Lepakshi Veerapuram and Rangasthala

Trip Details
Distance From Bangalore	135 Kms
Type	Lepakshi: Historical monument, Carvings and sculptures, Temple Rangasthala: Old Temple Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur (incase if you like temples) Veerapuram: Painted Storks
Time needed	One day for all the above places
Best time to visit	Lepakshi: Anytime except during rains Veerapuram: Mid-December till End-February seem to be the best time to see too many painted storks. Other months few birds.
Local guides	Lepakshi: Ask for the guide in temple complex. Charges approx. Rs.200/= Veerapuram: Just see the tree tops for any birds throughout this village. Walk through the village streets and see for birds. Ask for the Vet.Clinic and check there as well.
Stay options	No need to stay
Food	On Bangalore Hyderabad NH you will find Kamat which is average
Nearby places	Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur  (seen on NH itself) Nandi hills is on the way, but it is better you go seperately and spend atleast 4 hours or more here.
Other tips	·        First visit Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur if you like temples, then Rangasthala. ·        After both the above head to Lepakshi. After Lepakshi visit Veerapuram. ·        Ask for the Guide in Lepakshi to know more about the history and interesting details about the paintings and sculptures. ·        Route: Bangalore International Airport, Chikballapur and after the Andra border take left towards Lepakshi/Hindupur. You get to pay in two toll booths each Rs.115/= (onward and return journey together) ·        Carry a binocular and good camera for Veerapuram to capture the Painted Storks

It was on Sunday first week of August we planned to visit these places in a day and started at 7AM sharp from Bangalore and could reach Chikballapur in 1 hour. We went via Windsor Manor, Hebbal, Bangalore International Airport, Chikballapur, Hyderabad NH, Turn left to Hindupur & Lepakshi. Early in the morning at around 7:30AM, we have seen close to 10 Harley-Davidson bikes cruising at 100KMPH. We saw almost all colors and all different models. 

On the way to Rangasthala and on the NH (around chikballapur) you get to see Vineyard,  Cabbage fields, Brinjal, Tomato, Ragi, Marigold flower, Rose flower fields elsewhere. Incase

you like to take photographs or if your kids like to see such fields then these are the places you want to stop and relax a while.

1. Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Chikballapur

As you approach Chikballapur, first you will see Anjaneyaswamy Temple. If you like you can stop and visit the temple.

2. Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rangasthala, Karnataka

This is an old temple and the Lord Ranganathaswamy is exactly like the one in Srirangam Tamilnadu or same as in Srirangapatna near Mysore. The pond near the temple is beautiful. Use google map to find the location, it is close to Chikballapur.

3. Lepakshi Nandi and Veerabhadra Temple

On the Bangalore-Hyderabad NH after crossing the Andhra border (checkpost is there) you will see a board which has the sign for Lepakshi & Hindupur. Take left there. Once you take left you get to see many signboards to Lepakshi.  First you get to see a big sculpture of painted stork on left hand side. Either you can visit Veerapuram first or while coming back from Lepakshi. We decided to come back to Veerapuram after lunch hence continued further.

First you get to see the very big Nandi (Bull) statue. This seems to be the biggest Monolith Nandi statue in India. This is so beautiful and so amazingly carved. Look at the jewels hanging on its ears and its body they are so beautiful. From this statue you need to go about 250 metres to the Veerabhardra Temple. Plenty of parking place is there.

Ask for the help of a Guide there to learn more on the history and interesting stories. As you enter the temple see the carvings on each pillar and the roof for paintings. Many Monkeys in and around the Lepakshi Temple, so be careful not to eat or open your bags which has eatables. There is a Hanging pillar and literally you can insert a paper and take out on the other side. From one angle you can see the complete gap. It is really hanging and this is really amazing. There are many carvings thorough out and paintings all over the ceilings. Walk along the inner walls or sides of the temple i.e. Prakaram and you get to see the seven headed snake on Shivalinga amazingly carved. Behind this you get to see the Ganesha statue. And there is a Kalyan Mantapa (Marriage hall) with lots of pillars and each pillar is having unique carvings.

Sthala Virutcham (Temple Tree) in this temple is both Vilva Maram and Arasa Maram together in combined form. I heard generally they do marriage for two trees when it they are a small sapling. Once they grow big they are always together and amazing.

                Vilva Maram:     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_marmelos 

                Arasa Maram:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_religiosa 

Visit my post on “Tree on Tree” which has pictures of similar trees.

4. Veerapuram

This is really a beautiful village on the way to Lepakshi. There are colorful Painted Storks visiting this village every year during Mid-Dec till End-Feb. You get to see too many of painted storks in the village tree tops. Many times on the ground as well. The villagers are so protective about the birds and they help these birds. There is a veterinary clinic specially for these birds. The villagers took me to the clinic and explained me various things they do to take care of these birds. Many young birds who were once fallen down from nests with twisted leg damaged wings..etc are all stay back in village for lifetime and villagers take care like their own children. They have lots of preserved-fish for feeding these birds. 

 Moving onto photos

Seven headed Snake Guarding Shiva Lingam and Temple towers behind !

See the carvings, Shiva Lingam, Jewels and Bells on Nandi, so beautiful !

Married Trees - Vilvam and Arasa Maram !

Big Ganesha 

Front view of Huge Nandi at Lepakshi, Monolithic ! 

Anjaneyaswamy Temple Chikballapur

Anjaneyaswamy Temple Chikballapur

Do you see the Veerabhadra Temple ?, This is just on the left side of Big Nandi, you need to climb up a little. From here you could see the temple and seven headed snake !

I think he is Virupanna who built this temple

Information board which captures the details of the temple

Main Entrance

Look at the beautiful elephants on the pillar, many damaged now

Carvings on the entrance pillars

Painting of Lord Shiva on the roof

The main attractiion - The hanging pillar, do you see the paper inserted below? 

3 Legs ? 

Kalyana Mantapa (Marriage Hall)

Beautiful Pillars in Kalyana Mantapa - Meenakshi Sundareshwarar 

Closeup of the married tree

3 Headed Cow ... !!!

Information Board on Big Nandi Statue 

Colorful ..... Lord Ranganatha and Garuda on Left

Garuda in the entrance (inside) of the temple

Lord Hanuman in the entrance (inside) of the temple

Beautiful entrance and the Temple Tower

Rain Water harvesting - Big pond near Rangasthala Temple

Marigold Field on the way to Rangasthala Temple

Vineyard on the way to Rangasthala Temple

Temple Tower

Do you see the Painted Stork? The village is so beautiful

Information Board in Kannada in Veerapuram

Painted Storks everywhere on the ground and they are not scared of you, Heard that they are fallen from nests at early stages and stay here for lifetime

This guy has twisted his leg (fallen from tree while young) and not able to fly looks like

Little one, still not ready to fly or wings or damaged not sure ! He lives on the terrace of one house

Village boys feeding Fish to Storks !

You just swallowed a Fish right? still want one more? 

Special recognition for Mr. Venugopal Reddy

Veterinary Clinic for Painted Storks

Veerapuram Welfare Society

He wanted more and more fishes and was hungry ! 

Brinjal (Egg Plant) field near Veerapuram

Ragi field near Veerapuram

This is the where the you take left to Veerapuram on the main road to Hindupur/Lepakshi

You can donate and contact Mr. Venugopal Reddy for any information. 

Just walk around the village looking at the top of trees. Birds will be there elsewhere. 

Hope you liked the photos and the details. Share with your friends and let them know about these wonderful places near Bangalore.

Refer to my other blogs 


1. Weekend Breaks or Daytrips from Bangalore: http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2014/07/weekend-breaks-or-day-trips-from.html 

2. India's Largest and Longest underground cave of 3.2Kms length - Belum Caves and nearby places
http://myjourneysinindia.blogspot.com/2016/02/belum-caves-gandikota-grand-canyon-of.html