Amrutheshwara Temple

The Amruteshvara temple is located in the village of Amruthapura, 67 km north of Chikmagalur town in the Chikkamagaluru district of the Karnataka state, India.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built in 1196 CE during Hoysala Dynasty. It was constructed under the rulers of King Ballala II. It is beautifully decorated with coconut and palm trees.

Amruthapura is also famous for a stone stele engraved with an inscription composed by the celebrated thirteenth century Kannada poet Janna. Janna was a court poet of the Hoysala king Ballala II and earned the title of ‘kavichakravarti’. Yashodhara Charite, Ananthnatha Purana and Anubhava Mukura are among is famous works.

The temple is in ekakuta style I.e. it consists of single vimana. The closed mantapa is attached to the one that is open, and is an overall medium-sized structure when compared to the other temples of Hoysala such as Veera Narayana Temple of Belavadi.

The temple houses a huge stone which has poem of Kannada inscribed upon it which shows the richness of poetry at that time. The shining pillar that holds the pillar is not only an example of Hoysala architecture but also the influence of Chalukaya artistry.

The balustrade of the open or outer mantapa, has over a hunder miniatures of temple tower-like structures as a design. Apart from these features, the temple has a total of 29 bays, with 25 of them found inside, while the other four are at the entrance.

The temple opens in the Morning 6 am to evening 6 pm on all days as well as public holidays.