History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Kedareswar Temple, Balligavi, Karnataka, India
The Kedareshwara Temple, unique masterpiece of ancient India architecture style is located in a historical town of Balligavi in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. Due to Kedareshwar Temple of Lord Shiva, Balligavi also famed as South Kedar or Dakshina Kedara means Kedarnath of South and one of the major pilgrimage site of state with thousands of devotee around the year. Temple architecture is excellent example of Trikuta – Triple tower influenced by Chalukya - Hoysala of transitional period of both dynasty also set as oldest example of such combination. Balligavi has more than 50 temple, several Math and few learning center thousands year back and few are still exists. Kedareshwar Temple is one such temple built in 10-12th century and holding same religious importance and attraction even after 1000 years.
East faces temple with three sides entrance where western chalukya idiom on side. Shivlinga made up from black marble is placed in central shrine. The shrine to the south has a Shivlinga called Brahma and the shrine to the north has a statue of Janardhana, the supreme lord Vishnu. You can see the Hoysala symbol of Sala slaying tiger is embedded by King Vijayaditya in 1060. All the shrines open up to a six-pillared hall called mahamantapa which is led by a large ornate open gathering hall – the sabhamantapa.
Temple premise is in "staggered-square" shape with lot of plan which is typical Hoysala design style. The outer walls of the open mandapa have beautiful carvings of women wearing jewelry. The superstructure of the vimana is very well decorated with sculptures of Tandaveshwara, Varaha, Uma Narasimha, Bhairava etc.
It is believed that the western shrine is the oldest one dated back to 7th or 8th century. The ceiling of the mantapa is flat and the inner ceiling is well carved with lotuses in them. The central ceiling has the carving of Tandaveshwara with eight dikpalakas. The entrance to the shrine which faces east has huge idol of Nandi. The Maha Shivratri, one of the important festivals of Lord Shiva is celebrated here with great zeal.
How to Reach Kedareshwar Temple, Ballgavi, Dakshin Kedar, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Kedareshwar Temple is located in heart of Ballagavi. As Ballagavi is one of the important historical and religious site Shivamogga district in state of Karnataka and home to several ancient temple. Thus, it is easily accessible via road, rail and air network. Shikaripura is the nearest major railway station from Balligavi at 22km from where you can get train to all major station of India. You can get government and private vehicle from nearby cities to reach here by road. The nearest airport from Balligavi are Hubli Airport at 130 km and Belgaum Airport at 224 km. There are regular flights to Belgaum from all major cities in the country. Ballagavi is located at just 72 km from Shivamogga, 21 km from Shikaripura, 179 km from Udupi and 151 km from Gokarna.
