Why to visit Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple
It is one of the earliest known Hoysala temples constructed of soapstone. The temple is not built on a platform, as was common in later Hoysala temples. The main shrine faces east and contains a large picture of Lakshmi in the sanctorum.
In the temple complex, a communal hall is shared by four shrines that are positioned facing one another. Lakshmi, Shiva, Vishnu, and Kali are represented in the temples as both Vaishnava and Shaiva deities.
It is the only temple built during the Hoysala period that follows the chatuskuta (four-shrined) order. The temple has four sanctums in the four directions, each connected to the main navaranga by a sukanasi.
All of the towers, with the exception of the one on the Lakshmi shrine (east), are of the Kadamba Nagara type's straightforward stepped pyramidal variant. Dvitala vimana, the tower atop the Lakshmi shrine, is crowned by a square sikhara and a stone finial.
It's interesting to note that all four towers can contain the mahanasa projection, which is capped by one of the earliest representations of the Hoysala regal emblem—Sala striking a tiger. A stone wall surrounds the entire building, which has a porch from the south and a dwara mandapa on the north.
Doddagaddavalli was created in 1113 AD by Kullahana Rahuta, a trader, and his wife Sahaja Devi, who had the Mahalakshmi temple built during the reign of Hoysala Vishnuvardhana (1106-1142 AD).
Trip Duration of Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple:
30 minutes
Distance from the City Centre:
24.2 km
Entrance Fees of Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple:
No entrance fees required.
Timings of Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Temple:
This historic Lakshmi Devi temple is open daily from 6 am until 6 pm.