The Kotilingeshwara Temple is a renowned Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the village of Kammasandra, Kolar district, Karnataka, India. The temple is famous for housing the world's largest Shivalinga, a representation of the Lord Shiva.
Getting There
The Kotilingeshwara Temple is situated in Kammasandra village, which is around 100 kilometers from Bengaluru. You can easily reach the temple by car or bus. If you're coming from Bengaluru, take the National Highway 44 towards Kolar. From Kolar, there are signboards directing you to the temple.
The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. There's an entry fee of INR 20 per person, a camera fee of INR 100, and a parking charge of INR 30.
What to Expect
The main attraction of the temple is the colossal Shivalinga, standing tall at 108 feet (33 meters). The Shivalinga is surrounded by over 90 lakh (9 million) smaller Shivalingas, spread over a vast 15-acre complex. There's also an enormous statue of Nandi, the sacred bull vehicle of Lord Shiva, measuring 35 feet (11 meters) tall.
Within the temple complex, you'll find eleven smaller temples dedicated to various Hindu deities. There's also a holy water tank where devotees can perform abhisheka (pouring of holy water) on the Shivalinga.
The temple offers a serene and spiritual ambience. You can spend a couple of hours here, soaking in the religious atmosphere and marveling at the architectural wonder.
When to Visit
The best time to visit the Kotilingeshwara Temple is between July and January. The weather is pleasant during this time, making it comfortable to explore the temple complex. The temple sees a large number of devotees on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, which typically falls in the month of February-March.