Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, Bangalore

As if making monolithic rock-cut temples is not complex enough, ancient Indian architects and stone cutters outclassed themselves when making the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in 9th century AD. The temple has been planned in a such a way that sunrays illuminate the shrine only for a short while in two periods of the year, including the time of the religious festivity MAKARA SANKRANTI.

The temple is also well known due to a unique phenomemon - every year in the afternoon of 14th January for some 20 minutes (from 4:55 to circa 5:15 PM) the Sun shines on Shivalinga.

This coincides with important local festival - Makara Sakranti - attracting thousands of people to Bangalore. This festivity marks the entry of the Sun into Capricorn - Makara - and is celebrated as a harvest festival.

Sunlight comes from the southwestern part of the temple, passes through an arch and two windows placed perpendicular to each other. Then the rays pass between the horns of the sculpture of Nandi bull and then illuminate the shrine.

Not all though know that the Sun shines on the shrine two times per year - from 13th to 16th Jaunary and from 26th November to 2nd December. In general the skies in this time of the year are clear.

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Watch the video of this event:

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