The Chokkanathaswamy Temple is one of the oldest temples in the city of Bangalore and it is dedicated to the Lord Chokkanathaswamy, an incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu. The temple gets thousands of visitors of each year and there are plenty of hotels in Sarjapur Road, Bangalore for accommodation. Here are a few salient features of the temple:
• The temple dates to the 10th century AD when the Chola Kings used to rule over southern India. Although there are no written records, the pilasters inside the sanctum sanctorum, the Navaranga walls, the name Chola Perumal suggest the origins of the temple from the Chola Empire.
• The temple faces west and houses several notable sculptures and decorative inscriptions. The temple is a brilliant tribute to Chola stone art that was prevalent during the 10th century. Tamil inscriptions on the temple go back to the 1270 A.D. and talk about individuals who donated to the temple.
• The temple is open for eight to ten hours daily and attracts pilgrims from all over the country. With an increase in the number of hotels near the Bangalore, railway station tourism has become a booming industry in this part of Bangalore.
• The temple has undergone numerous renovations over the years. Structures have been built and repaired almost everywhere throughout the complex and the only unchanged part is the sanctum sanctorum and the two bardhaman tapas in front of it.
The temple is a fine piece of architecture and not only holds religious importance but is also important for historians.
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