Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura Mysore, Hindu temple in Somanathapura, Karnataka, India
The Chennakesava Temple is a Hindu temple in Somanathapura, Karnataka, India, part of the Hoysala group of monuments. The structure rests on a star-shaped platform and encloses three shrines, each housing representations of Janardhana, Venugopala, and Chennakesava.
The temple was commissioned in 1258 by General Somanatha Dandanayaka, who served under King Narasimha III of the Hoysala dynasty. Stone inscriptions on the walls record later repairs from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The exterior walls display detailed relief sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata Purana through horizontal bands of artwork.
The temple is located about 38 kilometers east of Mysuru and opens daily from sunrise to sunset. Regular bus services run from the city and make the journey straightforward for visitors.
Each pillar inside shows lathe-turned carving that recalls a time when craftsmen worked stone like wood. The horizontal bands on the outer walls tell episodes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata Purana in long sequences of relief panels.
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