Chennakesava Temple
ಚೆನ್ನಕೇಶವ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ
Lord Vishnu (Chennakesava) · Hassan, Karnataka
✓ VerifiedHeritage★ 4.935,000 reviews8,000 visits
About the temple
Masterpiece of Hoysala architecture; continuously active for 900+ years Mental peace and liberation from cycles of birth
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 07:30 – 20:00
- Established
- 1117
- Best time to visit
- 08:00 AM (to avoid heat and crowds)
- Entry fee
- Free
Deity
Lord Vishnu (Chennakesava) · ಚೆನ್ನಕೇಶವKappe ChennigarayaSoumyanayakiAndal
- Deity form
- 6-foot tall idol of Vishnu holding Shanka, Chakra, Gada, and Padma
- Religious tradition
- Sri Vaishnavism (influenced by Ramanujacharya)
- Sanskrit name
- ಚನ್ನಕೇಶವ ಮಂದಿರ
- Also known as
- Kesava Temple, Vijayanarayana Temple
Darshan hours
- Monday
- 07:30 - 20:00 (Break: 13:00 - 15:00)
- Tuesday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Wednesday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Thursday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Friday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Saturday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Sunday
- 07:30 - 20:00
- Break timings
- 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM (Sanctum remains closed)
- Special days
- Extended during Vairamudi and Car Festival
- Festival timings
- Temple open late for processions
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 08:00
- Midday aarti
- 12:30
- Evening aarti
- 19:00
- Special aarti days
- Saturdays and Ekadashi
- Ritual schedule
- Pancharatra Agama
- Pooja timings
- Morning and Evening Sevas
- Abhishek timings
- Special weekly abhishekam for the Moolavar
- Special poojas
- Tulsi Archana, Vishnu Sahasranama
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- King Vishnuvardhana
- Architect / builder
- Dasoja and Chavana (Father-son duo from Balligavi)
- Construction materials
- Chloritic Schist (Soapstone)
- Historical events
- Built to commemorate the victory over Cholas at Talakad
- Renovations
- Maintenance by the Muzrai department and ASI
- Archaeological importance
- ASI Protected; UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Legends
- The main idol was originally found in the Yagachi river
- Inscriptions
- Over 118 inscriptions detailing grants and temple history
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- 12th Century
- Structure
- Ekakuta (Single shrine) with a large complex
- Floors
- 1
- Gopuram
- Vijayanagara style Rajagopuram at the entrance
- Mandapa
- Navaranga (pillared hall) with 48 ornate pillars
- Sculptural features
- 42 Madanika (bracket) figures with microscopic detail
- Artistic elements
- Friezes of elephants (stability), lions (courage), and horses (speed)
- Construction technique
- Lathe-turned pillars and interlocking masonry
- Unique features
- Narasimha Pillar (can rotate on its axis); Darpana Sundari figure
Festivals & events
Belur Car Festival (March-April)Vaikuntha Ekadashi
- Festival calendar
- Chaitra month (March-April)
- Special celebration days
- Saturdays
- Cultural events
- Hoysala Mahotsava (Dance and Music)
- Annual events
- Rathotsava (Chariot Festival)
- Peak crowd season
- November to January; Weekends
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Wheelchair accessible
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- ✓ Annadanam
- Entry fee
- Free
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- 08:00 AM (to avoid heat and crowds)
- Parking capacity
- 300+
- Parking fees
- ₹ 50
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI
- Prasadam
- Laddu, Sweet Pongal