In
Somnathpur, a tiny village on the banks of the Cauvery,
140 kms, south-west of Bangalore stands one of the last
and the grandest of Hoysala monuments - the Keshava Temple
built 740 years ago.
Frescoed with episodes from the epics on the exterior,
the temple is stellar in shape, with three profusely carved
pinnacles with a common Navranga. The three sanctums once
housed beautifully carved idols of Keshava, Janardhana
and Venugopala, two still adorn the sanctums in their
original form.
An inscribed stone slab, in old Kannada, at the entrance
stands like a milestone to eternity. From this inscription,
we know that this magnificent temple was completed and
consecrated in 1268 A.D. An annual grant of 3,000 gold
coins for the temple's upkeep and maintenance was sanctioned.
Somnathpur. Discover the sheer artistry of Hoysala
craftsmanship.
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