What to expect
Highlights
- The 11th-century Chalukya soapstone architecture.
- The carved doorway and turned pillars.
- The old Kannada inscriptions.
Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
The Bhimeshvara Temple at Nilagunda, near Harapanahalli, is an 11th-century Western Chalukya temple listed by the ASI as a monument of national importance. It is built in soapstone in the classic Kalyani-Chalukya idiom.
Practical guide
Plan Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
Who's going?Tailor Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda to your trip
Before you go to Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
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 baseHarapanahalli
DistrictVijayanagara
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed30 to 45 minutes
EntryFree
Places to visit3→The temple is admired for its finely carved doorway, lathe-turned pillars and old Kannada inscriptions that record grants to the shrine — a quiet, well-preserved example of the temples that dot this reclaimed southern belt of the district.
Getting there
How to visit
- At Nilagunda, ~15 km from Harapanahalli; own vehicle is easiest.
- Usually open for darshan — remove footwear and do not touch the carvings.
Distance by road
- Bengaluru340 km
- Hubballi145 km
- Hyderabad360 km
- Ballari65 km
- Badami140 km
Road km to Vijayanagara; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February.
Weather in Bhimeshvara Temple, NilagundaSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
Sunrise6:15 am
Sunset6:36 pm
Golden hour best light5:36 pm–6:36 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:36 pm–7:01 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 277°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 44%
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
- ASI-protected — treat the carvings and inscriptions with care.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
List your placeRanked guides
Top experiences around Harapanahalli
2 more places around Harapanahalli, each worth a day of its own.
templeBagali Kalleshwara Temple
14.5 km · ~24 min by cab
A 987 CE Rashtrakuta–Chalukya Shiva temple at Bagali, ASI-protected and famed for finely carved black-stone pillars, ceiling panels and a navaranga of dancers and deities — its rich sculpture earns it a "Khajuraho of Karnataka" tag.
fortUchangidurga Fort
26.4 km · ~44 min by cab
An ancient hill fortress, once a capital of the Nolamba and Uchangi-Pandya chiefs, its ramparts and a hilltop Uchchangi Ellamma (Durga) temple climbing a steep granite hill near Harapanahalli — a stiff trek with wide Deccan views.
Roampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda — at a glance
TimingsDarshan hours
Best timeOctober to February
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
At Nilagunda, ~15 km from Harapanahalli; own vehicle best
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda 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 Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
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 Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
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 Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda
On the map
Where Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda is
Good to know
Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda?
October to February.
What are the entry fee and timings at Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda?
Entry: Free. Timings: Darshan hours.
How do I reach Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda?
At Nilagunda, ~15 km from Harapanahalli; own vehicle is easiest. Usually open for darshan — remove footwear and do not touch the carvings.
How much time do I need for Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda?
30 to 45 minutes.
What else is near Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda?
Nearby you can pair Bagali Kalleshwara Temple (14.5 km), Mylara Lingeshwara Temple (23.3 km), Uchangidurga Fort (26.4 km), Kottureshwara Temple, Kotturu (36.8 km).
Read before you go
Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Bhimeshvara Temple, Nilagunda itself yet. These cover Harapanahalli, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: Dineshkannambadi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.