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Somanathapura (ಸೋಮನಾಥಪುರ) is a town located 35 km from the historic Mysore city in Mysore district, Karnataka state, India. Somanathapura is famous for the Chennakesava Temple (also called Kesava or Keshava temple) built by Soma, a Dandanayaka (commander) in 1268 CE under Hoysala Empire King Narasimha III, when the Hoysalas were the major power in South India. The Keshava temple is one of the finest and most complete examples of Hoysala architecture and is in a very well preserved condition. The temple is in the care of the Archeological Survey of India as a protected heritage site.This is strictly a Vaishnava temple and there are no depictions of any forms of the Hindu God. Inside the temple there are three Sanctums in the west, south and north where the deities are Keshava, Venugopala and Janardhana. There are inscriptions engraved on a slab standing at the entrance, inside the temple, dated from 1269 to 1550 A.D. that detail the construction of the temple and grants made to it. It is an ornately carved temple of magnificent craftsmanship depicting Vishnu, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Ganesha, Rati Manmatha and Mahishasura. The ceilings and door jambs leading to the sanctum sanctorium are exquisitely carved. The material used for the temple is soapstone. According to the Mysore archaeological reports, it was built by the famous architect and sculptor Ruvari Malithamma who was well known for his expertise in ornamentation. The outer walls of all three shrines, their towers and Sukanasi are equally well decorated, making it overall a very well balanced design. The Ramayana is depicted on the friezes on the south wall, stories of the Hindu God Krishna on the rear and depictions from the epic Mahabharata on the north wall. The overall effect of the decorated towers, wall images and friezes is well balanced.