TheChola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history ofsouthern India. In Bengaluru the Cholas ruled nearly a century. The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of theKaveri River, but they ruled a significantly larger area at the height of their power, including the present-dayBengaluru. During the reign ofRajaraja Chola I—around 1004 AD—the cholas captured Bengaluru after defeating theGangas. During their rule, they built many temples in and around Bengaluru with theChokkanathaswamy temple,Mukthi Natheshwara Temple, Choleswara temple and theSomeshwara Temple being prominent ones. The Chokkanathaswamy temple atDomlur, whose earliest inscriptions date back to the 10th century AD,[1] is the oldest temple in the city.[2] Originally built byRaja Raja Chola I,[1] the temple was later renovated by theHoysalas andVijayanagara rulers.[3] The temple's deity wasLord Shiva, but later aVishnu temple was built for the local residents who were mainlyVaishnavas.[1]
The Chola Rule in Karnataka was curtailed with loss of Western Gangavadi in 1117 AD by the Hoysalas, but Eastern Gangavadi (part of Mysore district) was recovered by 1125 AD underVikrama Chola and Chola territories in Kannada country existed till the rule of EmperorKulothunga Chola III. However Tamil habitation in Karnataka, especially in Mysore district, precedes the Chola period and continued afterwards as well. Hoysala Kings built Someshwara temples throughout their kingdom. The typical Someshwara temple has a lotus pond or a taverekere included.
The Someshwara temple atMadiwala was built around 1247 AD.[4] TheSomeshwara Temple at Halasuru, one of the oldest in the city. While the main deity isNandi, other gods likeBrahma and Vishnu are also worshiped here.[5] It was later renovated byKempegowda who built theRajagopura and constructed walls around the temple.[6] The 800 year-oldKaalikaamba Kamatheshwara Temple atNagarathpet is the second largest temple in the city.[7]
Apart from religious practices, the temples were utilized for scholarly activities thus providing employment for the people.[8]
| No. | Name | Locality | Period/Earliest inscription | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domlur Chokkanathaswamy temple | Domlur | 10th century AD | [1] |
| 2 | Halasuru Someshwara Temple | Halasuru | [9] | |
| 3 | Eshwara Temple, Kengeri, Bengaluru | Kengeri | 1050 AD | [10] |
| 4 | Dharmesvara Temple | Kondrahalli | 1065 AD | [11] |
| 5 | Sri Madduramma Temple | Huskur | 11th century AD | [12][13] |
| 6 | Old Madiwala Someshwara Temple, Bengaluru | Madiwala | 1247 AD | [14] |
| 7 | Kaalikaamba Kamatheshwara Temple | Nagarathpet | 13th century AD | [15] |
| 8 | Someshwara Temple, Marathahalli | Marathahalli | 1508 AD | [16] |
| 9 | Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple | Thindlu | 10th Century AD |
