed the drive. Seeing his excitement made us happy as well. After reaching Kolar, the road conditions changed noticeably near Bangarupet. The roads became narrower, and traffic was considerably heavier. It took us nearly half an hour to pass through the town. Fortunately, the destination was not much farther from there, and we finally reached Kotilingeshwara at around 4:30 PM. Although we had expected the journey to take around two hours, it ended up taking approximately two and a half hours.
Entering the land of a million Shiva Lingas
As soon as we entered the temple premises, we were greeted by an astonishing sight – Shiva Lingas everywhere. According to the temple authorities, around 90 lakh Shiva Lingas had already been installed, with the ultimate goal of reaching one crore Lingas. This ambitious vision is what gives the temple its name, Kotilingeshwara.
My parents were amazed by the sheer number of Lingas spread across the vast temple complex. The atmosphere was peaceful, calm, and surprisingly uncrowded, allowing visitors to explore the premises comfortably. Apart from the countless Shiva Lingas, there were several smaller temples dedicated to various deities within the complex. We visited a few of them before continuing our exploration.
The towering Shiva Linga and Basava
The main attraction of the temple is undoubtedly the gigantic Shiva Linga standing at an impressive height of 108 feet (33 metres). Seeing it in person was truly awe-inspiring. The temple also features a massive 35-foot-tall Basava statue positioned in front of the giant Shiva Linga, creating a spectacular sight.
The entire complex looked even more beautiful in the soft evening light. The combination of the towering structures, the neatly arranged rows of Shiva Lingas, and the tranquil surroundings created a unique spiritual ambience. We spent a considerable amount of time walking around the premises, taking photographs, and appreciating the scale of the temple. My parents were deeply impressed by what they saw. Watching them enjoy the visit made us feel glad that we had convinced them to come along.
Evening snacks and the return journey
As darkness began to set in, we decided to leave the temple at around 6:00 PM. On our way back, we stopped at Kamat Yatrinivas for coffee and snacks. Everything we ordered was delicious and provided a refreshing break before continuing our journey.
We retraced the same route through Kolar and Hoskote, reached KR Puram, and then took the Outer Ring Road towards home. Since traffic was relatively light, we were able to reach home by 9:00 PM.
Travel snapshot
Kotilingeshwara turned out to be a wonderful destination for a relaxed family outing. The vast number of Shiva Lingas, the towering 108-foot Shiva Linga, and the massive Basava statue make this temple unlike any other place we have visited. Combined with its calm atmosphere and spacious surroundings, the temple offers a unique blend of spirituality and sightseeing.
Most importantly, seeing how much my parents enjoyed the visit made the trip even more memorable. For anyone looking for a peaceful day trip from Bangalore, Kotilingeshwara is definitely worth considering.
- Route Travelled: Onward: BTM Layout > Dommaluru > Tin Factory > KR Puram > Hoskote > Kolar > Bangarupete > Koti Lingeshwara
Return: Koti Lingeshwara > Bangarupete > Kolar > Hoskote > KR Puram > Marathalli > Silk Board > BTM Layout - Total distance (To & Fro): 218 km
- Mileage (Car): 22 km/l
- Fuel expense: 694 Rs
- Total expense: 1288 Rs