LEPAKSHI

The closest airport near Lepakshi is in Bengaluru.
Hindupur (14 Kms) is the nearest Train Station to Lepakhsi.
Lepakshi is well connected by Hindupur and Bengaluru.
Timings: Everyday 6.00 am - 6.00 pm
The earliest reference to Lepakshi is in the Skanda Purana, which mentions 'Lepakshya-Papanasanah' amongst the 108 divya kshetras,important pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are quite a few stories regarding the etymology of Lepakshi. One legend invokes the Ramayana Jatayu, a vulture deity,sparred with Ravana to rescue Sita. He was wounded during the battle and fell to the ground. A distraught Rama,overcome by compassion, uttered the words 'Le Pakshi'-meaning 'rise bird' in Telugu. Another tale mentions that the name derives from 'lepa akshi (literally,'embalmed eye'), referring to a painting in the interiors of the Veerabhadra Temple.
Puranic legends attribute the temple to the mythical Sage Agastya.However, it was most likely built by Viruapanna,an officer in the service of king Achyuta Raya, and his brother Veeranna. The temple has about 20 inscriptions, of which the earliest dates back to 1583 CE.