Chennakesava Temple Somnathpur

The Prasanna Chennakesava Temple at Somnathpur is one of the best preserved monuments from Hoysala period. It was built in 1268 by Somanatha, a General of Narasimha III the Hoysala king.The temple stands in the middle of a rectangular court, approached from the east through a gateway with an open portico. An inscribed slab set up here records Somanatha's benefaction.The temple is made of soap stone which lends itself easily to detailed sculpture.

The east facing temple consists of three shrines,each laid out on a star shaped plan,opening off a common mandapa that extends outwards as a porch.The shrines are elevated on a plinth that repeats the complicated outlines of the plan.Carved elephants project from deeply modelled plinth,and the basement of the shrines are animated with sculpted processions of elephants,horses and riders,scrollwork scenes from the Hindu legends.The walls above consist entirely of carved panels, set at angles to each other.They depict Vishnu in his various forms and incarnation, as well as other deities The Gods and their consorts are richly encrusted with tassels, jewels and crowns, they stand beneath flowering trees, or frames headed by ornate scrollwork,The main diaties in the temple are Krishna playing the flute is installed in the soth shrine , Janardana a form of Vishnu on the north shrine and Keshava in the middle shrine

An Old Photo of the Temple Taken at 1865 - 1875

Krishna idol  South Shrine

Getting There

The temple is 30 KM from Mysore you can hire a taxi from Mysore to Reach the place,If you are going from bangalore you can get a bus from Kempegowda bus stand Bangalore to Mandya from there you can get a bus to T Narsipur via Bannur, Somnathapur.If you are driving your self the route is 

Bangalore>Maddur>Malavalli ->Chamanahalli ->Kethupura->Somnathpur

You can also go through Kanakapura to reach Malavalli

You can also visit Talkad Temples,Panchalingeshvara Temple also built by Somanatha in 1268,This temple is very near to the somnathpur temple complex