Ballari Shiva Temple, Karnataka

Address

Ballari Shiva Temple, Fort Road, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Ballari, Karnataka 583104

Diety

Shiva Amman: Parvati

Introduction

This shiva temple is located in bellary fort, It is situated in the historic city of Bellary, in the Bellary district, in Karnataka state, India. It was built in two parts namely, the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort. This shiva temple is located in the Upper Fort, was built by Hanumappa Nayaka, a feudatory of Vijayanagara Empire, but the Lower Fort was built by Hyder Ali in later part of the 18th century. it can be accessed only through a winding rocky path amongst scattered boulders, which was considered impregnable. On the top, outside the citadel, is a small temple, dedicted to parvati. the remains of some cells and several deep pools of water. Within the citadel, there are several strongly constructed buildings, a Shiva temple without idol, long back the idol was broken, the idol of Basava which was submerged in the water, clearly indicating one of the temple was consecrated (Prana Pratista) with Shiva Linga, even the Dwaja Stambha is destroyed. The temple is completely ruins state.