The town's name comes from a story of a milkmaid named Marika. She was blessed with a son by Swamy Chennakesava. To honour this event, she built a small temple. Over time, a village formed around ...
The Chennakesava Temple in Somanathapura was established in 1258 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala King Narasimha III. The town was named after its patron, Somanatha ...