Visiting Adiyogi Chikkaballapur near Bangalore was in my bucket list since the time it was inaugurated in Jan 2023. I kept hearing that it is always super crowded by everyone who visited. This kept pushing my interest away as I don’t find it fun when I visit extremely crowded places. Finally, I decided to visit the Adiyogi statue near Bangalore with my family on a weekday in July 2024.
The word Adiyogi translates to the first Yogi. The first Yogi is Shiva who gave us the knowledge of the science of Yoga more than 15000 years ago.
How to reach Adiyogi from Bangalore
If you are travelling from Marathahalli, Mahadevapura, Whitefield, Sarjapur, Harlur or Varthur then I’d recommend you to take the Hoskote-Sulibele route which goes behind the airport. The distance is 72 km from Kadugodi but the traffic is less.
If you are travelling from anywhere else in Bangalore then you can prefer the Hebbal-Airport road route of 65 km which will take you to the Adiyogi statue in Chikkaballapur.
You can check the below picture from Google Maps to get an idea about the location from Hebbal and the nearby landmarks.
Mode of transport to Adiyogi
It is preferrable to either drive to the Adiyogi statue or to rent a taxi at 2.5-3k INR for 6-8 hours but if you would like to explore the public transport option then you can take a bus from Majestic bus stand platform no. 1A to Chikkaballapur. You get frequent buses to the Isha Foundation from Chikkaballapur bus stand.
My drive to Adiyogi near Bangalore
We drove down to Adiyogi with my family on a Monday evening. I combined my Adiyogi trip with a day trip to Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh. It can also be combined with a trip to Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple and Nandi Hills.
We reached the foothills around 4 PM. The roads were laid but at some places it was uneven and bouncy, and it takes good driving skills to reach the location by yourself. The views were beautiful and we were able to spot the 112 feet Adiyogi Shiva statue from a long distance as we were driving up the hill. The view of the Adiyogi statue from far felt like a bliss.
As we reached the entry gate, we noticed the huge parking space. It felt like the premise had space for thousands of cars to be parked at the same time. They charged Rs.50 for car parking on exit, which got auto-deducted through FASTag.
Note: It is recommended to park only within the Isha Foundation parking and not any other private parking space.
Also read: Kodaikanal – Travel Guide to the Princess of Hill Stations
Experience at Adiyogi Chikkaballapur
We placed our footwear in the shoe rack before we entered the Naga Mantapa. Since I went on a Monday, the crowd was extremely less and it felt peaceful with less commotion around. Many people were doing different offerings. We felt at peace within the Naga Mantapa.
Adiyogi Statue
A sudden sense of happiness and inner peace hit me when I reached the statue climbing the stairs next to Naga Mantapa. The 112 feet statue in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hills with a cloudy sky and cool breeze blowing on my face, told me that I was meant to be there at that moment. I enjoyed being there and so did my family, especially my then 9-month-old daughter who was crawling around. It was a blissful evening.
After we came down it started pouring cats and dogs. We took shelter in the Naga Mantapa when it rained and so did a lot of other people. Once the rain slowed down, we walked back towards our car. We decided to try out some food at the restaurants.
Restaurants at Adiyogi Chikkaballapur
There are only pure vegetarian eateries available within the premises as you walk towards and back from the statue. I relished chaat items, onion uthappam and coffee after our visit to the statue. Food was absolutely yummy, and pricing was reasonable.
Important points to keep in mind:
- Visit ONLY on a weekday for a peaceful trip
- There is no entry fee
- Paid offerings can be made within the Naga Mantapa
- Wear appropriate clothing as it is more of a spiritual place than a tourist attraction
- Ample parking space is available for 4 and 2 wheelers at Rs. 50 and Rs. 20 respectively
- You will have to keep your shoes in a stand before entering Naga Mantapa or the Adiyogi statue
- Currently this place is not differently abled/disabled friendly
- Bathrooms are available
- Restaurants are available
- Standard timing for the sound and light show is at 7 pm and the timing might change subject to rain
- No hotels to stay as of now near/within the premises
- Many facilities are under construction
- 1.5 – 2 hours can be spent if you aren’t involving yourself in any spiritual offerings
- The centre is open from 6 am – 8 pm
The 112 feet Adiyogi statue in Chikkaballapur near Bangalore is more of a spiritual experience than just any place of attraction. I would like to do this again, on a weekday 😉
Also read: Kumara Parvata Trek – One of the Most Challenging Treks in South India
