Banashankari Devi Temple (or Banashankari temple) is a Hindu shrine located at Cholachagudd near Badami, in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, India. The temple is popularly called Banashankari or Vanashankari since it is located in the Tilakaaranya forest. The temple deity is also called the Shakambhari (Kannada: ಶಾಕಾಂಬರಿ), an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. The temple attracts devotees from Karnataka as well as the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. The original temple was built by the 7th century Badami Chalukya kings, who worshipped goddess Banashankari as their tutelary deity. The temple celebrates its annual festival called Banashankari jatre, in the months of January or February. The festival comprises cultural programmes, boat festival as well as a Rath yatra, when the temple goddess is paraded around the city in a chariot. Banshakhari is a form of Maa Shakambhari deviWhose temple is located in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It is also known as Shaktipeeth Shakambhari Devi. There are statues of Bhima, Bhramari, Shatakshi and Ganesha along with mother.

Historians have dated the original temple to the 7th century AD - the Kalyani Chalukya period to Jagadekamalla I in 603 AD (according to epigraphic inscriptions) who installed the image of the goddess. The present refurbished temple was built in 1750, by Parusharam Agale, a Maratha chieftain. It is also said that the original temple was in existence even before the reign of the Chalukyas who gave royal favour to the beliefs of the Vaishnava, Shaivaite, Jain and Shakta religious orders. They worshipped Banashankari as a form of Shakti, their Supreme Goddess. Epigraphic inscriptions mention that Jagadekamalla I renovated the temple with several additions. Another inscription in Kannada language on a pillar located on the northern side of the temple dated to 1019 AD, describes the bravery of the Rashtrakuta king Bhimadeva. The Deepa Stambas (lamp pillar) are seen at the entrance to the temple; the construction of these, as per an inscription, are ascribed to the warrior Ketimayya.

The temple was built initially in the Dravidian architectural style. The rebuilt structure is in the Vijayanagara architectural style. The temple is enclosed by a high wall on all sides. The main structure has a mukha mantapa (portico), ardha mantapa (entrance porch/chamber in front of the sanctum) and a sanctum topped by a Vimana (tower). The main sanctum of the temple has the image of goddess Banashankari deified in it. The black stone sculpture depicts the goddess seated on a lioness trampling a demon under her foot. The goddess has eight arms and holds a trishul (trident), damaru (hand drum), kapaalpatra (skull cup), ghanta (war bell), Vedic scriptures, khadga-kheta (sword and shield) and severed head of demon. The goddess was the Kuladevi (tutelary deity) of the Chalukyas. The goddess Banashankari is the tutelary god for Devanga Community.The Devanga weaver community in particular, holds this goddess in great reverence.Banashankari is also the tutelary deity of some Deshastha Brahmins.

There is a 360 ft (109.7 m) square water tank in the forefront of the temple at the entrance, which is locally called as Haridra Tirtha, a corrupted version of the name Harishchandra Tirtha. The pond is enclosed with stone mantapas (halls) on three sides.A pradakshina or circumambulatory path surrounds the tank. Lamp towers (Deepa stambhas) are seen in the foreground of the temple on the west bank of the pond and also at the entrance. The tower on the bank of the tank is also an uncommon guard tower which is "reflects the Vijayanagara blend of Hindu and Islamic style".It is called the Victory Tower.  Source : Wikipedia

Trasnport

By Road: There are many public and private vehecals available to reach Banashankari Amma Temple in Bangalore.The BMTC Bus Service is well connected all Bangalore city and reach to Banashankari or Amma Temple Bangalore.
By Train: The Nearest Railway station is Bangalore City Railway station.
By Air: The Nearest airport is bangalore Airport