This is another beautiful temple on the banks of the tank Dorasamudra. It is as far as five hundred meters (500mtrs) east of Basadi village. As per the tradition of the Hoysala architecture, the temple stands on a raised pedestal, and is girdled by bands of Elephants, Horses, lions, crocodiles, Swans and mythological stories, creepers and so on arranged in different tiers. In the front entrance there are the stone meshes of artistic work (Jalandra). On the other three sides there are idols of gods and demi gods.
The sculptural masterpieces of Vrshabharoodha (the ox rider) the Gajasuramardana (the slayer of the elephant demon), the Kaliyamardana (the slayer of the Kalinga Serpent) and others are exceptionally fine. Inside has navaranga containing beautiful round pillars and Bhuvaneshwari ceiling too. There are two sanctum which are both empty. Around the temple gardening has been done well. The Kalyani (Sacred pool of water) on the north - east corner has been completely covered up now.
Veera Ballala II and his younger Queen Abhinva Ketala Devi built the temple of Kedareshwara in 1319 A.D. This temple was praised by Ferguson two centuries ago as "Gem of Indian Architecture". He expressed that if this temple had been illustrated in any thing like completeness there was probably nothing in India which would have conveyed a better idea of what its architecture was capable of doing. Unfortunately portions of the temple collapsed more than 70 years ago and it was not possible to bring it to its original shape.
In the beginning, its Navaranga hall a smaller shrine on either side while over the main shrine raised a beautiful star-shaped vimana of smooth stone. The other walls, the tower, the doorway and the ceiling were more magnificently carved and the temple looked like a divine piece of jewellery than a building. The basement of the temple which stands on a high platform has a large number of sculptured friezes showing the marching of elephants, charging horse, lion, mythical animal, swans and finally designed creeper scrolls, they are all from stories of Ramayana,Mahabharatha and Bhagavad-Gita in a large sculptured band.
The upper part of the wall has nearly 180 beautifully carved images of various Gods and Goddesses. Those Gods and Goddesses stand under elegantly designed floral arches and some of them are finely shaped and finished. Inside the temple, we can see a few elegantly carved star-shaped pillars but the ceilings are of greater interest. Mostly they are some simple dances full of carvings. The doorway also shows a greatness of fine workmanship.
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