SOMNATHPUR TEMPLES Location : South Western part of Bangalore Famous For : Historical Temples Distance from Mumbai : 180 kms from Bangalore Best Time to Visit : September to February

Somnathpur Temples in Karnataka – Divinity Enlivened

Somnathpur temples in Karnataka are the windows to the rich historical past of Karnataka. As soon as you lay eyes on these temples you will notice that there is an exceptional kind of stillness in the these temples making them eternal. Somnathpur is one of the most ancient village of Karnataka thus earning it a name of heritage destination. At a distance of 40 kms from Mysore and 180 kms from Bangalore, the rural town is famous for its splendid and grand Keshava temple that has been built in the Hoyasala style.

A tour of Somnathpur is suggested to all those who want to have a personal experience with the history of Karnataka.

Major Attractions of Somnathpur – Ancient Temples and More

In the south western part of Bangalore lies the ancient temples of Somnathpur that still carry the air of resplendence. Built in the 11th and 12th century, these temples are in perfect symmetry and are embedded with exquisite stone carving. Standing in the middle of a walled compound having 64 cells, the temples are stellar shaped and have carved pinnacles are stand on a raised platform. One of the most striking feature among these temples is that there are a number of star shaped folds on the outer walls and have beautiful carvings of gods and goddesses on the walls above the plinths. The temples have 16 distinct ceilings, each depicting different stages of a blooming plantain. The temples at Somnathpur are superior in architectural pattern and therefore attract huge tourist attention.

Kesava Temple – The Most Sacred Among All

Among all the famous temples at Somnathpur, Kesava temple deserves a special mention. This is the most popular among the Hoysala temples that was incepted in 1268 AD. There are three holy sanctums in the vicinity of the temple complex and housed beautifully carved idols of Kesava, Janardhana and Venugopala. Though the idols of Janardhana and Venugopala are intact, the Kasava stone idol is missing. The excellent architecture on this temple is symbolic of the master craftsmanship done by Mallitamma. The exterior walls of the temple are adorned with exquisite sculptures of Vishnu and there are images of 194 other idols as well.The Hindu mythological characters are sculpted on the walls of the Kesava Temple..

Reaching the Heritage Temple Destination

Due to is proximity to Bangalore as well as Mysore, famous cities of Karnataka, Somnathpur is easily accessible from all the parts of the country. The nearest airport is at Bangalore (180 kms) and is directly linked to many cities in the country as well as the world with regular flight. Jet airways and Indian have regular flights plying between Bangalore and other metros.
As far as railways is concerned, the nearest railhead is at Mysore, 40 kms away. Regular trains that take around 1 ½ hours, run between Mysore and Somnathpur.
Somnathpur is situated around 40 km off Mysore and well connected by road to Mysore and Bangalore, which is 180 km away. Small villages can also be encountered on the way.