Temple

Chandramouleshwara Temple, Unkal, Hubli on the banks of the Unkal lake beside the Nrupatunga Hills is a 900-year-old temple of Chandramouleshwara. Lord Shiva is the deity of the temple. The temple has marvelous sculptures that attract any art lover. The temple houses two big Shivalingas and two Nandi statues at the entrance of the temple. The temple is located 5km from Hubli on the Hubli-Dharwad road. Chalukyas built this temple in the 11th and 12th century. Unlike other temples, the temple doesn't have a gopura.

Legend

Fables say that Chalukyans wanted to boast their architectural splendidness and showcase their power and wealth to their enemies. The tales says that the temple was built overnight by a group of anonymous artisans and sculptors. Since the temple was constructed in a night, and as the artisans couldn't finish the whole work in one night, the temple structure is incomplete.

Architecture

The temple is constructed in the Chalukyan era and is clearly inscribed in stones which belong to the 12th century in the Unkal village. The temple is designed in black granite. The temple has unfinished architecture, yet the most marvelous and a spectacular architecture by the Chalukyas. The unfinished temple has many quarters that have left half way done yet a visual delight.  It has alluring sculptures and appealing carving that attracts many art lovers to the Temple. Chandramouleshwara temple has two shiva lingas out of that one of them is the 'Chaturmugha Linga' which is the four faced Shiva linga, one of the features that make the temple stand out among the various Lord Shiva temples in the state. Another spectacular feature of the temple architecture is the dancing Lord Ganesh and the Jaladhara images on the walls of the temple. The wall height is around 20-25 feet out of which half of the temple is made of red stones while the other half is made of green stone, giving the temple an overall remarkable look.

Picture courtesy : commons.wikimedia.org

Darsan Info

Temple timings :
6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM (All days of the week)

Darsan Dresscode

Clean and conservative clothing is preferred.

Culture

The culture of Hubli is fascinating and captivating. The festivals, the events, the attractions, all reflect the culture of Hubli in one way or the other. Tourism has picked up in the last decade or so and the local people are generally quite friendly towards the tourists.

Special Rituals

Mondays being a special day dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple receives numerous devotees who offer milk, curd, and sweets to the Lord to seek blessings.

Additional Info