Melukote

Date: 28-Jun-14
This was a suddenly planned trip and also my first journey from Mysore. We discussed a possible visit to Melukote at my sister-in-law’s home. However, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law were not interested as they had already visited the place. My mother-in-law could not join us due to leg pain, as the trip involved climbing steps. Fortunately, my father-in-law and Ayush were ready to come along. So, the four of us decided to proceed with the plan.

We started around 4:15 PM with an initial plan to visit KRS Dam first and then head to Melukote. Since Thilak had seen KRS only during childhood, we decided to take that longer route. However, our journey did not go as expected. The road we initially took was closed, and we had to ask locals for directions. The alternate route they suggested was not a proper road at all. It was more like an open stretch of ground but since several vehicles were using it, we continued confidently.

Once we reached a proper tar road, confusion began. Thilak suggested going left, while both my father-in-law and I insisted that the right route would lead to KRS. Trusting our confidence, Thilak followed our suggestion without checking GPS. Later, we realized we were wrong. The route actually led us to Srirangapatna, which was close to our starting point. What was meant to be a short detour had already cost us nearly an hour, and we had to give up the idea of visiting KRS.

From Srirangapatna, we took the direct route to Melukote, which took about an hour. Thankfully, this stretch of road was beautiful—surrounded by lush green fields and open landscapes that made the drive truly enjoyable.

Exploring Melukote

We reached Melukote around 6:00 PM. Since it was getting late, we were slightly worried about temple closing times. We first parked near the Kalyani and checked the timings.

We were relieved to hear that Yoga Narasimha Temple on the hill would remain open until 7:00 PM, while Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple would open at 7:00 PM. We still had enough time to explore both.

The beautiful kalyani

We spent a few peaceful moments near the Kalyani, a historic and iconic step pond in Karnataka, often featured in films. The structure known as Pushkarini was large, calm, and visually striking. After taking a few photographs, we headed towards the hilltop Yoga Narasimha Temple.

Yoga Narasimha Temple

We were glad to know that vehicles could go halfway up the hill. From there, we climbed the remaining steps.The view from the top was breathtaking. The entire landscape around the hill was visible, and the evening light made the scenery even more beautiful. We spent some time enjoying the view before visiting the ancient temple.

The Yoga Narasimha Temple was old, serene, and spiritually uplifting. After a peaceful darshan and some quiet moments inside the temple, we began our descent and returned to the Kalyani area by around 7:00 PM.

Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

Next, we proceeded to the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple located at the base of the hill. The temple surroundings were beautifully maintained and even more impressive than expected. The structure was grand, and the atmosphere felt vibrant with devotees.

We waited in the queue and were able to enter for darshan around 7:20 PM. Inside, the intricate carvings on each pillar were truly remarkable. Every detail reflected exceptional craftsmanship. After completing our visit, we stepped out feeling satisfied and peaceful.

Since Melukote is famous for puliyogare, we bought puliyogare powder as well as ready-made puliyogare to taste. As expected, it was delicious and lived up to its reputation.

Travel snapshot

By around 8:00 PM, we started our return journey and reached home at approximately 9:30 PM. The scenic drive, the unexpected detours, the serene temples, and the peaceful evening atmosphere made this a memorable short trip.

• Route Travelled: Mysore Home > Srirangapatna > Melukote
• Total distance (To & Fro): 115 km
• Mileage (Car): 22 km/l
• Fuel expense: 408 Rs
• Total expense: 618 Rs

Route map