Hoysala marvel at Bhadravathi

Nestled in the old town area of Bhadravathi, the Lakshmi Narasimha temple is a gem in the crown of Hoysala architecture. Though it is not as celebrated as the temple at Somnathapura or splendid as the temples at Belur and Halebid, the Lakshmi Narasimha temple is an equally important work of Hoysala architecture.

The Lakshmi Narasimha temple is a trikuta temple i.e. it houses three sanctums. While Lakshmi Narasimha is the main deity, Krishna and Puroshottama are the other two deities worshipped in this temple. In the typical Hoysala style, the temple is built on a star-shaped platform. The outer walls are adorned with sculptures though they are not very intricate and most of them have been vandalised. Panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are missing while the shikhara theme which is glorified in Amrutapura is repeated here. Dancers and musicians have been sculpted in many panels. Bhadravathi is well connected by road and rail.

On reaching Bhadravathi, you can hire an autorickshaw to reach the temple. Bhadravathi is also home to other temples, including the Rameshwara temple.