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Shiva At Kemp Fort
Bangalore is the IT hub of India and is one of the most important cities in South India. Since 1995, when the statue came into existence, the city has seen increased tourist flow. This site has now been also converted to a mall.
Origin
RVM, who was the founder of this statue, once had a dream about a huge Shiva statue that was supposed to come up at the site. However, he did not have any means to convert this dream into a reality. All of a sudden, things changed for the better and the place, funds and sculptor all fell in place and the 65 feet statue of Lord Shiva at Kemp Fort came to be built, all in just a matter of one year. The construction started in 1994 and was completed on the day of the Maha Shivratri in 1995.
Major Attractions
Statue of Lord Shiva
The Idol of Lord Shiva towers above the mediocre mankind and reaches out to the sky at almost 65 feet. The temple has no roof and at the back of the statue, there is an area that has been carved out to look like the snow clad mighty Himalayas. This gives the onlookers a feeling that they are more in Kailash than in Kemp Fort in Bangalore. Shiva is seen to be seated in a very peaceful Yoga pose with two of his hands on his lap and sitting cross legged with open eyes. One look at the statue is sure to take away all the tensions and the worry of the pilgrims and this is precisely why, there are tourists who flock this place. One hand of the statue of Shiva holds his Trident while the other holds the Damru, a musical instrument that is generally shaken by the Lord. His long tresses of hair are tied up in a knot on top of his head and a jet of water shoots out of his locks.
Other Features in the Temple
Apart from the towering Shiva statue, the temple has a Ganesh statue that is 32 feet long. This statue has significance because Lord Ganesha is considered to be the Pratham Devta of Hindu Mythology and no ritual is complete without his prayers. Tourists tie a yellow thread in front of the statue and this is called the Vignaharan thread. The Navagrahas, the Pratyaksh Linga which appears at the time of the Abhisheka and then disappears afterward are considered to the specialties of the temple. There is also a healing stone which is considered to rid the pilgrims who touch it of any sickness or ill health. Another interesting custom at this place is that the pilgrims are encouraged to pen down their worries or any requests to the Lord in the form of a letter and put it in the holy fire. This is to symbolize that the request has been submitted to God and they will get an answer very soon.
Where to Eat
If you want to taste the mouth-watering Bisibela Bath, the signature dish of the Kannadigas, then Bangalore is the place to be in. Morning, day or night, this hot favorite dish can be had either in the roadside shops, moderate hotels or high class restaurants that dot the area, they all taste absolutely divine. Chinese cuisine, North Indian food and pizzas are also available easily.
Where to Stay
The main advantage of the Shiva statue at Kemp fort is that it is located at the heart of Bangalore city. The pilgrims who travel to Bangalore have a lot of hotels to choose from and they can book the ones that suit their budget – be it economy or budget or even star hotels. There are quite a few options available.
Temple Timings
The Shiva statue is open to visitors all through the day. In fact unlike other places of worship, there are prayers and aarti even during midnight and late evenings. As there is no roof for the temple, the temple is never closed down and statue of Lord Shiva can be accessed by the tourists from morning until night.
How to Reach
Road
Since the statue is located in the heart of the city, the tourists can either drive to Bangalore city through the Old Airport Road or take the buses and reach the bus stand in the center of the city.
Rail
There are many trains that connect Bangalore to the other parts of the country and this makes it easier for the tourists to reach the garden city.
Airport
Bangalore is one of the important airports in the country and is the closest to reach the Shiva Statue at Kemp Fort. Bangalore airport has good international and domestic connectivity.
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