Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

Architecture - The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Kannada Inscription, 1270 AD, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Mutilated statues, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Relief carvings on tiered (tala) superstructure over the shrine (vimana) , Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Lathe turned columns, inner sanctum, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Domical bay ceiling, Opening of a Banana Bud, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Vishnu playing the flute, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Vishnu playing the flute, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Hindu god Krishna playing a flute, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Venugopala, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Cow on the chest of Venugopala, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Intricate design on the ceiling, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Lathe turned columns, Elephants and horses walking in circles, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Hoysala Lion, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Wall relief, pierced windows and molding frieze, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Layers of the Base of the Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Wall relief, pierced windows and molding frieze, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Elephant base, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Horses, 2nd tier, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Boars, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Birds, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Viṣhṇu as Narasiṃha kills Hiraṇyakaśipu, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Garuda, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Vamana avatar, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Vishnu resting on Ananta-Shesha, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Varaha, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Krishna in his form as Venu-Gopala, fluting beneath the kadam tree, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Multi-headed. Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Soldiers fighting, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Soldiers going to war, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.

Varaha, Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India

The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 C.E. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.