Somanathapura Chennakesava Temple

Hello Everyone, My name is Goutham and today i am gonna tell you about my amazing journey to Somanathapura.

Temple: Somanathapura Chennakesava Temple
Temple Timings: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Entry Fees: Yes
District: Mysore
Town: Somanathapura

(There is an old saying "Some things cannot be understood by words,but witnessed"  and this destination is one of the kind)

Over View Of The Temple:

• Somanathapura is situated on the left bank of the Kaveri river.The Chennakesava temple was built in 1268 A.D , by Somanatha Dandanayaka, as illustrious General of the Hoysala King Narasimha III (1254 - 1291 A.D), and named after him.

Beautiful View In Front Of Temple Entrance

Main Entrance Close View

The View Of The Temple From The Hall With Inscription Rocks.

Main Temple

Inscription Written On Stone Slab:

• There are inscriptions engraved on a stone slab standing at the entrance, inside the temple, dated from 1269 to 1550 A.D. that provides the information about the construction of the temple and grants made to it.

Inscription Stone Slab At Temple Entrance

Deities Of The Temple:

This temple is a perfect example of the Hoysala style of architecture. 

It has three sanctums:

1. On the West side dedicated to Lord "Chennakeshava"

Lord Chennakeshava

2. On the South side dedicated to Lord "Venugopala"

Lord Venugopala

3. On the North side dedicated to Lord "Janardhana"

Lord Janardhana

Inside View Of The Temple (Pillars and Ceilings):

• It is an ornately carved temple of magnificent craftsmanship depicting Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganapathi, Rati-manmatha and Mahihasura.
• The  temple contains three cells,each cell consists of a Garbhagriha(innermost sanctum of a temple) and a Sukhanasi (An antechamber).

Temple Hall Surrounded By Lathe Turned Pillars

• The Ceilings and door jambs leading to the sanctum sanctorium are exquisitely carved.

View From Inside The Temple

Intricately Carved Figures On Ceiling

Outer Walls Of The Temple(Architecture and Design):

• We can see small and large images(idols)of deities carved completely around the walls of the temple each telling its unique story. 
• These images(idols)also gives us the details about the stories of 

The Ramayana
The Mahabharatha
The Bhagavat-Purana

The Platform Around The Temple Serves As The Circumambulation Passage

The Ornate Tower With Interim Kalasa

Close Up View Outer Walls 

Close Up View Outer Walls 

Musicians Playing Various Instruments

Marching Elephants

The Proud Lions 

Temple Corridor:

• The Temple has a beautiful corridor covering all four sides of the main Sanctum.

Beautiful Corridor

Damaged Statues:

• Just after entering the main entrance, one can see small shrines and monastery, defaced and damaged Jain and Hindu statues in the corridor.

Damaged Statues

Fact About This Temple:

• This temple is no longer used as a place of worship because the idols here have been broken and the temple was desecrated by the invading armies of the Muslim Sultanates.
• But the beautiful temple still charms visitors and reminds people of the magnificent artistic and engineering achievements of the era.

"Once in a life time do visit these places"

How To Reach Somanathpura Temple:

Somanathapura is well connected by road network.

• 134km from Bangalore(via Ramanagara, Channapattana, Maddur and Bannur)[km may vary]
• 35km from Mysore(via T.Narasipura and Bannur)[km may vary].You can get bus service from Mysore and Srirangapatna to Somanathapura.
• One can even travel via train(Check out the railway website for timings)

Near By Places To Visit: 

Shivanasamudra, Talakadu, Srirangapatna, Nimishamba.