Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is a 13th-century Hoysala temple located in Javagal village, Arsikere taluk, Hassan district, Karnataka. Dedicated to Lord Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu, it is noted as a trikuta (three-shrined) structure built in soapstone in the Hoysala architectural style. Commissioned around 1250 CE during King Vira Someshwara's reign, it features intricate carvings, lathe-turned pillars and detailed friezes, and is protected as a monument of national importance.

Visitors can expect a compact, trikuta Hoysala temple complex built in soapstone, set in the rural village of Javagal. The temple has three shrines with a shared mandapa, lathe-turned pillars, intricately carved ceilings, and outer walls decorated with friezes of deities, animals and floral motifs. The surroundings are quiet and open, with a small temple courtyard. Visitors can explore the exterior sculptures, interior pillared halls, and observe active worship at the central shrine dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha.

Built around 1250 CE during the reign of Hoysala King Vira Someshwara, the temple is a classic example of later Hoysala architecture. Constructed in soapstone, it follows a trikuta plan with three shrines and is noted for its detailed sculptural work. It is designated as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The temple is dedicated to Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu, with Lakshmi, and remains an active place of worship. It represents the religious and artistic traditions of the Hoysala period and is valued for its iconography, craftsmanship and continued cultural use by the local community.