What to expect
Highlights
- The exquisitely carved main shrine and pillars.
- The ring of 13 minor temples around it.
- The founding inscription calling it the "emperor of temples".
Itagi Mahadeva Temple
The Western Chalukyan Mahadeva temple at Itagi (Ittagi), built around 1112 CE and hailed in its inscription as "Devalaya Chakravarti", the emperor among temples — a masterpiece of carved pillars and a stellate shrine ringed by minor temples. This temple guide is organized from Yelburga in Koppal district, with practical planning for routes, timing, nearby stays, food, operators and direct local inventory. Use it to compare what to see, how long to spend, when to go and which pilgrim stays, respectful local guides, food stops, shops, transport and verified visitor support should be verified around Itagi Mahadeva Temple.
Practical guide
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Before you go to Itagi Mahadeva Temple
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 baseYelburga
DistrictKoppal
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1 to 1.5 hours
EntryFree
The Mahadeva temple at Itagi (Ittagi) in Yelburga taluk is a Western Chalukyan masterpiece built around 1112 CE by the commander Mahadeva under Vikramaditya VI.
Its inscription hails it as "Devalaya Chakravarti" — emperor among temples — and it is often ranked, after Halebidu, among the finest temples in the Kannada country, with a stellate shrine and lathe-turned pillars ringed by minor shrines.
Getting there
How to visit
- At Itagi in Yelburga taluk, reached by road from Koppal or Gadag; a car is best.
- Remove footwear and dress modestly at the shrine.
Distance by road
- Hosapete35 km
- Ballari90 km
- Hubballi140 km
- Kalaburagi190 km
- Bengaluru350 km
Road km to Koppal; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; morning light on the carvings.
Weather in Itagi Mahadeva TempleSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Itagi Mahadeva Temple
Sunrise6:14 am
Sunset6:37 pm
Golden hour best light5:37 pm–6:37 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:37 pm–7:02 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 52%
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
- A protected Chalukyan monument — do not touch the carvings and photograph only where allowed.
Photos
Itagi Mahadeva Temple in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Itagi Mahadeva Temple
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Itagi Mahadeva Temple — at a glance
TimingsTemple hours
Best timeOctober to February; morning light on the carvings
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Itagi Mahadeva Temple
At Itagi in Yelburga taluk; by road from Koppal or Gadag
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Itagi Mahadeva Temple 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 Itagi Mahadeva Temple
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 Itagi Mahadeva Temple
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.
Nearby
What’s near Itagi Mahadeva Temple
On the map
Where Itagi Mahadeva Temple is
Good to know
Itagi Mahadeva Temple — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Itagi Mahadeva Temple?
October to February; morning light on the carvings.
What are the entry fee and timings at Itagi Mahadeva Temple?
Entry: Free. Timings: Temple hours.
How do I reach Itagi Mahadeva Temple?
At Itagi in Yelburga taluk, reached by road from Koppal or Gadag; a car is best. Remove footwear and dress modestly at the shrine.
How much time do I need for Itagi Mahadeva Temple?
1 to 1.5 hours.
What else is near Itagi Mahadeva Temple?
Nearby you can pair Navalinga Temples, Kukanoor (5.6 km), Palkigundu (21.3 km), Koppal Fort (22.6 km), Gavisiddeshwara Math (23.7 km).
Read before you go
Itagi Mahadeva Temple guides, stories & itineraries
Stories & history of Itagi Mahadeva Temple
Written about Itagi Mahadeva Temple itself — its history, its legends and the arguments about them.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: Ganesh.Subramaniam85, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Manjunath Doddamani Gajendragad at en.wikipedia (Public domain), Manjunath Doddamani Gajendragad at English Wikipedia (Public domain), Sudeep m (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.