Teru Malleshwara Temple

Teru Malleshwara Temple is a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Hiriyur town, Chitradurga district, Karnataka, on the banks of the Vedavathi River. Built in Dravidian architectural style and attributed to the Chola period with later Vijayanagara and Nayaka additions, it is known for its ornate gopuram, pillared halls, and Shiva lingam. The temple is a prominent religious and cultural landmark in Hiriyur and hosts major festivals including Maha Shivaratri and the annual chariot festival.

Visitors can expect a traditional South Indian temple complex with a tall gopuram, pillared mandapas, stone carvings and a central sanctum housing the Shiva lingam. The temple is set within Hiriyur town on Car Street, surrounded by local markets and residential areas. Visitors can explore the outer courtyard, pillared halls, and sculpted pillars, observe daily puja rituals, and experience a calm devotional atmosphere. During festivals the temple hosts processions and a large chariot procession.

Teru Malleshwara Temple is attributed to the Chola period with later contributions during the Vijayanagara and Nayaka periods. The temple exhibits Dravidian architecture with a gopuram, pillared halls and stone carvings. Inscriptions and architectural features indicate its development over several centuries as an important Shaivite centre in the Chitradurga region.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Malleshwara and is a major religious centre for the local community in Hiriyur. It is the focal point for Maha Shivaratri and the annual Rathotsava (chariot festival) when the deity is taken in procession on a decorated chariot along Teru Beedhi. The temple reflects Shaivite traditions and local cultural practices of central Karnataka.