We were in Bengaluru, just vacationing, doing the usual city things, and then morning happened, the kind of morning where someone randomly says, “Should we just go?” And because Shiva nights have a strange pull anyway, we decided to drive to Chikkaballapur. Not for shopping, not for food and not even for sightseeing in the typical sense, but for Isha Foundation, the Adiyogi, and the feeling. And honestly, it turned into one of those days that feels stretched out in memory, like it was longer than 24 hours.
24 Hours In Chikkaballapura: Shiva Energy Up, Close & Personal
Visit Adiyogi In Chikkaballapur With Me
The day began with a car ride with music, jokes, and that easy vacation energy. Bengaluru was still waking up when we left, but about an hour and a half into the drive, something shifted as mountains started showing up.
Hills stood there rising in the distance, the road suddenly looking less urban and more…open. The air changed too, and it felt cleaner, cooler, almost like it had been filtered through trees, and what stood out immediately was how uncommercial it was. There were no shop boards, no constant cafés, and no clutter. It was just road, landscape, and silence. Which is also why, genuinely, if you’re going there, pack something to eat and drink. This isn’t the kind of trip where you’ll find five snack stops on the way. You go for the views and the vibe, not for food options.
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What Entering Chikkaballapura Feels Like?
At one point, we saw the board, and it had “The Abode Of Yoga” written on it, and it hit us: we’d arrived.
The entrance itself is beautiful in a grounded way. It is not too decorative and has earthy browns, muted greens, and wide open pathways. Huge palm trees line the sides like they’ve been standing there forever, completely unbothered by the people arriving for one special night. It feels intentional, like the place is designed to slow you down before you even step inside.
As soon as you enter, you’re supposed to deposit your shoes. Yes, you have to walk barefoot, which sounds simple until you’re actually walking on stone. In the morning, it’s fine. But if you plan to stay till night, and the festival of Mahashivratri almost demands that, carry socks. By evening, the cold creeps in through the ground. Also carry a light shrug or jacket, as the day is still pleasant, but the night gets chilly.
The First Serpent Motif Stops You Immediately
Before you even reach the main Adiyogi, you’re greeted by this striking motif. It isn’t a standard idol tucked into a corner. It’s designed almost like a box structure, something you can approach from all four sides, like a 360-degree greeting. That detail stayed with me as spirituality here doesn’t feel like one-directional worship, it feels immersive. Beside it was a drum-shaped figure, bright yellow with a black belt-like band through the middle. People stop there, it’s like the place teaches you how to arrive before you arrive.
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What Is Adiyogi Like In Real Life?
After that, you start walking. It is along a stony path, slightly uphill, taking you deeper into space. It takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on your pace, but it doesn’t feel like a walk you want to finish quickly. And then, suddenly, you see it, not fully and definitely not all at once. First, you see just the top of Shiva’s head rising beyond the landscape. And it genuinely looks like it’s coming out of the mountain.
You think you’ve seen it online, because everyone has. But seeing the Adiyogi statue in person is a completely different thing. It’s massive, yes, 112 feet tall, but the size isn’t even the main emotion. It’s the stillness it comes with. The face has a calmness that feels almost too quiet for something that huge. The crescent moon detail on the side of his head looks surreal against the sky, especially as the light starts changing.
You’re not allowed to go extremely close, but even from the permitted distance, you feel its presence. People around us weren’t even talking much, and everyone naturally lowered their volume. Right opposite Adiyogi is Nandi, Shiva’s companion, sitting in a quiet devotion that mirrors the entire atmosphere. It’s serene and balanced, like the space is holding itself together through silence.
Can You Chant And Meditate Here?
You can also visit the iconic temple called Linga Bhairavi Temple here. It hosts a red and fiery-looking Shiva motif, whose energy speaks directly to you. One of the most memorable parts was the temple space where chants were continuously playing:
“Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Shivaay…”
“Kaal, Kaal, Kaal Shivaay…”
“Shambho, Shambho Mahadevaay…”
And you can chant along. Even if you don’t know the words perfectly, the rhythm pulls you in. It’s hypnotic in the best way, but it’s not loud in a clumsy way, it is just… present.
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Is The Isha Foundation Food Worth It?
There’s a beachy, coastal vibe in parts of the complex, plus there is sand stretching out on one side, open skies, and that South Indian landscape feeling. There’s also a restaurant where we ate because we had to keep our energy up for the night.
The food is basic, it is not bad and not extraordinary. We had filter coffee, masala dosa, plain dosa, and a special tomato dosa. It did the job and fed us, but it is not exactly touristy or oh-you-must-taste-this kind of experience. This isn’t a trip you take for flavours, after all! It’s for the atmosphere.
As evening approached, the entire energy shifted. The sun started setting behind the hills, and people began settling in front of Adiyogi like they were preparing for something big. Almost like reserving seats at a concert, except quieter. We realised quickly that if you want a good spot, you have to sit early. So we sat, and the wait began. We talked and discussed Shiva, but not academically, just naturally, about what he represents.
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What Happens In The Divya Darshanam Light Show?
Then came the Adiyogi Divya Darshanam. The light and sound show begins in the evening, and it’s short, around 14 minutes, but it doesn’t feel small.
Lights and projections transform Adiyogi’s face. The narration carries you through the idea of Shiva as Adiyogi, the first yogi, the source of yogic sciences. For a few minutes, the statue stops being just a statue. It becomes a screen, a story, and a captivating presence. The crowd goes silent in the way people do when something genuinely moves them. It’s one of the most cinematic spiritual experiences you can have without it feeling artificial.
As soon as the show ended, everyone moved at once. Yes, thousands of people were trying to exit together.
It wasn’t aggressive, but it was massive. It took us 30 minutes to an hour just to find our way back and actually get the car moving. We ended up sitting in the car for another hour because the roads were so packed. Post that, too, we decided to stay along with the other cars and move slowly so that we could stay absolutely safe. We even stopped for some bhutta in the middle. We reached Bengaluru by early morning, and the morning felt brighter than usual. Maybe it was Shiva, my belief definitely says so!
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Cover Image Courtesy: Mahi Adlakha
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