Famous Temples in India

SRI KESHAVA TEMPLE

Somanathapura, Mysore, Karnataka, India

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The Somanathapura Temple, earlier known as Vidyanidhi Prasanna Somanathpura, is situated on the left banks of Cauvery River and it is about 35 km from Mysore. This star-shaped Hoysala temple-style structure with triple towers, built in the 12th century, is devoted to Lord Keshava and is often known as the Keshava Temple.

Keshava is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Here deity is in standing posture and playing a flute. The temple has two more shrines devoted to Lord Venugopala and Lord Janardhanathe.

Interesting Facts

Its an ornately carved temple of magnificent craftmanship depicting Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, Rati, Manmatha and Mahishasuramardini

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Lowest - October to February (27°C during day and 18°C during night)Monsoon season - August to September

transport connections

Name Distance Contact Number
Bus Stand Tirumakudalu Narasipura
10.4 KM 7760990034
Mysuru Junction
34.8 KM 139
Mysore Airport
40.9 KM 0821-2596802

Architecture

The Keshava temple is built on a start shaped raised platform with an outer Pradakshina pathway. The temple has a stellar plan with three shrines (Keshava, Janardhana and Venugopala) and Vimanas. The 3 sanctums are located West, South and North, one each for Keshava, Venugopala and Janardhana. The lathe turned pillars, which are a typical feature of Hoysala temples, are some of the finest. Then there are beautifully carved rock “windows”, you see in most Hoysala temples. Intricate ceiling carvings and design inside the temple and there are totally sixteen delicately carved ceilings inside each one of them ornate, with a different design.

This temple has 3 Antaralas and a Navarang mandapam. The stone slab with Old Kannada (Halegannada) inscriptions in the surrounding corridor, right inside the main entrance porch to the temple courtyard, gives details about the temple construction and upkeep. A total of 118 inscriptions have been recovered from the temple complex covering a period of 1117 to eighteenth century which give details of the artists employed, grants made to the temple and renovations. This temple is constructed with Soapstone (Green schist).

Temple Walls : The outer walls are covered in beautiful friezes of scenes from the epics, figures of Elephants, Horses, Chariots sculptures, Scene of Mahishasura's slaying is very close to the temple's main door, the ancient epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and other Puranas (Hindu mythology, legends and folklore), the classic scene of Vishnu and Laxmi relaxing on Adisesha. The section above this is covered with carvings of various deities, relief sculpture of Lord Narsimha and avathars of Lord Vishnu are also carved on the outer walls of the temple.

Read more about the history of Hoysala Dynasty in our Blog - Architecture Marvels of Hoysala Empire

History

Originally constructed by Somanatha Dandanayaka in A.D. 1268, a minister of Hoysala king Veera Narasimha Devarasa (Narsimha III) during his reign A.D. 1254-1291, the temple has two more shrines devoted to Lord Venugopala and Lord Janardhana. The village is named after the general and hence called Somanthapura. This temple is no longer used as a place of worship because the idols here are broken and the temple was desecrated by the invading armies of the Muslim Sultanate.

Read more about the history of Hoysala Dynasty in our Blog - Architecture Marvels of Hoysala Empire

Temple Timings

Day Timings
All Days 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM

Tours










Airports

Airport Name Distance
Shamshabad 40 KM
Lorem Ipsum 12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name Distance
Secunderabad 10 KM
Nampally 12 KM
Begumpet 6 KM
Lingampally 20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name Distance
MGBS 35 KM
CBS 28 KM
kukatpally 20 KM
Lingampally 30 KM
Uppal 35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Private Transport 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757

Local Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Local Transport 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757

Nearest Temples

SRI GUNJA NARASIMHA TEMPLE
 Tirumakudal Narsipur, Karnataka, India

Temple is also known as Dakshina Kashi

Distance: 10 KM
SRI SRIKANTESHWARASWAMY TEMPLE
 Nanjangud, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Temple measures 385 ft by 160 ft, with a total area of 50,000 sq.ft

Distance: 38.4 KM
SRI CHAMUNDESHWARI TEMPLE
 Chamundi Hills, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Temple is considered as one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas

Distance: 38.5 KM

Nearest Attractions

Museum REGIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
  Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Exbhits Biological Diversity and Life Through the Ages

Distance:30.9 KM
Boating KARANJI KERE BOAT RENTAL
  Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Lake it is spread across an area of 90 hectares

Distance:32.4 KM
Heritage Monuments MYSORE PALACE
  Chamrajpura, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Living exemplary of Mysore kingdom and undying spirit of its people

Distance:33.1 KM
Outdoor GRS FANTASY PARK
  Metagalli, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Spread over 34 acres bound to enthral children and adults alike

Distance:38.1 KM

User Reviews

SRI KESHAVA TEMPLE

Somanathapura, Mysore, Karnataka, India

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