Shree Banashankari Devi

 Shree Banashankari Devi

Banashankari Temple is a Hindu temple located in Cholachagudda near Badami in Bagalkote district, Karnataka, India.  This temple is known as 'Shakambahari' 'Banashankari or Vanashankari' as it is located in Tilakaranya Forest.  The temple deity is also known as Shakambari  an incarnation of Goddess Parvati.

Historians date the original temple to AD.  Belongs to the 7th century - Kalyani Chalukya period in AD.  In 603 AD Jagadekamalla I (according to epigraphic inscriptions) installed an image of the goddess.  The present renovated temple was built in 1750 by the Maratha chief Parusharam Agale.  

The original temple is said to have existed before the reign of the Chalukyas who gave royal residence to the beliefs of the Vaishnava, Shaiva, Jain and Shakta religious orders.  They worshiped Banashankari as a form of Shakti, their supreme deity.  Epigraphic inscriptions mention that Jagadekamalla I renovated the temple with several additions.  AD  Another inscription in Kannada on a pillar on the north side of the temple dated 1019 describes the bravery of the Rashtrakuta king Bhimadeva.  Dipastambha  (lamp post) are found at the entrance of the temple;  According to an inscription, they were built by the warrior Ketimaiya.  

This temple attracts devotees from Karnataka and neighboring Maharashtra. The original temple was built by the 7th century Badami Chalukya kings who worshiped Goddess Banashankari as their tutelary deity. The temple celebrates its annual festival called Banashankari Jatre in the months of January or February. The festival includes cultural events, a boat festival and a Rath Yatra, where the deity of the temple is paraded around the city in a chariot. Banshakhari is a form of Maa Shakambari Devi whose actual, main and ancient temple is located in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is also known as Shaktipeeth Shakambari Devi. There are statues of Bhima, Bhramari, Shatakshi and Ganesha with mother.

Banashankari Temple, Badami Overview

 Banashankari Temple also known as Banashankari Amman Temple is located in Cholachagudda near Badami in Karnataka. It is one of the most famous Hindi temples in the state. Many stories and beliefs revolve around the construction, history and culture of the temple. However, the most exciting thing about this temple is that people worship 'Rahukala' which is considered inauspicious according to Hindu culture. Devotees pray to Rahukala to remove all miseries, poverty and inauspiciousness from their lives.

Banashankari Temple has a harmonious past built and renovated in Dravidian and Nagara style of architecture. Every January the Banashankari Jatra religious cum cultural festival maintains its tradition of unity where people from Karnataka and neighboring states come to show their devotion and witness cultural programs and fairs. Haridra Theertha is a pond in the temple complex with a lamp towering over a three-storied structure and is an architectural marvel 

Nearby places

 Cave temples

 Agastya Sarovar

 Bhootanath Temples

 Mallikarjuna Temple

 Archaeological Museum

 Lower Shivalaya

 Upper Shivalaya

 Badami Fort

The temple is located within 5 kilometres of the Badami town at Cholachagudda. You can take a public transport, an auto-rickshaw, bus or rickshaw to reach the Banashankari temple from Badami and commute within the town. It can be reached from the main towns like Bangalore or Hubli by State bus service.I

t can be easily reached by taking regular buses or by hiring taxis from anywhere in Karnataka.

 Banashankari Temple is one of the popular and most revered places in Karnataka. Banashankari Temple at Cholachigud is 50 km from Badami. Badami town is another destination famous for its ancient cave temples. The nearest railway station to Cholachigud is at Badami and from here; Many buses or taxis can be availed to reach the temple. Overall, there are various tourism buses and coaches available across Karnataka to reach Cholachigud.

Timings : 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Time required: 1-2 hours

Dress Code: Casual clothing with hands and feet covered. Transparent clothes are also prohibited.

Thank you to all

Written by Santosh BM