Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura

The Chennakeshava Temple, often called the Somnathpur Temple, stands in the village of Somanathapura in Mysuru district and is dedicated to Keshava, a form of Vishnu; its name means 'the handsome Keshava'. It dates to 1268 CE, when Soma, a commander under the Hoysala king Narasimha III, paid for its construction, and it is seen as a high point of Hoysala art. Because it was never substantially enlarged, it still shows its original plan.

The temple is a trikuta, with three sanctums for Keshava, Venugopala and Janardhana, raised on a star-shaped platform. Bands of sculpture run along the walls, showing deities, celestial figures, scenes from myth and glimpses of everyday life. The pillars and ceilings carry floral and geometric patterns, and a lotus medallion decorates the ceiling of the central hall.