Lakshmi Devi Temple

Lakshmi Devi Temple is a 12th-century Hindu temple located in Doddagaddavalli village in Hassan district, Karnataka. Built in 1114 CE during the Hoysala period, it is one of the earliest known Hoysala temples and is notable for its unique chatushkuta plan with four shrines. Dedicated primarily to Goddess Lakshmi, the soapstone temple showcases early Hoysala architecture and remains an active place of worship and archaeological importance.

Visitors can expect a compact, well-preserved Hoysala temple complex set in a quiet rural village surrounded by fields. The temple has four shrines arranged around a central mandapa, with intricate soapstone carvings, lathe-turned pillars, and stepped pyramidal towers. The main shrine houses Goddess Lakshmi, while the other shrines are dedicated to Kali, Shiva and Vishnu forms. The site is open for darshan and sightseeing, with a peaceful courtyard and views of traditional village surroundings.

Built in 1114 CE by merchant Kulahana Rahuta and his wife Kalladevi during the reign of Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana, the Lakshmi Devi Temple is considered one of the earliest examples of Hoysala architecture. It is built of soapstone and represents an early stage of the Hoysala style before it reached maturity at Belur and Halebidu. Its chatushkuta (four-shrine) plan is rare among Hoysala temples.

The temple is an active Hindu place of worship dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, an incarnation of the goddess of wealth. It reflects the religious and artistic traditions of the Hoysala period and remains important for devotees and for the study of early Hoysala temple architecture and iconography.