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Melukote Temples

Melkote

About:
Melkote located near Mysore in Karnataka houses an ancient shrine to Vishnu, worshipped as TiruNarayana. This shrine is known for its long standing association with the spiritual leader Ramanujacharya. Melkote is also known as Yadavagiri, yatistalam, Vedadri and Narayanadri.

Melkote is one of those towns where we can find every nook and corner showcases our heritage and erudition. It is at an altitude of about 900 metres above the sea level.This town was once considered the knowledge storehouse by scholars and musicians. One can find that whole town life revolves around two main temples Cheluvarayaswamy and Tiruanrayana.

There is Yoganarasimhaswamy temple on a hill overlooking the main temple.There are numerous legends and myths attached to this place. It is believed that Rama, Krishna and Balarama worshipped here at different timezones.

Location info:
Address:Mandya is about 100Kms from Bangalore and 40 Kms from Mysore, on Bangalore-Mysore State Highway - 17.
District:Mandya
Nearest City:Mandya
Best time to visit: October- April
One can visit this place anytime of the year, en route to Mysore.

Climate/Weather:
Summers 220 - 400C. Winter 100 - 320 C.

History of Melukote Temples:
During the Saint Ramanjacharya's time the place was known as Yadavagiri or Yadavadri. It is also associated with Ramanujacharya, renowned saint. When Muslims raided the temples during that period, Ramunujacharya was instrumental in restoring the deities. It is also believed that one Muslim princess joined the saint and merged with the idol. Hence the temple also has an idol of Bibi Nachiyar.

Apart from the temples, this place has been a haven for Sanskrit scholars. There is a century old Sanskrit college and 28year old Academy of Sanskrit Research. In this premise lie the two 30f eet pillars, Rajdwara, a classified monument believed to be 1000 years old. Legend behind this is that the famous sculptor Jakkanacharya challenged his rivals to build enterance to Melkote in single night. Here rivals cheated by sounding the gong just past midnight when it actually supposed to sound at 5 am. Upset by this Jakkanacharya left the place leaving an unfinished pillar. To this day the pillars look unfinished and ravaged by time.

A celebrated sacred town built on the rocky hills named Yadugiri, where the great exponent of visistadvaita philosophy Ramanuja lived. The Chellapillai temple dedicated to Krishna & Narasimha temple constructed on the very summit of the rock are some of the striking edifices worthy of notice

Interesting things to do:
This place is also famous for its handloom cloth.

Interesting things to Visit:
50 Kms north of Mysore is this sacred pilgrim center know for its Vairamudi festival in March/April. More than a lakh visitors congregate here for the festival. This place is also famous for its handloom cloth.

Mobile range info:
 

How to reach Melukote Temples?
Nearest Railway Station:Mandhya
Nearest Airport:Mysore Airport
Road Transport:On Bangalore- Mysore Road one has to take a right turn after Mandya, go past Pandavapura and take on Melkote. Distance : From Bangalore 160kms, Mysore 60kms.

Nearest Visiting places:
Nagarhole National Park also known as 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park,' is located 94 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts

Nearest Petrol Pump:
Mandya

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation nearby Melukote Temples:
Mysore is a city that is visited by many tourists round the year. Due to its proximity to Bangalore, all tourists who to the capital city, also come to Mysore. To accommodate these many tourists, there are ample of hotels in Mysore. Major share of hotels in Mysore are above average and budget hotels. However number of luxury hotels is also quite impressive. The main hotels of Mysore are Hotel Ginger, Hotel Paradise and Quality Inn Southern Star. The most magnificent of all is the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. This heritage palace hotel is among the best in South India.
Lalitha Mahal Hotel

Things to carry:
Carry food from Mysore

Tips & Suggestions for Melukote Temples:
sacred pilgrim center know for its Vairamudi festival in March/April. More than a lakh visitors congregate here for the festival. This place is also famous for its handloom cloth.

Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:Mandya
Nearest Hospital:Mandya
Society/Community Phone Number

Melukote Temples Nearest Attraction
Sivasamudram Island
About 65kms, East of Mysore, you will find the tiny island town of Shivasamudram in Mandya district. Here the River Cauvery meanders to fall into cascading Shivasamudram Falls. This sparking waterfalls flows through the abundant sylvan forest of Karnataka in Deccan Plateau, plunges 320 feet into gorge into a spate, breaking into a cloud of misty foam. The falls are 893 metres wide.....more
Srirangpatnam Island
Situated on the Cauvery River, the island-fortress of Srirangapattana is famous as the former capital of the great kings, Hyder Ali, and his son, Tipu Sultan, the 'Tiger of Mysore'. The ruins of the magnificent fortress that stands here is the main tourism attraction.....more
Karighatta Temples
Karighatta is a hill situated a few kilometres outside the 'island' town of Srirangapatna. It is situated off the Bangalore-Mysore road just before Srirangapatna. The name translates to "Black Hill" in Kannada. The hill has a Hindu temple devoted to a form of Hindu god Vishnu, called "Karigirivasa".....more
Srirangapatna Temples
Srirangapatna also spelt as Srirangapattana, is city of historic, religious, and cultural hub situated in Mandhya district of Karnataka, just about 13kms from Mysore. A must see place on Bangalore- Mysore Highway. Here you will come across the entire town as an island enclosed by River Kaveri.....more
Srirangapatna Archeology
The river Kaveri surrounds Srirangapatnam , which is 16 km north of Mysore.it was the capital of Muslim Mysore kingdom, which was at loggerhead with the English and the Mysore king.....more
Bhimeshwari Sanctuary
The sparkling blue waters of Cauvery wind through rocks and ravines and fall off the Deccan Plateau to form the twin falls of Barachukki and Gaganachukki.About 35 kms downstream is yet another set of falls called Mekedatu (Goat's Leap).....more
Melukote Wildlife Sanctuary
Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Mandya District of Karnataka and is about 5 km from Melkote. Meant specifically for the protection of wolf, the sanctuary is divided into two blocks, namely, Mudibetta and Narayandurga. Deciduous scrub forest occupies the sanctuary.....more
Srirangapatna Historical
Srirangapatna also spelt as Srirangapattana, is city of historic, religious, and cultural hub situated in Mandhya district of Karnataka, just about 13kms from Mysore. A must see place on Bangalore- Mysore Highway. Here you will come across the entire town as an island enclosed by River Kaveri.....more
Hemagiri Falls
This place is located 8 Kms from KR pet enroute to Kikere town or Govindhalli. It is better to take the route back, in view of bad roads on the same stretch to reach Kikere town. The river is in full flow during monsoon and it is a treat to watch.....more
Shivasamudram Waterfalls
The Shivasamudram falls is a segmented waterfall since the river Cauvery branches into two separate falls - the western falls known as Gaganachukki and the eastern falls, Bharachukki. Shivasamudram falls is the second biggest waterfall in India and the sixteenth largest in the world.....more
Bheemeswari River
Listen to the sweet hum of the rippling river... Feel the chill of the water... and get to face her majestic beauty by riding down the river in a raft...The Cauvery is one of the most majestic and sacred rivers in the country. Flowing through the thick forests of Karnataka, this river is home to India's only protected fish species - The 'Mahaseer'.....more
Mahadevapura River
Mahadevapura is located in Mandya district of Karnataka in India. A great picnic spot which is quite far away from modern world. A famous spot for film makers shooting nature scapes -for this hamlet by the Cauvery, offers some of the prettiest frames for any cinematographer.....more
Mekedatu River
Mekedatu, in Kannada means Goat's leap, which is situated 98kms south of Bangalore. river Cauvery flows into a deep and narrow gorge, so narrow, that a goat could leap over it and that is how it got its name.....more
Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary
Located in Mandya District, Adichunchanagiri peacock sanctuary is covered with scrub forest and plantations. The altitude here varies from 770 - 1000 m. The sanctuary was established with the specific purpose of protecting the peacock.....more
Kokkare Belluru/Bellur Pelicanry
Kokkare Bellur (Village of Storks), a small village off the main highway between Bangalore and Mysore, is one of the few nesting sites in India of the spotbilled pelican. In addition, it is also home to hundreds of painted storks.....more
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam
Krishna Raja Sagara also popularly known as KRS is the name of both a lake and the dam that causes it.In 1924[1]. Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya served as the chief engineer. The dam is named for the then ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV.For information about the settlement near the dam and reservoir, see Krishnarajasagara.....more
Adi Chunchanagiri Temples
....more