The Someshwara Swamy Temple at Ulsoor is one of the oldest temples in Bengaluru. According to
legend, the chieftain Kempegowda was once resting under a tree here when the god Someshwara
appeared in a dream and instructed him to build a temple in his honour using some buried
treasure. Kempegowda accordingly built the temple.
Based on architectural styles and context, SK Aruni of the
Indian Council of Historical Research dates the temple’s garbagriha (sanctum), vestibule and
navranga mandapa (pillared hall) to the Cholas, who ruled this region about a thousand years ago.
In subsequent centuries, the temple expanded with the addition of a maha mandapa, gopura and
various other elements.
During recent civil works in the Temple Complex, a broken sculpture of a goddess was discovered. Experts believe it belongs to the Ganga period (5th to 10th CE) — further evidence of the antiquity of the temple.
Read on to explore this incredibly rich slice of history in the heart of Bengaluru.
A deep dive into the richly carved forms, legends, tales and scenes that animate the walls and pillars of this temple
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