Archaeologists working in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved Vishnu temple dating back to the 11th-century. Attributed to the Later-Western-Ganga dynasty, the structural temple features a unique layout that bridges early Dravidian and nascent Hoysala architectural styles. The most significant finding is the intact ceiling of the main mandapa, which depicts the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu in exquisite detail.
Excavations revealed that the temple was buried under sediment for centuries, which protected the delicate chloritic schist carvings from erosion. Alongside the structural remains, several bronze ritual vessels and a stone inscription detailing local land grants were recovered. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated a comprehensive documentation process to study the iconographic transitions visible in the friezes.