Veerabhadra temple, Lepakshi and Bhoganandishwara temple, Nandi Hills, India – A Photo Essay

Intricate carvings in the Veerabhadra temple, Lepakshi

One of the highlights of our recent travel to India was visiting some of the spectacular Hindu temples. While staying in Bangalore, I was invited to join a girls-only outing to Lepakshi, to visit the 16th-century Veerabhadra temple.  

Four of us hired a car and driver for the day and made the 120 km journey north of Bangalore. On our way back to the city, we also stopped at the Bhoganandishwara Temple in the Nandi Hills.

The Veerabhadra temple is famous for its intricate carvings and immaculately preserved paintings. The Bhoganandishwara Temple is lesser known but has beautiful carvings.  Rather than try to describe them in words, I’d like to share a photo essay of our day-trip to the temples of Lepakshi and Bhoganandishwara.

Entering the Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, India

The long hallway, Veerabhadra temple, Lepakshi

The intricate sculptures were created by the artisans of Vijayanagara empire.

Sunlight and shadow dance between the stone pillars

A 16th century painting of Lord Shiva is one of the Veerabhadra temple’s treasures

The ceiling paintings are a beautiful and useful look at early Hindu civilization

Stone elephants guard a side entrance to the temple

The Shiva Lingam at the Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi

The Bhoganandishwara Temple in the Nandi Hills, near Bangalore

Chariot Wheel at the Bhoganandishwara Temple

Carving detail at the Bhoganandishwara Temple

A temple cat at the Bhoganandishwara Temple

Bells inside the Bhoganandishwara Temple

Nandi Statues in the Bhoganandishwara Temple

If you’d like to see more photos from the Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi and the Bhoganandishwara Temple you can visit the Temples of India Gallery on ACM Photography.com or visit our Facebook Fan page.