What to expect
Highlights
- The temple and its adjoining stepwell.
- The carved niches and shrines around the kalyani.
- The Chalukyan water-architecture setting.
Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
The Manikeshwara temple at Lakkundi is a Chalukya Shiva temple paired with the ornate Musukina Bhavi, one of the finely carved stepwells (kalyanis) for which the old capital is famed.
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Before you go to Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
Entry rules not verified for this temple. Some Hindu temples admit only Hindus, and most enforce a dress code at the door. We have not verified the rule for this particular temple, so please check before you travel — especially if you are not Hindu or are visiting from outside India.
We report each site's own published rules neutrally, and only where we can source them.
Typetemple
Nearest baseLakkundi
DistrictGadag
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed30 to 45 minutes
EntryFree
Places to visit5→Niched shrines step down around the water, showing how temple and well were built as a single sacred ensemble.
Getting there
How to visit
- Within Lakkundi village; reached on the temple walk from the Kasivisvesvara temple.
- Mind the steps around the stepwell and keep back from the water edge.
Distance by road
- Hubballi55 km
- Koppal55 km
- Bagalkot95 km
- Hosapete90 km
- Bengaluru420 km
Road km to Gadag; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; mornings.
Weather in Manikeshwara Temple, LakkundiSeasonal guide
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Today at Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
Sunrise6:15 am
Sunset6:38 pm
Golden hour best light5:38 pm–6:38 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:38 pm–7:03 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 51%
South-west monsoon. June to September is the south-west monsoon in Karnataka. Expect heavy showers, mostly in bursts rather than all day — carry rain cover, allow extra time for getting around, and note that ferries and open-air sites are the first things affected.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- The stepwell steps can be uneven and slippery — watch your footing.
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Top experiences around Lakkundi
4 more places around Lakkundi, each worth a day of its own.
templeKasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi
690 m · 9 min walk
The marquee of Lakkundi (c. 1087 CE) — a twin temple whose Shiva and Surya sanctums face each other across a shared mandapa, its walls a lacework of Kalyani-Chalukya carving blending Dravida and Nagara styles.
heritageBrahma Jinalaya, Lakkundi
760 m · 9 min walk
The oldest and largest temple at Lakkundi, an early-11th-century Jain basadi dedicated to Mahavira and built by the poet-patron Attimabbe — a landmark of the Chalukyan "city of 101 temples and 101 wells".
templeNanneshwara Temple, Lakkundi
750 m · 9 min walk
A compact Chalukya Shiva temple at Lakkundi, considered a stylistic forerunner to the grander Kasivisvesvara that stands close by — finely proportioned and richly moulded.
museumLakkundi Archaeological Museum
420 m · 5 min walk
An ASI gallery in Lakkundi displaying sculptures, hero-stones and inscriptions recovered from the town’s scores of Chalukya temples and stepwells — a useful key to the whole heritage cluster.
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Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi — at a glance
TimingsDaylight hours
Best timeOctober to February; mornings
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
Within Lakkundi village; on the temple walk
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
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Good to know
Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi?
October to February; mornings.
What are the entry fee and timings at Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi?
Entry: Free. Timings: Daylight hours.
How do I reach Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi?
Within Lakkundi village; reached on the temple walk from the Kasivisvesvara temple. Mind the steps around the stepwell and keep back from the water edge.
How much time do I need for Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi?
30 to 45 minutes.
What else is near Manikeshwara Temple, Lakkundi?
Nearby you can pair Lakkundi Archaeological Museum (420 m), Kasivisvesvara Temple, Lakkundi (690 m), Nanneshwara Temple, Lakkundi (750 m), Brahma Jinalaya, Lakkundi (760 m).
Image credits
Photographs: P. Madhusudan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Wikimedia Commons.