Kote Venkataramana Temple

Bangalore is often referred to as the IT hub of India. In a city such as this one wouldn’t expect to see a lot of temples and religious constructions. But surprisingly the city has a number of temples that are of great historical and religious significance. One such temple is the Kote Venkataramana Temple.

Located in Krishnarajendra Road of Bangalore this temple is dedicated to the god Venkateshwara. The temple was built in the year 1689 by the then ruler of Mysore Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar. The temple is built in Dravidian and Vijayanagar style of architecture. The temple is located very close to the famous KR Market of Bangalore and is adjacent to the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan which was the residence of the Wodeyar family back then.

The temple is skillfully constructed with the Dravidian art being reflected in every aspect of the temple. The beautifully carved pillars or colonnades with yalis in all four directions are a real treat to the eye but most of them are partially damaged by canons during the Third Mysore War. Other than this the decorations inside the temple is very modest and is very similar to the designs found in the palace complex of Mysore. The central hall is connected to the sanctum of the temple by a vestibule. Both the sanctum and the vestibule consist of wall painting of gods and goddesses at the base.

The temple is largely visited by devotees during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi during which it is believed that the inner gate to Lord’s sanctum is opened. This is the main festival celebrated in this temple. The entire temple looks majestic and is decorated grandly to mark the festival. This is without doubt the best time to visit this temple. However if you are a person who does not prefer large crowds then it is recommended that you avoid visiting the temple during the festival. The temple is open from 8 to 12 in the morning and then again from 6.30 to 8 in the evening all days. All the necessary items that are required to perform the ritual can be purchased in the market which has a lot of shops put up to provide the same.

The temple is easily accessible from all the major locations in and around Bangalore. The area is well connected by all sorts of public transports as there are many buses that connect the KR Market. From here you can walk it down to the temple or hire an auto-rickshaw to get you there quickly. The bus travel should take about half an hour from Majestic bus stand depending on traffic conditions. If you are traveling by car try and reach the temple early to avoid parking problems.

For people looking to find accommodation near this temple Amshi International Inn, Compact Tea Pavillion, and Hotel Nandhini will be great choices. These hotels are extremely comfortable and also provide easy access to all other major locations in the city.