Temple

Located in Aralaguppe, a small town in the Tumkur district, Karnataka, the Chennakeshava temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple was built during the rule of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Someshwara around 1250. The temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Architecture

Chennakeshava temple at Aralaguppe is a highly articulate example of Hoysala architecture. The plan is 16-star pointed (stellate) with a well design shikhara (tower) over the vimana (shrine). The kalasa on top (a decorative water-pot at the top of the tower) is missing though The tower starts with a topping roof which is also 16-star pointed and is followed by four tiers of square roofs, some of which still have their decorative kalasa. This is a ekakuta plan (single shrine with a tower) with the temple raised on a platform called jagati. The decorative plan of the walls of the shrine and the mantapa (hall) is of the "new kind", a plan in which the temple has two eaves. The first heavy eave runs below the superstructure and all around the temple with a projection of about half a meter. The second eave runs around the temple about a meter below the first. In between the two eaves are the well chiseled miniature decorative towers (aedicula) on pilasters. Below the second eaves are the wall panel of images of Hindu deities and their attendants in relief. The sanctum contains an image of Keshava (a version of the Hindu god Krishna) raised on a large pedestal.

Darsan Info

Morning 06:00 AM To 06:30 PM

Darsan Dresscode

Wear neat and good clothes and avoid shorts for men

Culture

Tumkur is primarily a city of colleges and other educational institutions along with heritage sites like temples. Pongal and Ganesh Chaturthi are the most revered festivals of this place which are celebrated with full fervour. A special dish made of rice is cooked on these occasions. People dedicate this sweet dish to God Surya. The Siddaganga Matha is a place of religious and spiritual Interest as is the Kote Anjaneya Swami Temple with its large statue of the Lord Hanuman. There are also many other places of heritage that can be visited in and around Tumkur.

Additional Info