Temple Description

Located near Hosaholalu, in the Mandya district of Karnataka, India, the Lakshminarayana Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple featuring Hoysala architectural style. This three-shrine monument, dedicated to Vishnu, is renowned for its exquisitely carved plinth (adhisthana) that features panels from the Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana. It features one of the most exquisitely decorated Hoysala tower projections (sukanasa) that combines central Indian asta-bhadra Bhumija motifs with Dravida themes. The polished and jewelry-like carvings found inside the temple’s mandapa are also noteworthy.

About 60 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Hassan and 45 kilometers (28 mi) northwest of Mysore, the state’s cultural center and heritage city, is the town of Hosaholalu. The temple was built by King Vira Someshwara of the Hoysala Empire in 1250 C.E. It lacks a foundation inscription.[1] The dating of the temple is based on the style of the sculptures and architecture that compares closely with the contemporary Hoysala monuments at Javagal, Nuggehalli and Somanathapura.