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
Check entry arrangements. Ask temple staff about visitor entry, dress requirements and access to the inner shrine before you travel, especially if you are visiting as a non-Hindu.
Dress respectfully and follow the institution’s admission and photography rules.
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
Sunrise6:18 am
Sunset6:04 pm
Golden hour best light5:04 pm–6:04 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:04 pm–6:29 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌔 Waxing gibbous · 66%
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. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
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
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- 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
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
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
templeBagali Kalleshwara Temple
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.
14.5 km · ~24 min by cab · straight line
templeMylara Lingeshwara Temple
The Shiva temple at Mylara (Mailara) in Hadagali taluk, centre of a large Shaiva-Kuruba pilgrimage — best known for the Karanika, when an oracle-priest balances on a taut bow and utters a yearly prophecy at the Mailara fair.
23.3 km · ~39 min by cab · straight linefortUchangidurga Fort
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.
26.4 km · ~44 min by cab · straight lineK
Kottureshwara Temple, Kotturu
Place
templeKottureshwara Temple, Kotturu
The shrine of the 15th-century Veerashaiva saint Guru Kottureshwara at Kotturu, built around an older Gadde Kalleshwara Chalukya temple; its February Rathotsava (car festival) draws around 200,000 pilgrims.
36.8 km · ~61 min by cab · straight lineOn 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 and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
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.