Amrutesvara Temple, Amruthapura

T
he Amruteshvara temple (Kannada: ಅಮೃತೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ) also spelt "Amrutesvara" or "Amruteshwara", is located in the town of Amruthapura, 67 km north of Chikmagalur town in the Chikkamagaluru district of the Karnataka state, India. Located 110 km from Hassan and 35 km fromShimoga on NH 206, Amruthapura is known for the splendid Amruteshvara temple. 

The temple was built in 1196 C.E. by Amrutheshwara Dandanayaka (lit, "commander") under Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. It is located in an idyllic spot, in the close vicinity of the Bhadra River reservoir. During their rise to power in the 11th-12th centuries, the Hoysala kings created many important towns and cities (nagara) along the malnad (hill) regions of present day Karnataka where they built many ornate temples.

The temple is a fine example of 12th century Hoysala architecture with a wide open mantapa  ^]Surrounded by Palm and Coconut farms, the temple still has a well preserved original outer wall with interesting, equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has one vimana (shrine and tower) and therefore is a ekakuta design and has a closed mantapa (hall) that connects the sanctum to the large open mantapa.

It is medium sized Hoysala temple and compares closely with the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi inmandapa structure and size. The open mandapa has twenty nine bays and the closed mantapa has nine bays with a side porch that leads to a separate shrine on the south side. The shrine is square in shape has the original superstructure (sikhara) which is richly adorned with sculptures of Kirthimukhas(demon faces), miniature decorative towers (aedicule). Below the superstructure, the usual panel ofHindu deities is absent. The base of the wall has five mouldings which according to art critic Foekema is an "older Hoysala style".The Sukanasi, the tower on top of the vestibule that connects the sanctum to the closed mantapa (the Sukanasi appears like the nose of the superstructure), has the original Hoysala emblem of "Sala" fighting the lion.

It was on Monday, 30th Decemebr 2013, when we were returning from Sagar. It's about 

5km from the main road, Shivamogga-Bangalore...

Tuesday 31 Dec.2013