Lakshminarasimha Temple, Haranhalli, Hindu temple in Hassan district, India

Lakshminarasimha Temple in Haranhalli is a Hindu temple built with three main sanctuaries connected by a central hall running through the building. The walls and pillars are covered with detailed carvings and decorative stonework throughout.

Three wealthy brothers named Peddanna Heggade, Sovanna, and Kesanna commissioned this temple during the 1230s while the Hoysala dynasty ruled the region. The building rose during a period when skilled craftspeople were creating temples throughout the area.

Inscriptions near the temple and in the village record that it was first dedicated to Kesava, another form of Vishnu, and only later came to be called Lakshminarasimha. The three sanctums hold images of Venugopala, Keshava and Lakshminarasimha. On the outer walls, turreted niches at the lower wall level carry panels of Vaishnava deities.

The temple sits roughly 35 kilometers from Halebidu and Hassan city, reachable by National Highway 73 and State Highway 21 through the surrounding area. Give yourself enough time to walk around and see all the details at a comfortable pace.

The building features multiple roof levels and small decorative domes above the side shrines that create visual interest in the layout. The carved friezes show rows of horses and elephants that seem to move across the stone surfaces.