The Bull Temple is one of the oldest in Bangalore situated in Basavanagudi dedicated to Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva. Kempe Gowda built this temple in the 16th century. The splendid Nandi, 15 feet tall and over 20 feet long has been carved out of single granite rock. It is a typical Dravidian style temple. The Nandi bull is honored for being the vahana (vehicle) of Shiva. The popular story

is that the temple was built to appease a vagrant bull, which persisted in devouring all the groundnuts grown in the surrounding fields despite the villagers' best efforts to keep it at bay. Hence, this handsome Bull Temple was built and the bull apparently took the hint and stayed away from the groundnuts. In November/December every year, when the groundnuts have been harvested, Kadalekayi Parishe (The Groundnut fair) is held near the temple. The first groundnuts are offered by the farmers to the sacred bull. Dodda Ganapati, a magnificent image of the Lord, is enshrined adjacent to the Bull temple. It is believed that the source of the river Vishva Bharti originates at the feet of the statue.