Somnathpur is where the outstanding, intricately carved 13th century Hoysala Sri Channakesava Temple is located. Somnathpur is 35km east of Mysore and 138km west of Bangalore.

Sri Channa Keshava Temple
This beautiful temple has some of the most magnificent carvings that you will find in India. There are excellent sculptures of scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Hoysala general Somnath, who served under Narasimha II, built it in 1268. The temple is made of soapstone, which is very easy to carve in extreme detail.

There is a life-sized 2m (6 ft) bronze Deity of Lord Krishna as “Prasanna Channa Kesava” on the south altar, and a Deity of Janardan (Vishnu) on the north altar. There is also a more recent Deity of Venugopala in the west shrine. North of the temple is a 10m (33 ft) high stone pillar. The temple has beautiful domed ceilings and intricate carvings all over the buildings, including sculptures of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations. There are six rows of carvings around the outside of the temple. On the bottom are elephants, then horses, flowers, crocodiles, lions, and geese. Open 9 am to 5.30 pm.

Practicalities
The temple takes about an hour to see. To get to Somnathpur by public bus from Mysore, go either to Bannur (2km north) or Narsipur (1 hr, 10km south) and change buses to Somnathpur (20 min).
Next to the temple is the KSTDC Hotel Mayura Keshava (7017), which has good rooms with bath for Rs 80/135. It has a basic restaurant.

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