The Chennakeshava Temple originally called Vijayanarayana Temple

Nikola Benin, Ph.D

The Chennakesava temple is a vaishnava temple on the banks of river kaveri at somnathapura built in 1258. Is a stunning example of hoysala architecture.

The Chennakeshava Temple originally called Vijayanarayana Temple was built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital, is in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from Bangalore. Chennakesava (which means "handsome Kesava") is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD.

1000 years old amazingly intricated "Dwara" of Chennakesava Temple at Belur, Karnataka . . Just notice the two pillars on either side of the door had lathe work on granite stone. Just Amazing !!! . . The temple was built in the early 12th century by the Hoysala ruler, Vishnuvardhana, when the town of Belur was the site for the capital of the Hoysala kingdom.