Sri Vidyashankara Temple

Sri Vidyashankara Temple, built in 1338 CE over the samadhi of pontiff Vidyashankara, is one of the most architecturally remarkable temples in Karnataka. Constructed entirely of carved stone, it fuses Hoysala, Chalukya, and Dravidian styles in a way found nowhere else in India. Its twelve monolithic Rashikambha pillars, each carved with a zodiac sign, are engineered so that the rising sun illuminates each pillar in precise calendar order through the year. The central Shivalinga sits directly over the samadhi of the sage. Under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, the temple stands on a richly sculpted plinth with Dashavatara carvings along the rear wall.