ARLEGUPPE KALLESWAR TEMPLE

Gerard Foekama has a written a comprehensive treatise of Hoysala temples which was published in 1996. The Chennakeswa temple is dated to be built around 1250 AD by Veera Someswara ( 1234-1254 AD ). This temple is being off track is relatively less visited by tourists. The temple is known as Kalleswara temple which is sculpted from bottom to top with a central gopuram.

The temple is constructed with 16 star angles with a khalasa on the dome of the temple. The sculpture panels are basically depictions from Ramayan and Mahabharat the two epics from Hindu mythology. The interior sanctum contains the image of Keshav which according to Gerard is not an original image because it is too small. Probably it must be adorning some museum abroad and instead an image has been replaced in its place which is most likely.


We took a detour from NH 47 towards Turuvekere temple and from there we took the K.B.Cross road which touches the Tiptur road on state highway. Before K.B.Cross near Bansandra we took a left towards Arleguppe railway station which is approx 7 kms. We reached an old temple from the Ganga dynasty which it looks from the outset. It is a shivalaya which has been completely painted and the heritage look is totally whitewashed. It was a disappointment nevertheless but the heritage plan with the dried lake tank was a great location.

In the melee of rushing towards Amritapura, we missed enquiring about the main Kalleswara temple and missed it totally. Therefore I had to take the help of Gerard Foekama’s description of temple to an extent. But next time around it will make me more wary and alert to enquire with the villagers and priests to ensure that we don t miss any heritage temple enroute. As a bonus we were able to cover Kadari hillock devi temple which may not be of hoysala heritage but can be dated to the Wodeyar era atleast. It was a pleasant trek of 100 steps to the hillock. The monolithic rocky structure with water tanks on the rocky bed and a small devi temple with Nandi’s adorning the boundary walls is a rustic environs. If one is short of time he can bypass this temple because it may cut 30 minutes of precious time to cover Amritapura enroute Banavara, and Hirnellur

Ack : courtsey templesofkarn