Depart from Bangalore after breakfast and take a 2.5-hour drive to Lepakshi. Let your guide enthrall you, as they share myths surrounding Lepakshi with you. At your first stop, see India’s largest Nandi Bull statue.

Next, head to Veerabhadra Temple to explore this 16th century masterpiece of the Vijaynagara style of architecture. First, visit the section called Mukha Mandapa, which served as the dance venue and other cultural activities. Then, visit the Artha Mandapa, where the king worshipped and where the Garbha Griha houses the deity. Visit a unique wedding hall made of grey sandstone, where Lord Shiva and Lady Parvati were supposed to have been married in antiquity.

One of the highlights of Lepakshi is the exquisite collection of paintings on the walls of the temple. Appreciate the rich textile patterns, detailed hairstyles of people, and exquisite jewelry depicted in the paintings. As per legend, giants inhabited these parts and built the old section of the temple. Look for evidence left behind by the giants as you make your way through the temple, before returning to Bangalore.