01Three shrines on one platform
Somanatha, a dandanayaka of the Hoysala king Narasimha III, founded an agrahara on the Kaveri and named it after himself. Its temple, the inscription records, was consecrated in 1268. Three shrines open off one pillared hall, all on a raised star-shaped jagati that pilgrims walk round. Each has its own tower, still intact, which is rare among Hoysala temples. The western shrine held Keshava, whose murti is now lost; Janardana stands in the north shrine and Venugopala, Krishna with the flute, in the south. Cloisters with sixty-four small cells ring the courtyard.
02Signed by Mallitamma
Under many of the wall images is a short Kannada label giving the carver’s name. Mallitamma signed about forty; Baleya, Chaudaya, Bharmaya and others signed the rest. The base friezes repeat the Hoysala order of elephants, horsemen, scrolls and epic scenes, here with a long run of the Bhagavata Purana. The temple is no longer in worship and is kept by the ASI. In 2023 it joined Belur and Halebidu on the UNESCO list as one of the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas.
The life of this place
- 1268Somanatha Dandanayaka consecrates the Keshava temple.
- 2023UNESCO World Heritage listing with Belur and Halebidu.
About 35 km east of Mysuru; easy to pair with Talakad.
