somnathpur temple

This place... off the main route from bangalore to mysore ....not even properly sign posted(wake up call to karnataka tourism) ,is a must visit. An architectural wonder , from the Hoysala days are worth spending some time on. Be careful while choosing your guides......

The intricate designs on the temple walls & pillars keeps u in awe of the the cultural history and the skill if the team's who worked on the same. Deity @ Belur is very beautiful. Must visit place. On a sunny day, u may burn your feet as there's lot to see around the outer periphery of the temple as well.

If you are travelling to Mysore, Somnathpur (40 kms from Mysore) has to be there on your list of places to visit. While not as well-known as the other Hoysala temples in Belur and Haleibedu, Somnathpur temple can be still be considered as most complete or least damaged by other rulers.

This small exquisite temple has some of the most beautiful carvings of South India, far from the other Hosala sites. It is easily accessible, small enough to explore in less than an hour and the grounds are very well kept and clean. Not to be missed if you are in Mysore.

An hour to the east of Mysore is one of the most beautiful temples that we saw in two weeks in Southern India - and one that we could have missed if our guide hadn't 'pushed' the extra travel. In the late afternoon and with black and brahminy kites gliding overhead we had this beautifully carved temple virtually to ourselves.At a thousand years old there is only a little weathering and it is magical, if a little hot on the heels, to walk barefoot around walls. A good guide (and ours was) could take hours to go through all the various imagery cultured there.

This temple is breathtakingly beautiful.. totally unknown... non commercialized... extremely unique... stone carved into a temple.. it is very clean aswell.(maybebeacuse it is not easily reachable).it takes an hour to reach this place..through the countryside... be careful.. there is no cell phone connectivity in this area..therefore GPS is not reliable... the road is under construction with lots of potholes..the temple opens strictly at 0830 in the morning... the staff is rude and unhelpful.. but the temples are definitely worth a visit.

This temple is just amazing. The architecture is mind blowing. It is very heartening to see a huge Vishnu Temple with such carvings being rediscovered. A lot of good work has been done and still being done to restore this monument. A must visit place if you are in or around Mysore.We drove till here from Bangalore in a car. The road was good and the journey was pleasant.I will love to take my familt here if I get an opportunity.

A beautiful temple that is well preserved. Smaller than I expected and about an hour's drive form the city, it is nonetheless worth the visit.

It was nearly evening when we reached this place. The paling sky and the serenity of this place formed the perfect setting for a historical movie. The gates opened to a different era. Somnathpur is a place where history comes alive. Each stone has a story to narrate, of past glory of the Hoysala empire and the tale of battles and destruction. The aura is serene and calm. Each sculpture can be observed and studied in detail. For foreigners, there is a guide to explain the importance of the temple. It is a must see destination and people will fall in love with history.

the scale of the place had a great sense of ease. Beautiful sculptures and an atmosphere of welcome and respect. Loved it.

Somnathpur temples are located a little away from the highway and hence not one of the widely visited attractions of Mysore, but along side Halebidu and Belur, it's an excellent example of ancient architecture. Definitely recommended.

Wow.... very beautiful temple. Every family should visit this temple as a part of Mysore trip with out fail. What an architecture!!! We should spent time and leisurely view and enjoy each side of the temple and its architecture. There are 3 idols Keshava, Jandardhana and Venugopal in the temple.It is just 30km from Mysore. We started at 9.00 AM in the morning and covered Samnathpur temple, places in srirangapatna, brundavan gardens and reached back to the city by night. There is no fee to visit the temple.

The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest example of Hoysala architecture. The Temple's grandeur in design and sculpture ornamentation has very few parallels anywhere. The Temple was built by Soma, Hoysala Commander during the 12th century. The Temple architecture style follows Trikuta or Triple shrine model with three gopurams in one raised platform.The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple sculptures and carvings depict the tales of Lord Vishnu and his 10 Avatars. The Temple is famous for its ornamental sculptures and wall friezes which are rich in decoration and detail.The Temple is now maintained by ASI (Archeological Survey of India).So what's special about the Keshava Temple- Its a good example for Hoysala Architecture- The sculptures, wall ceilings and friezes are a must see for anyone interested in Temple Architecture- The disc plate circular pillars- Ideal place for Photography enthusiastsTips for fellow travelers,- The temple is situated about 32 kms away from Mysore City. Ideal route from Mysore is Mysore - Bannur (town) - Somnathpur - Nominal Admission fee of INR 5- No Fee for still Camera- Plan your visit in the morning to ensure a chance to see the interiors of the temple in good sun light condition (otherwise you may not be able to see the interiors and the ceilings of the temple in dim light condition)- There are no coffee shops or restaurants nearby with Mysore being the nearest city

Wonderful, highly detailed architecture. The grounds were small but pleasant and well maintained. Doesn't take long to fully explore, definitely worth a quick trip.

My partner and I were so impressed by our visit here. The grounds are well maintain and viewing the temple was a wonderful and humbling experience. Set aside a good few hours for spending time here and travel to and from. It was definitely worth it it was very peaceful. The trip from Mysore took about an hour and was nice and interesting in itself. We were lucky enough to have a chatty driver with lots of information to share about the area.