- Best time
- October to March
- Nearest railway station
- Mysuru Junction (about 35 km)
- Nearest airport
- Bengaluru (about 174 km)
- Distance from Bengaluru
- About 174 km
- Ideal time needed
- Half a day
The temple
The Chennakeshava (or Keshava) Temple sits on a star-shaped platform inside a walled enclosure entered through tidy lawns. Three shrines, dedicated to Keshava, Venugopala and Janardhana, share a common hall and vestibule. Rows of identical elephants march around the base, and above them the walls are carved with scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas, along with images of court life under the Hoysalas.
The cloister around the courtyard has a long line of small cells, each framed by two pillars. Stand at one end and look down the row, and the cells seem to vanish into a continuous colonnade, a neat trick of geometry that most visitors walk straight past.
Why go
Crowds here are usually light compared with Mysuru Palace or Belur, so you can take your time with the carvings. Photographers, students of architecture and anyone with an interest in history will find it rewarding, and families enjoy the open grounds and shade.
Nearby places
- Talakadu, with its temples half buried in sand beside the Kaveri
- Shivanasamudra falls on the Kaveri
- Malavalli town on the route towards Bengaluru
- Mysuru city and its palaces
Best time to visit
October to March is the best season, with mild days that suit walking around the temple and nearby sights. Summer afternoons can be hot on the stone floors.
How to reach
Mysuru Junction, around 35 km away, is the nearest major railway station. Bengaluru's airport is the main international gateway and lies about 174 km away by road. Most visitors come by car or taxi from Mysuru. There are no real hotels in the village, so stay in Mysuru or Bengaluru. We can arrange a car for a Somnathpur, Talakadu and Shivanasamudra loop.
Places to see in Somnathpur
Also nearby
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