Śrī Banashankari Amma Temple
Shakambhari
The forest goddess beside a stepped Haridra tīrtha
⭐ Why it is famous
The black stone Devī seated on a lion, lamp-lit day and night, and the great Haridra Tīrtha tank flanked by stone lamp towers. The January Banashankari jātre fills the fields with bullock carts for a fortnight.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Worship dates to the Kalyani Chalukyas of the 7th century; the present temple was rebuilt in 1750 in Vijayanagara style by Parusharam Agale. Śākambharī, who fed the world with vegetables in a famine, is the Devī's form here.
🕰️ Temple timings
- Darśan 06:00 – 13:30 and 15:00 – 21:00
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darśan
- Special pūjās on Tuesdays, Fridays and full-moon days
- Modest traditional dress
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Śrī Banashankari Amma Temple, Cholachagudd, Badami, BagalkotBadami (BDM) — 6 km
Cholachagudd, Badami bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Hubballi (HBX) — 105 km
5 km from Badami town; frequent autos and buses, and easy to fold into the Badami–Aihole–Pattadakal circuit.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Badami hotels and KSTDC Mayura, ₹900–₹4,000
- Resorts near Pattadakal
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹1,800 | ₹3,600 | ₹8,000 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Badami cave temples
- Pattadakal UNESCO group
- Aihole Durga temple
- Agastya lake
📅 Best time to visit
November–February; Banashankari jātre in January–February