The present study is an in-depth approach to unravelling the development of temple architecture in the region of Bangalore and Kolar districts of southern Karnataka The area selected for this study comprises the present Bangalore and Kolar districts, which historically and culturally was a meeting place of the Kannada Tamil and Telugu cultures.
Bangalore rural district is situated between 12" 15 N and 13 35 N on the one hand and the Longitudinal meridians of 77 05 E and 78 E on the other. Bangalore urban district is situated between 12 39 N and 13 18 Non on the one hand and the longitudinal meridians of 77 22 E and 77 52" E on the other Kolar district is situated between 12" 46" N and 13 58 N latitude and 77 21 E and 78 35 E longitude These districts are on the plateau with an average elevation of 600 to 1350 meters from mean sea level. The districts have ranges of hills which are spurs of the eastern ghats, stretching northwards with peaks like Banantimari betta, Mudawadi betta, Bilikal betta, Siddadevarabetta, etc. The Savanadurga and Shivagange peaks are another row of hill ranges spreading up to the Nandi hills. running across the Bangalore district.
The principal chain of hills is the Nandidurga range which runs north from Nandi as far as Penukonda and Dharmaravam in the Anantapur district. Nandi Durga is (4,851 feet above sea level) in Chikkaballapura Taluk, 31 miles north of Bangalore, Chennakeshavabetta or Chennarayanabetta (4,762ft) is five miles southwest of Chikkaballapur, Kalavarabetta or Skandagiri (4,749) is five miles to the north of Nandidurga Three important rivers, the Palar, north Pinakini or north Pennar and south Pinakini or south Pennar and several of their tributaries take birth in this region and flow in different directions. Papaghni, also called Vappillivanka, is a major tributary of north Pinakini. Chitravathi, another tributary of north Pinakini, flows northeast between Woralakinda hill and Bagepalli. Nangini hole is a tributary river, an affluent of Kurudumale hills near Mulabagilu. The Kundar river is a tributary of north Pinakini. It originates in Ujanibetta, west of Mahakalidurga in the Bangalore district.
Arkavati river, a tributary of the Cauvery river, originates in a well on the Nandi hills and soon after, enters Doddaballapura taluk of Bangalore district. This river flows for a short length of one mile only in the Kolar district. The region of our study forms a part of the Deccan plateau and the rock formations belong to the category of peninsular gneisses.