Shri Aghoreshwara Swamy Devalaya

Temple information

Darshan timings

06:00 – 18:30

Established

16

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Majestic 32-handled relief icon of Aghoreshwara with serene Shiva Lingam in inner sanctum

Religious tradition

Agamic Shaiva Tradition

Sanskrit name

श्री अघोरेश्वर मन्दिरम्

Also known as

Ikkeri Aghoreshwara Gudi, Keladi Nayaka Ikkeri Temple

Darshan hours

Daily

06:00 AM - 06:30 PM

Break timings

Open continuously during daylight hours

Special days

Maha Shivaratri: 05:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Festival timings

Open till 09:00 PM on Maha Shivaratri

Aarti & rituals

Morning aarti

06:30 AM

Midday aarti

12:00 PM

Evening aarti

06:00 PM

Special aarti days

Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri

Ritual schedule

Nitya Pooja, Rudrabhisheka, Archana, Sandhya Deeparadhana by local hereditary archaka

Pooja timings

07:00 AM - 11:30 AM, 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM

Abhishek timings

07:00 AM - 08:30 AM

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

No

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri (patronized by Dodda Sankanna Nayaka and Venkatappa Nayaka)

Architect / builder

Master stone guilds of Malnad under royal Keladi commission

Construction materials

Solid dressed grey-green granite stone blocks

Historical events

Ikkeri was the flourishing capital of the Keladi kingdom from 1560 to 1640 CE, famed for its minted gold coins (Ikkeri Varahas)

Renovations

Protected monument conserved under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Bengaluru Circle

Archaeological importance

Centrally Protected Monument of National Importance (ASI Monument No. N-KA-B37)

Legends

Traditional belief: Aghora (the non-terrifying, peaceful form of Shiva) dispels darkness and protects the realm from foreign invasions

Inscriptions

Inscriptions of Keladi rulers and coin-mint marks found in the temple precinct

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Circa 1560 - 1600 CE

Structure

Massive walled temple enclosure on an elevated plinth with garbhagriha, ardhamandapa, mahamandapa, detached Nandi mandapa, and Parvati shrine

Floors

1

Gopuram

Stepped Dravidian-Vijayanagara stone Vimana shikhara above sanctum

Mandapa

Spacious Mukhamandapa with carved monolithic granite pillars and cusped arch entrances

Sculptural features

Superb colossal monolithic recumbent Nandi in separate open pavilion; reliefs of Gandaberunda (two-headed eagle), yalis, and royal processions

Artistic elements

Intricately pierced stone lattice windows, ceiling rosettes, and dancing female figures (Salabhanjikas)

Construction technique

Dry-stone interlocking granite masonry on an elevated plinth (jagati)

Unique features

Remarkable monolithic polished Nandi facing the sanctum, and the royal Gandaberunda emblem of Karnataka carved on the floor

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Magha Bahula Chaturdashi (Shivaratri)

Special celebration days

Every Monday, Pradosham

Cultural events

Devotional bhajans and classical music concerts during Shivaratri

Annual events

Aghoreshwara Rathotsavam and Shivaratri Jathara

Peak crowd season

August to February (Jog Falls tourist season & winter pilgrimage)

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

30-40 vehicles

Parking fees

Free

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, Hundi

Prasadam

Vibhuti/Kumkum.