Banashankari Temple

Banashankari Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Banashankari, an incarnation of Parvati, located at Cholachagudda near Badami in Bagalkot district, Karnataka. Situated on the banks of the Malaprabha River, it is regarded as the Kuladevi of the Chalukyas. The original 7th-century Chalukya structure was rebuilt in the 18th century in Vijayanagara-Dravidian style. Known for its annual Banashankari Jatre festival, it attracts devotees and tourists visiting the Badami heritage circuit.

Visitors can expect a traditional South Indian temple complex with a Dravidian-style gopuram, pillared mandapas, and a sanctum housing the black stone idol of Goddess Banashankari. The temple is set in the village of Cholachagudda surrounded by agricultural fields near Badami. Inside, visitors can observe daily pujas, lamp-lit corridors, and Haridra (turmeric) offerings. The outer precinct has shops selling coconuts, flowers and prasad, and open courtyards used during festivals.

The original temple is attributed to the Chalukyas of Badami in the 7th century, when Goddess Banashankari was worshipped as their Kuladevi. The present structure was largely rebuilt in 1750 by Maratha chieftain Parashuram Agale after the earlier temple fell into disrepair. The architecture reflects Vijayanagara-Dravidian style with later Maratha renovations, and inscriptions and traditions link it to the early Chalukya period.

The temple is dedicated to Banashankari, a form of Goddess Parvati/Shakambhari, and is revered as a Shakti shrine in North Karnataka. It is the focal point of the annual Banashankari Jatre held on the full moon of Pausha (January-February), which includes a temple chariot procession, cultural programs and a large fair. Devotees offer turmeric, jaggery and coconuts, and the deity is regarded as a protector and granter of wishes.