“Chikkaballapura: An Īśāvāsasthāna and Raṅgavihārapura — A Transition from Bhoga to Yoga”, IndicaToday, 15 Sep 2026.
“Chikkaballapura is widely recognized for Nandi Hills, yet its significance extends beyond being a mere hiking destination or tourist attraction. The town is home to some of the region’s most ancient temples, embedded within its cultural landscape. These temples trace the historical footprints of the Nolamba dynasty, guiding us through centuries of history—from the early medieval period to the illustrious era of the Karnataka Samrajya (Vijayanagara Empire), and further into the period of the Mysuru Wadiyars, under whose patronage these temples continued to thrive.
We scheduled a day to experience the grandeur of this historic town and to explore the cultural treasures it encompasses. On a Sunday morning, we embarked on our journey to Chikkaballapura. Chikkaballapura is accessible from Bengaluru via both government and private buses. Notably, private buses charge approximately ₹10 less than government buses. We departed Bengaluru at around 6:00 a.m. and arrived in Chikkaballapura at approximately 7:00 a.m.
Our initial destination was the illustrious Bhoganandishwara Temple. Although we intended to take a bus to the temple, the early morning bus service was infrequent. When a bus eventually arrived, it was already crowded, leaving insufficient space for additional passengers. Consequently, we opted for an auto-rickshaw. During this brief auto ride, our journey took an unexpected turn. The auto driver informed us of an alternative route to the hill and suggested that we first ascend to have darśana of Yoga Nandīśvara Swamy, whose shrine is situated atop the hill. He recommended that after descending later in the afternoon or evening, we could visit Bhoganandīśvara at the foothills.
This suggestion appeared to possess a certain poetic symmetry—from Yoga to Bhoga, from the summit to the sacred landscape below. Consequently, we decided to heed his advice and commenced our ascent…………”
Read the full article at IndicaToday.
