Lepakshi itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Lepakshi

1. 01

   Day 1: Lepakshi from Bengaluru

   Leave Bengaluru early on the NH44 corridor to reach the Veerabhadra temple soon after it opens. Spend the first two hours inside: the hanging pillar, the Natya mandapa ceiling, the Nagalinga and the unroofed Kalyana mandapa. Walk or ride about 200 metres to the monolithic Nandi and look up at the Jatayu sculpture on the rock behind it. Have lunch in Hindupur and rest before the drive back, or add a short stop at Penukonda if energy allows.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Veerabhadra Temple	2 to 3 hours	Moderate	Early morning in November to February, before the stone heats up
   Hanging Pillar	10 to 15 minutes	Easy	Morning, when the hall is quiet
   Nagalinga	10 minutes	Easy	Morning light, before the courtyard heats up

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Veerabhadra Temple: The paths are mostly level but there are some steps, uneven slabs and a dim interior. The stone floor becomes hot by late morning, and you walk barefoot, so go early and carry thin socks only if staff allow them. There is shade in the pillared halls but seating is limited.

Plan 02

2 days in Lepakshi

1. 01

   Day 1: Lepakshi, unhurried

   Arrive in the morning and take the temple slowly, spending real time under the painted ceiling of the dance hall, which is the part most visitors rush. After a break in Hindupur, return for the Nandi and Jatayu viewpoint in the late afternoon light, when the granite is cooler to stand near.

2. 02

   Day 2: Penukonda and Puttaparthi

   Drive to Penukonda for the fort area and the Gagan Mahal, keeping to the lower and more accessible parts. Continue to Puttaparthi for Prasanthi Nilayam and have lunch there. Return to Bengaluru or Hindupur in the afternoon, allowing a generous buffer for the drive.

Plan 03

3 days in Lepakshi

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive via Hindupur

   Drive from Bengaluru, settle in Hindupur, and see the Nandi and Jatayu sculpture before dusk. It is a light first evening that leaves the temple for a fresh morning.

2. 02

   Day 2: The temple in full

   Be at the Veerabhadra temple at opening time. Work through the ceiling paintings, the hanging pillar, the Nagalinga and the Kalyana mandapa, and sit in the courtyard rather than rushing. If you have a camera, check the photography rules at the gate first.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Veerabhadra Temple	2 to 3 hours	Moderate	Early morning in November to February, before the stone heats up
   Hanging Pillar	10 to 15 minutes	Easy	Morning, when the hall is quiet
   Nagalinga	10 minutes	Easy	Morning light, before the courtyard heats up

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Veerabhadra Temple: The paths are mostly level but there are some steps, uneven slabs and a dim interior. The stone floor becomes hot by late morning, and you walk barefoot, so go early and carry thin socks only if staff allow them. There is shade in the pillared halls but seating is limited.

3. 03

   Day 3: Penukonda and Puttaparthi

   Visit Penukonda in the cool early hours, then continue to Puttaparthi for Prasanthi Nilayam. Head back to Bengaluru in the afternoon or take an evening train from the Puttaparthi station.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Lepakshi trip for parents and children

• Go early. The granite courtyard and the open Nandi platform get very hot by late morning, and the temple interior is dim, so a cool start helps with both.
• Footwear comes off at the temple and the stone floor can burn. Carry thin socks if the temple allows them, and wear shoes that slip off easily.
• The temple is largely level, but there are a few steps and uneven slabs. A walking stick is useful and the ground inside is easier in daylight.
• Hire a car for the whole trip. Local transport between Hindupur and Lepakshi exists, but a car gives you somewhere cool to rest.
• Facilities in the village are basic, so carry water, snacks, medicines and a hand sanitiser, and plan your meal stop in Hindupur.
• Keep the day short: Lepakshi, a rest and one other stop is enough for most people over 65.

Lepakshi with elderly parents: the full guide →