13th Century Sadashiva Temple at Nuggehalli: Offbeat Sunday Getaway near Bangalore
This place is an ideal rural getaway just three hours from Bangalore city. It has rustic charm, lush scenery and rich culture in the form of two beautiful 13th century temples from the Hoysala era. One of the temples is the gorgeous Lakshmi Narasimha temple while the other is the Sadashiva temple. In this article, I am talking about the Sadashiva temple, a fine example of Hoysala nagara style of architecture with Bhumija type superstructure that is more popular in Northern and Western India.
Built in 1249 by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala empire, the Sadashiva temple combines a ekakuta (one shrine) with a nagara (north Indian) styled tower. Unlike the other Hoysala temples, its shrine walls and mantapa are simple with no sculptural decorations. The temple is built on a jagati (raised platform) and it consists of a garbhagriha, a sukanasi, a navaranga with porches and a Nandi mantapa. The main deity of this temple is Lord Shiva and located right in front of his garbhagriha is a large and well carved Nandi statue. The other interesting statues of this temple are its life like statue of Goddess Parvati and the unique Navagraha statues. The sukanasi has beautiful carvings on its ceilings that include the different avatars of Parvati, Soorya Narayana, Kala Bhairava, Chamundeshwari, Ganesha and Subramanya.
A Sunday day trip from Bangalore not only allows you to experience the Sadashiva and the Lakshmi Narasimha temples, but it also allows you to soak in the quiet and laidback atmosphere of a pretty little village. A traditional local breakfast and may be lunch too at any of the nearby villages or towns, two very pretty 13th century temples, being surrounded by farms and trees and a perfect excuse to soak in the sun, the fresh air and relax – Nuggehalli’s Sadashiva temple offers you the perfect Sunday getaway from Bangalore that is not only offbeat and hidden, but that is rich in art and culture and steeped in rustic charm. I recommend it with multiple thumbs up!
How to reach there:
The nearest airport would be Bangalore international airport, about 144 kms away.
The nearest large railways stations would be Bangalore (144 kms away), Hassan (50 kms) and/or Tumkur (109 kms). The nearest small railway stations would be Channarayapatna and Tiptur.
Channarayapatna or Tiptur would be your nearest bus station. From here, you either have to take a not so regular bus, many shared cabs or a full cab to Nuggehalli village.
If you are riding or driving from Bangalore, the route would be Bangalore –> Nelamangala –> Kunigal –> Yadiyur –> Hirisave –> Nuggehalli. The route from Bangalore to Hirisave would be a 4-lane highway, while the route post that would be a quieter 2 lane highway flanked by lush farms and water bodies on either side.
Best season to visit:
The Sadashiva temple at Nuggehalli is open all year round. The rains and the winter months are ideal if you care for lush surroundings and pleasant weather.
As the temple is located in the middle of a small village, rituals can be more elaborate during festivals and hence they are worth watching and attending.
Temple timings:
The temple opens at 8 AM and stays open till 11 AM. And it re-opens at 4 PM and stays open till 7 PM.
Certain festivals and village events can alter these timings a bit. It is best to check with locals, who in all probability will direct you to the temple priest, who will guide you with the exact timings.
Where to stay:
Channarayapatna and Tiptur would be the nearest cities in case you are looking for decent budget accommodation.
For luxurious accommodation, you might have to head to Bangalore.
If nature is your thing, head to the coffee estates in and around Chickmagalur or Sakleshpur.
Hassan has also some quality resorts in case that type of accommodation interests you.
Where to eat:
The nearest town to find some good food would be Channarayapatna.
If better quality restaurants are your preference, try the many restaurants located between Hirisave, Yediyur and Kunigal on the Hassan – Bangalore highway. Most of the places will be open longer hours, have ample parking facilities and have good quality restrooms.
If you don’t mind traveling a bit more, try Hotel Madihalli Naveen, located just outside of Tiptur for some quality local dishes and snacks.
It might be prudent to keep some drinking water and snacks with you at all times, especially if you plan on exploring the temple at leisure. 
Other offbeat Hoysala era temples nearby:
1) Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli
2) Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Javagal
3) Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi
4) Lakshmi Devi temple at Doddagaddavalli
5) Brahmeshvara temple at Kikkeri
6) Panchalingeshwara temple at Govindanahalli
7) Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Hosaholalu
8) Chenna Keshava temple at Somnathpur
9) Chenna Keshava temple at Aralaguppe
10) Chenna Keshava temple at Turuvekere
11) Ishvara temple at Arsikere
12) Chenna Keshava temple at Anekere
13) Mallikarjuna temple at Basaralu
14) Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Haranhalli
Other tourist attractions nearby:
1) Shettihalli rosary church ruins in the Hemavati reservoir
2) The hill station and coffee estates of Chickmagalur
3) The wide Hemagiri falls on the Hemavati river
4) The temple town of Melukote famous for its Iyengars and Puliyogare
5) The Jain pilgrimage site of Shravanabelagola that is home to the mighty Baahubali statue
6) The hill station of Kemmangundi
7) The beautiful Hebbe Falls surrounded by coffee estates
8) The absolutely photogenic Mysore palace
9) The butterfly forest of India called Bisle Ghat
10) Bhadra tiger reserve known for its tigers, river terns and leopards
