Melukote, Karnataka

Melukote, Karnataka

Melukote is a moderate place with decent climate and interesting surroundings. Basically it stands out due the temple location, the temple is built on a relatively small hill and dates back by few centuries.The temple is little different with the entrance and its way through the main sanctum, it appears to be back of the temple while going through the main entrance. It is less crowded most of the time in the year except for few festivals like Sankranthi. The deity worshiped here is, Yoganarasimha swamy. There is also cheluvarayaswamy temple to visit in the village down the hill.

Right Below the Temple Hill

Right Below the Temple Hill

Right Below the Temple Hill

Taking the Steps to the Hill Top

Take the Steps to temple hill top

Right in front of the temple.

Landscape of the land from top of the hill

Village Streets view

View from the top of the hill

Side view of the temple

Refreshing shops on the way to the hill

Refreshing shops on the way to the hill

A water body.

Travel: Undoubtedly the best roads. It is 140kms from Bangalore. However, takes longer time to reach the destination as one has to travel on Mysore road for a while which is bustling with traffic in peak hours. If one can start very early from Bangalore, one can reach in two and half hours else, it is definite three and half hours journey or even four. The route is much simpler as one has to travel on Mysore Road up to Mandya and keep on the mysore road till you are out of mandya and reaching an Arch. Just after the arch, you will find a right turn (very visible one with a sign board for Melukote) to Melukote. Once you take a turn and after a short distance, you will be taken by surprise at the quality of roads, I mean  pleasantly surprised. The roads are simply posing a foreign outlook. Below are couple of pictures showing the same. 

Once you reach Melukote, you must look for a left turn to reach the temple (better to ask someone). After you take the left turn, there are two options to climb the hill for the temple darshan. One is park your car right below and climb up the stairs to the temple, little tiresome, however whole place is covered with trees and so there is sufficient shade to keep you going on the stairs. The other option is to drive up the hill for half the distance (narrow roads for two way traffic in some places, but safe and preferable to drive when it is hot). Park the car where ever the road ends, in fact it ends exactly half the hill. It is said that, one will avoid 150 steps with this option.

Road to Melukote - after the leaving Mysore Road

Road to Melukote - after the leaving Mysore Road

Pumkin Fields.

One of the pumkins

Food: One can be free from worries of food availability at any point in time during the whole day trip. Restaurants are in abundance on the Mysore road and also in the Melukote village for afternoon lunch. One might stop over for breakfast at Kamat Yatrinivas besides Janapada loka which is 5 to 6kms from Ramanagaram towards Mysore, 5mins drive from Ramanagaram. Be assured it is the place to have breakfast as one can get authentic yet satisfying breakfast catering to all kind of tourists.

Kamat Yatrinivas

Kamat Yathrinivas

Lunch - The best part of the whole trip. Once you are in the village, one must take a left turn to reach the temple and instead if you carry on on the road for few hundred meters, you will find Subbanna Mess. This mess is actually a house where the food is served. The food is remarkable and more exciting is the experience. It feels you are in one of your relative's home and savouring the food.

Subbanna Mess road.

Melukote is quite known for its pulliyogare dish. It is a south india dish and made out of spices and tamarind. It is unbelievable, every shop at every corner hoards a "illi Pulliyogare Mix dorayuthade" in english, "Pulliyogare mix is available here"

I personally, feel it is the best pulliyogare one can find in south india. The pulliyogare mix is sold at nominal price in Subbanna Mess.

Adigas after Maddur.

While driving back home, one can halt at Adigas for evening snacks, it is worth it. This place is just after 3 kms from Maddur. Pictures are also posted above. 

Best time to visit: September to February - winter seasons.