Somnathpur (Somanathapura)

Somnathpura can be covered in a day's trip from Bangalore. Somnathapura is about 175 kms from Bangalore towards Mysore.

Somanathpur which is in Mysore district, is famous for the Kesava temple. One of the last temples to be built by the Hoysala dynasty, Keshava temple is an archaelogically protected monument.

Somanathpur is named after the 13th Century minister, Soma, of the Hoysala King Narasimha III. It is a fantastic piece of art, with three identical shrines built on a raised platform.

The main diety is Keshava. There is no worship in the temple since the idols have been disecrated. Other deities include Janardhana and Venugopala.

How to get there?

From Bangalore: Take the Mysore Road and continue on towards Mysore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. It has been widened into a 6 lane highway and obviously a pleasure to drive on. It is about 180 kms SE from Bangalore. As you approach Mysore, after Srirangapatnam, you get a diversion for Somnathpura. Take that diversion and Somnathpura is about 37 kms from that point. En route, you will pass through a village called Bannur. However, the last 20 odd kms of the stretch is on patches of bad road. You can return via the same route.

From Mysore: Proceed towards T Narsipura and then proceed towards Somnathpura. It is just 40 kms or so from Mysore, but it could take upto 2 hours to traverse that distance because of bad roads.

Taxis can be taken from Mysore to Somanathpura.