Chennakesava Temple

Temple information

Darshan timings

09:00 – 17:30

Established

1268

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Deity

Deity form

Historically housed exquisite stone sculptural forms of Keshava, Janardhana, and Venugopala in its three sanctums (Trikootachala)

Religious tradition

Historic Hoysala / Pancharatra Agama

Sanskrit name

श्रीचेन्नकेशवमन्दिरम् (सोमनाथपुरम्)

Also known as

Somanathapura Keshava Temple, Hoysala Temple Somanathapura

Darshan hours

Daily

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM

Special days

Standard ASI visiting hours apply (no active overnight rituals)

Festival timings

Follows regular ASI timings (No overnight events)

Aarti & rituals

Ritual schedule

No active daily poojas or rituals performed (monument protected by ASI)

Special poojas

Available

Online pooja booking

No

History & heritage

Historical period

Ancient

Built by

Hoysala King Narasimha III and his commander Somanatha

Architect / builder

Renowned Hoysala sthapati (architect) Ruvari Malithamma and other master sculptors

Construction materials

Soapstone (Chloritic schist), which allowed for exceptionally fine and intricate micro-carvings

Historical events

Constructed in 1268 CE as a triad shrine (Trikootachala); damaged during historical invasions but meticulously restored by the British and ASI

Renovations

Extensively conserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Archaeological importance

Centrally Protected Monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) & UNESCO World Heritage Site (Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas)

Legends

Built by Somanatha to honor the supreme forms of Lord Vishnu; celebrated for master craftsman signatures carved into the stone friezes

Inscriptions

Multiple Sanskrit and Old Kannada stone inscriptions detailing the construction date, builder, and land endowments

Architecture

Architectural style

Dravidian

Architectural period

Late Hoysala period architecture

Structure

Trikootachala (three-shrined) temple set within a walled courtyard (prakaram) featuring a cloistered corridor

Floors

1

Gopuram

Entrance gateway features a porch leading into a pillared hall and the main star-shaped shrine complex

Mandapa

Closed and open pillared assembly halls featuring intricately carved star-shaped ceilings and lathe-turned pillars

Sculptural features

Exhaustive exterior wall friezes depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, elephants, horses, and floral scrolls

Artistic elements

Masterpiece bracket figures (Madanikas / Salabhanjikas) and finely detailed micro-carvings across all structural tiers

Construction technique

Soapstone block carving utilizing interlocking joinery and precision lathe-turning techniques

Unique features

One of the very few complete, intact Hoysala temples featuring signed sculptures by master architects like Malithamma; part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing

Festivals & events

Festival calendar

Visited heavily during World Heritage Week (November) and winter vacation months

Special celebration days

World Heritage Day (April 18) and National Tourism Day

Cultural events

Classical heritage lectures, photography exhibitions, and art appreciation tours

Annual events

Cultural heritage programs and historical illumination events organized by Karnataka Tourism

Peak crowd season

October to March (Winter and festive holiday season)

Visitor information

• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Restrooms
• ✓ Drinking water
• ✓ Shoe keeping
• ✓ Prasadam counter

Dress code

Traditional

Best time to visit

Early morning hours on mid-week non-festival days to experience a peaceful darshan atmosphere

Parking capacity

20+ Vehicles

Parking fees

Approx. 20-50 INR

Donation counters

Yes

Donation methods

Cash, UPI, Bank Transfer

Prasadam

Laddu; Pulihora