Amrutheshwara Temple | Chikmagalur

Important - Please note that Mullayanagiri , Bababudangiri and Amruteshvara Temple can be visited either on your way in or out of Valley of Birds Homestay thereby saving you about 2 days of your vacation time.

Amrutheshwara Temple located in Tarikere taluk of Chikmagalur district is 900 years old and 45 km from Valley of Birds Homestay. Amrutheshwara temple was built in 1196 AD by Amriteshwara Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala ruler Ballal II. The temple is designed in a delicate, exquisite, and intricate style built using soft clay stone (Balapada Kallu). The base of the wall has 5 moldings which is an older Hoysala style and the entrance has an open Mandapa with many rows of shining lathe turned pillars that support the ceiling of the Mantapa. The Shrine is Star shaped with Carvings of Asthadikpalakas. The carvings referring to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are spectacular. The Lotus here represents Lord Brahma, the Chakra represents Lord Vishnu and the Nataraja in Tandava represents Lord Shiva.

At the entrance of the Sanctum Santorum is the carving of Shradula. Shradula is a mythological animal that has the body of an elephant, head of a crocodile and tail of a peacock. In the Sanctum Santorum the Shiva Linga is a Saligrama from Nepal and not a carved Shiva Linga found in other temples.

The entire temple structure reflects the grand architectural style of the Hoysalas and the ground plan is star shaped like other Hoysala temples with indented wall surface, built to secure sunlight to the maximum. The temple replete with splendid sculptures also has a wonderful image of Goddess Saraswati the Goddess of Arts and Learning in a sitting posture. This temple is noted as one of the masterpieces of Hoysala architecture.