Hosa Kannambadi Venugopala Swamy Temple, Karnataka

Address

Hosa Kannambadi Venugopala Swamy Temple, Karnataka

KrishnaRajaSagara Dam,
Kannambadi, Karnataka 571455

Moolavar

Venugopala Swamy

Introduction

• Location: Hosa Kannambadi, near Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam, Karnataka, India.
• Architectural Style: Hoysala architecture.
• Construction Period: Built in the 12th century AD, around the same time as the Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura, Mysore.

Puranic Significance:

• Flooding: The temple was submerged when the KRS dam was constructed in 1909, and the village of Kannambadi was completely submerged by 1930.
• Resurfacing: The temple would resurface during drought years when water levels in the reservoir dropped, especially evident in the year 2000.
• Restoration Effort:
  • Khoday Foundation, led by philanthropist Sri Hari Khoday, took on the task of relocating and restoring the temple.
  • Initial plans were to shift the temple to Madhuvana Park, Mysore, but protests led to its relocation near the rehabilitated village.
  • Project Cost: Estimated ₹ 2.5 crore.
  • The new site is about 1 km from the original site, with water levels of 124.80 ft touching the temple walls during peak capacity.
  • The restoration was completed in December 2011 and has since become a tourist attraction.

Special Features:

• Original Temple Complex:
  • The complex was around 50 acres (20 ha) and 100 by 60 yards (91 m × 55 m).
  • The temple was symmetrical and enclosed by two ‘prakaras’.
  • The outer gate (Mahadwara) had verandahs on both sides, flanked by yagasala (sacrificial hall) and the kitchen.
  • The second mahadwara led to the inner enclosure, similar to the Somanathapura temple.
• Temple Structure:
  • The temple had a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), vestibule, middle hall, and mukhya mantapa (main hall).
  • The cell opposite the entrance housed a statue of Kesava (Lord Krishna).
  • The south cell had a statue of Gopalakrishna, which was a later addition.

Century/Period

12th century AD

Nearest Bus Station

Kannambadi

Nearest Railway Station

Channapatna 

Nearest Airport

Bangalore Mysore

Location on Map

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