Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura, KA
Somnathpur was earlier under the Chola Kingdom. In 1117 CE it was conquered by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. Later it was ruled by Vijayanagra Kings and Wadeyars of Mysore. An illustrious general of Narasimha III called Somanatha Dandanayaka established an Agrahara in Somnathpura and named it as "Vidyanidi Prasanna Somnathpura". He is the one who consecrated the Kesava temple. This temple is the most ornate and perfect model of Hoysala architecture. The temple stands on a high stellate platform and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard surrounded by pillared corridors with sub shrines. The outer side of the entire walls of the sanctum sanctorum are elaborately carved with sculptures. Unlike other sculptures seen anywhere in India here the name of the sculptor is engraved at the bottom of the sculptures. It is observed from this that it is Mallithamma is the sculptor who has carved maximum number of sculptures in this temple. Somnathpur is 36 KMs from Musore and 137 KMs from Bangalore and it can be reached easily by road from both these places.
