By Away from the city buzz, there are many places on the outskirts of Bangalore, lesser-known to the world, which have a spiritual and mystical aura. One of the uncommon historical places related to Hindu mythology is the Mukthi Naga Temple near Bangalore. Have you heard about it before? It is a 200-year-old temple of the serpent deity Nagraj, Lord Subramanya. You will be surprised to know that the Mukthi Naga Temple is the world’s largest idol of the Serpent God; it is around 21 feet tall and 56 tons in weight.
Do you love travelling? Then why not try an offbeat trip instead of an adventurous one this time.
Take the less travelled road, and visit the Mukthi Naga temple in Ramohalli, Bangalore. Our traveller Jitu Tiwary, a Software Developer, working at TCS and a photography enthusiast by profession, visited the temple.
Reaching the Mukthi Naga Temple
Jitu discovered this temple while going through Wikipedia’s historic monument Photography competition page. Since he loves photography, he planned a casual trip to explore the place and click some pictures.
Since it was a one-day solo trip, Jitu boarded a BMTC city bus at 8 am. He reached the temple around 10:30 am. It’s good to start the trip early in the morning if you want to enjoy the pleasant weather. When Jitu started the trip, the weather was a bit cloudy, and the rest of the time, it was humid. You can also opt for a train or metro to reach the temple.
The Huge Banyan Tree Standing the Test of Time
Near the Mukthi Naga temple is a 400-year-old big banyan tree. It is also called Dodda Alada Mara. There are hundreds and thousands of aerial roots spread across 250 metres. If you get time to look around, do check it out and enjoy sitting under the shade of nature, away from the noise of the city.
Things to take care of while visiting Mukthi Naga Temple
When Jitu went on the trip to Mukthi Naga Temple, the Covid-19 restrictions were still in practice. So maintaining social distancing, proper sanitization, and wearing a mask were compulsory. You should still follow these precautions to avoid catching or spreading the virus infection.
The locals put the temple, their deity, and the rituals in high regard, so they are particular with following traditions and wearing ethnics. Before starting your journey, put on some ethnic wear.
Besides this, Jitu observed that the people are very friendly and the place is safe for solo travellers, also no problem for females. The locals are respectful, and the environment is great.
Exploring the Mukthi Naga Temple and Nearby
Jitu preferred to travel during the daylight since it was a rural area. There is a lot to see around Mukthi Naga Temple, as you will find many more temples of various deities. Here, one of the other famous temples is the Shri Kaaryasiddhi Vinayaka temple, where Lord Ganesha is worshipped. The other temples you will see are Renuka Yellamma, Adi Mukthi Naga, and Patalamma temples.
You can collect pooja tickets, prasad, and other items required from the small temple office. The temple is open from 7 am to 7 pm every day so that you can plan your visit accordingly. Special poojas are performed on Tuesdays and Sundays, so if you are visiting on these days, try attending the poojas.
Reaching the temple, Jitu first performed the pooja and rituals. After that, he took pictures and videos of the place. He was carrying his DSLR with an 18mm-35mm lens. Then, he had some light snacks and meals. You can take meals from the food stalls nearby or carry some light snacks.
Budget
- Approximate Budget: INR 1,000-1,500*/-
- Bus ticket fare: INR 30*/-
- Pooja: INR 100*/-
After a hundred pictures clicked and many memories made, Jitu packed up to return home from a one-day trip. You can see more of his photography on his Instagram account @the_lensational1241.
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