Chennakeshava Temple, Turuvekere, Karnataka

Chennakeshava Temple, Turuvekere, Karnataka

Chennakeshava Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Turuvekere Town in the Turuvekere Taluk of Tumkur district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India. Turuvekere is a temple town housing Hoysala era temples and Vijayanagara temples.

History

Turuvekere was an Agraharam town (a place of learning) in the 13^th century CE. The temple was built around 1263 CE during the rule of the King Narasimha III of Hoysala Dynasty.

The Temple

The temple is constructed in ekakuta chala style and built on a semi-stellate base (semi-star shape). The temple consists of sanctum, vestibule, navaranga and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa (entrance porch) is supported by two decorative pillars with two parapets on both sides. The navaranga is a closed hall (mandapa) and is supported by four lathe turned pillars. These pillars divide the ceiling into nine highly decorated bays. The sanctum enshrines a beautiful idol of Chenna Kesava.

The sanctum has a 16-star pointed shikara (superstructure) with a decorative water pot (Kalasa) on top of it. The vestibule has its own tower (also called sukhanasi) which appears like a low extension of the main tower over the shrine. The temple also houses an idol of Soumya Nayaki Devi (Goddess Mahalakshmi). The exterior walls of the hall and shrine are decorated with turrets and miniature towers on half-pilasters (aedicula). Five horizontal moldings forms the base of the temple.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Turuvekere Bus Stand. Turuvekere is located at about 15 Kms from Aralaguppe Railway Station, 28 Kms from Tiptur, 28 Kms from Tiptur Railway Station, 32 Kms from Yadiyur, 54 Kms from Huliyar, 72 Kms from Tumkur, 124 Kms from Bengaluru and 146 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. Turuvekere is situated on Huliyar to Yadiyur route.

Location