Carving Of The Goddess Parvati At Keshava Temple, Somnathpur, India, 2008 (photo)

Somnathpur or Somanathapura is a small village located few kilometres away from Mysore; the focus of the place is the outstanding Keshena Temple, also known as Cassava or Chennakesava Temple; considered as a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture, this star-shaped temple was built during the 13th century AD during the reign of the Hoysala King Narasimha III; the monument surrounded by cloisters, consists of three accurately carved sanctuaries situated in the middle of a courtyard; the intricately rock cut images of gods, scenes of epics, ornate ceilings in the pillared hall make Somnathpur a must see place