List of Chola temples in Bangalore, Karnataka:

Chola Temples were built in Bangalore, Karnataka between the 10th to 13th centuries CE, after defeating the Western Gangas. The Stone inscriptions found in the Temples built by Cholas mention the names of the respective rulers of that time period when those temples were built, Chola dynasty one of the prominent Dynasties in Indian History, who were also one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history.

According to their building year, a detailed list of Chola Temples in Bangalore, Karnataka with photos and videos in order.

• The Chola King Rajaraja Chola I- circa 1004 CE, had captured the Bengaluru defeating The Western Gangas, from here for almost 300 years Bangalore was under the Cholas, they had built many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Dharma Raya. at present around 25 numbers of these temples still are in good shape and daily worship of the deity is carried on.
  The most popular fair in Bangalore is the annual “Bengaluru Karaga” which is carried out at the Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, built by Cholas during their regime at Thigalarpet, this ritual started in circa 12th century, still attracts a large crowd.

1. Halasuru also called Ulsoor, Sri Someshwara Temple, Bengaluru:

Cholas had captured the present-day Southern part of Bangalore, and use to call Bangalore “Nikarila cholamandala” during the year circa 1024 CE. The areas now like Kadugodi, Nelamangala, Domlur, Hebbal, Huskur, Kengeri, Vasanthpura, Gangavara, Chowdappanahalli, and other areas in Bangalore still have some temples, and stone inscriptions were written mainly in the Tamil language showcases the dominance of Cholas in Bangalore then.

Few of the Chola temples still survive in Bengaluru details of those temples and stone inscriptions which is mainly in the Tamil Language,  mentions these Chola Emperor names, Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE), Virarajendra Chola (1063–1070 CE), Athirajendra Chola (1070–1070 CE), Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE), Vikrama Chola (1118–1135 CE), Kulothunga Chola II (1133–1150 CE), Rajaraja Chola II (1146–1173 CE), Rajadhiraja Chola II (1166–1178 CE), Kulothunga Chola III (1178–1218 CE), Rajaraja Chola III (1216–1256 CE), Rajendra Chola III (1246–1279 CE). 

Below is the photo of the stone inscription taken at Sri Dharmeshwara Swamy temple, Ivara Kandapura, Hesaraghatta hobli, Bangalore.

Update on Covid-19, These temples are now open with Thermal scanning and Hand sanitizer, this is updated on 5-Jan-2021.

Below is the List of Chola Temples and Established years in Bangalore, Karnataka:

Why Cholas built mainly Lord Shiva Temples,  The reason is. 

• Cholas were followers of Shaivism also called “Shaivites”, which means, they were predominantly worshippers of Lord Sri Shiva as the supreme god, thus most of the Temples built by Cholas are Shiva temples by the name Someshwara, Vishwanatha, and Vishveshwara. One more interesting fact about the Cholas is that they have built many temples for Pandavas,  Bangalore houses Three of the temples were built for Sri Dharmaraya, namely Sri Dharmeshwara, Sri Dharmaraya, and Sri Dharmeshvara this kind of temple dedicated to Pandavas is quite unusual.
• The main differences between Chola Temples of Bangalore, Karnataka, and Chola Temples of Tamilnadu are that The Chola Temples in Tamilnadu has a large built-up area, and with exquisitely carved, for example, Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, but in Bangalore temples built by the Cholas are in small size and not that much-decorated with carvings.
  Hebbal Ananda lingeshwara, a Chola temple in Bangalore
• It took 5 days for us to visit all the Chola Temples in Bangalore. We have updated all the Temples with addresses,  photos, Videos, Opening hours, History. If you like to watch videos, here is our youtube link playlist of Chola temples in Bangalore. 

1. Halasuru Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple. 

Halasuru a locality of Bengaluru City is one of the ancient sites here, it is called Mandavya Maharshi Kshetra who did penance here, this temple dedicated to Lord Sri Someshwara (Lord Sri Shiva) is an ancient temple built by the Chola dynasty in the 10th Century, later it was further developed by the Vijayanagar Kings under the Hiriya Kempegowda.

2. Sri Prasanna Someshwara Temple, Kengeri:

Sri Prasanna Someshwara Swamy Temple 1050 CE, Kengeri Fort Area, Bengaluru, A Tamil language inscription dated 1050 CE, mentions that Chola King “Rajendra Chola”, had made donations to this temple, Kengeri during that time was fertile land since it was on the banks of the River Vrishabhavathi River (a tributary to the river Arkavathi).

3. Sri Dharmesvara Temple located in Kondrahalli, Hoskote, Bangalore Rural.

4. 11th and 12th Centuries Nallur tamarind grove and Sri Chennakeshava Temple.

11th Century Nallur tamarind grove, and Chennakeshava Temple, built during King Rajendra Chola in the year 1105 CE, among the thousands of Tamarind trees, only around 300 trees still survive today.

5. Sri Dharmeshwara temple, Aigandapura, Bengaluru

Aigandapura also called Ivara Kandapura / Aivara kandapura flourished during the reign of Cholas, the Tamil language inscription dated 1130 CE at Sri Dharmeshwara Temple mentions Aigandapura as one of the prominent Agrahara at that period. ( Agrahara is a Kannada language word in English it means township).

6. Mukthi Natheshwara temple, Binnamangala, Nelamangala taluk, Bangalore Rural District.

The Tamil language inscriptions in this temple dated to the year 1110 CE belongs to the Chola King  “Kulothunga Chola” period.

7. Kashi Vishveshwara Swamy Temple, Nelamangala, Bangalore Rural District:

Kashi Vishveshwara Swamy Temple is yet another Chola temple that dates back to the 11th Century CE. 

8. Kashi Vishveshwara temple, Kadugodi.

Kashi Vishveshwara temple Chola temple Built during Circa 11th Century dedicated to Lord Shiva at Kadugodi in the middle of the forest then. Kaadu is a Kannada term for Forest, Gudi means shrine, so the name. 

9. Madduramma temple at Huskur, Bengaluru: 

Sri Madduramma Devi Temple, Gattihalli Road, Gulimangala, Huskuru, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore, though this temple was recently not renovated, still retains the old Charm, which was built during the Chola regime in the 11th Century CE. 

10. Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple, Vasanthpura, Bengaluru:
Location Bengaluru South Taluk, Uttarahalli-4 Hobli, Vasanthapura, Subramanyapura, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560061.

11. Chokkanathaswamy temple, Domlur, Bangalore. 

Sree Devi, Bhoodevi Sametha, Sree Chokkanatha Swamy Temple, Dedicated to Lord Sri Vishnu, renovated during the 20th century CE, was built during the Chola dynasty in 11th Century CE. There are several inscriptions in the temple in Tamil language, one inscription dated 1270 CE states that poysala Vira Ramananada made donations to this temple, remember ( Hoysalas also did rule this place, for some time Hoysalas called themselves Poysalas this is covered in chapter 4.1 below please continue reading ).
Another inscription the current Domlur is mentioned as Tombalur, ( remember an inscription in Vasanthpura also mention that area as Tombalur), the inscription also mentions the tributes, taxes, and donations made by Devaraya II of Vijayanagar Empire, mentions that the land around Tombalur (Domlur) were offered to the main deity Sokkapperumal (this is a Tamil word, similar to Chokkanatha in Kannada), yet another inscription of 1290 CE states about the donations from the Tombalur by Poysala Vira Ramananda.
At Sree Chokkanatha Swamy temple, One Kannada inscription mentions the date as per Hindu Panchanga as ” Swasthi Sri shakavarusha 1312 udari Samvatsara Bhadrapada, Samovar (Monday) which translates to 1440 CE Monday.  on this date the Veera Deva Raya Maharaya orders from his throne from Sonddekoppa ( a Village near Nelamangala) regarding the donations made to this temple.  Though renovated a few times, this Temple of Sree Chokkanatha holds some mind-blowing Astrophysics calculation of the Movement of the Sun along with the other 5 planets. 

12. Ananda Lingeshwara Swamy temple Hebbal, Bengaluru, Chola Temple:

Located on the small hilltop called Ananda Giri near Hebbal, built in the reign of Cholas in the 13th century. the Cave has the Sri Kalabhairaveshwara as a deity and the top Lord shiva as Ananda Lingeshwara.

13. Sri Someshwara Temple, old Madiwala:

Sri Someshwara Swamy temple at old Madiwala (called Hale madiwala locally) has many Tamil inscriptions on the walls itself, the architecture of Chola’s is followed here. Even though this temple got renovated recently, it still retains the original walls and inscriptions intact. 

14. Sri Someshwara Temple, Hasigala, Bangalore 562114.

15. Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, Thigalarpet, Nagarathpete, Bengaluru.
16. Sri Prasanna Someshwara Swamy Temple, Marathahalli Village.

17. Sri Parvathi Udanurai Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple, Agara, Bangalore.

18. Lord Shiva Temple Gunjur, Bangalore.

19. Sri Kalikamba Kamateshwara Swamy Temple, Nagarathpete, Bengaluru.

20. Sri Someshwara Temple, Hulimavu, Bangalore.

21. Sri Someshwara Temple, Gangavara, Devanahalli. Bangalore Rural.

People ask these Questions frequently about the Chola Temples in Bangalore.

Question 1. Why did The Cholas build mainly Lord Shiva Temples?
Ans. Cholas were followers of Shaivism also called “Shaivites”, which means, they were predominantly worshippers of Lord Sri Shiva as the supreme god, thus most of the Temples built by Cholas are Shiva temples by the name Someshwara, Vishwanatha, and Vishveshwara. One more interesting fact about the Cholas is that they have built many temples for Pandavas, Bangalore houses Three of the temples were built for Sri Dharmaraya, namely Sri Dharmeshwara, Sri Dharmaraya, and Sri Dharmeshvara this kind of temple dedicated to Pandavas is quite unusual.

Question 2. What is the main difference between the Chola temples in Bangalore and Chola Temples in Tamilnadu?
Ans. The main differences between Chola Temples of Bangalore, Karnataka, and Chola Temples of Tamilnadu are that The Chola Temples in Tamilnadu has a large built-up area, and with exquisitely carved, for example, Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, but in Bangalore temples built by the Cholas are in small size and not that much-decorated with carvings.

Question 3. What was the name of Bangalore during the Chola Regime?
Ans. The Cholas used to Call Bangalore by the name “Nikarila cholamandala”.

Question 4. How much time does it take to visit all the Chola Temples in Bangalore?”
Ans. It took nearly 4 days for me to visit all the 25 Chola temples in Bangalore.

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