Travel- Temples : Koti lingeshwara and Bangar Tirupati (Kolar district: Half day trip from Bangalore)

       
This was the small trip myself and my husband  planned out when my parents visited bangalore this weekend.  Visiting old ancient temples, their architecture is the one of thing i am very much interested.
We planned to visit Mulbagilu (Sri Padrajara matt), . : 130kms from bangalore(30kms after kolar)
Started from Bangalore(Marathalli )by 9:30 , we had brought some home made snacks items and fruits to have in breakfast.
It was  NH4 high way and you will find all green fields nearby  and hilly rocks at the far end. We stopped our vehicle to have breakfast in those fields. What a pleasure it gives when you are having some home made snacks in green fields.

We headed straight to Mulbagal.( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulbagal)

After visiting Matt , we got to know of Bangar Tirupati and Koti lingeshwara temple.
It was additional 15kms journey from Mulbagal.

Google GPS or any locals will help you for direction..;)



BANGAR TIRUPATI( Golden Tirupati):

Located in Guttahalli which  is a small village in the Kolar district of Karnataka state in India. It is situated about 15 kilometers from Kolar Gold Fields. The name bangar (Gold) is given because of famous Kolar Gold mines city hold.  The Bangaru Tirupathi temple is located on the top of a small hillock. The temple area is quite large. There are 2 temples . One venkateshwara and one of goddess padmavati(Venkateshwara's wife). You need to climb few steps to reach main Temple which   is quite small and the speciality of this temple is that you have to look at the idol of venkateshwara from a window with a few holes in it. The idol faces towards the window instead of the door.From venkateshwara temple , there is separate path which takes to padmavati temple with few more climbing steps. 
 Since the temple is situated on hiltop and its not much commercial you find so much peace to stay for few minutes. Its unique in own way.  you can view lot of greenary standing on top of temple hillock.

After this we headed towards "Koti-lingeshwara" temple

KOTI LINGESHWARA( koti- crore, lingeshwara: linga as shiva)
                         :As we proceded towards vilage "Kammasandra", we saw two lingas placed over the welcome entrance of village. We started thinking may be  we can count tthis in (2 lingas), since the place name state "koti lingeshwar". Further we drove inside, we saw huge Shiva linga from road.  We enquired from near by shop and parked our car to visit the koti lingeshwar site. (parking fees:40, entrance free 50). When we entered the spot  to our surprise there were smal, big, medium lingas all over the place. It was beautiful sight of shiv lingas all over.  
We came to know that any one can install the linga's by their wish.  Till date 90 lakhs lingas are installed
As we moved further very large linga and nandi bull were installed.  It was magnificient.

 Largest Linga in Asia which stands 108 feet (33 m) tall. In front of this huge Linga there is a huge Nandi (Animal mount of Lord Shiva) which is 35 feet (11 m) tall. The Nandi is installed over a platform which is 60 feet (18 m) in length, 40 feet (12 m) in width and 4 feet (1.2 m) in height.(courtersy: wiki)

There are small other temples,the first to be constructed is the Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwara temple, followed by the main deity temple Lord Kotilingeshwara. The sequence of the other temples are Lord Venkataramani Swamy Temple, Goddess Annapoorneshwari Temple, Lord Panduranga Swamy Temple, Lord Panchamukha Ganapathy temple, Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita Temple, Lord Anjaneya Temple, Goddess Kannika Parameshwari Temple and finally Goddess Karumaari Amma Temple.

What i did not like about the place  was the place being fully commercial. The pujaris ask so and so to do, to make wish come true. You don't feel connected to God in such place. You just have to fold your hands, enjoy the spot and move next.