Melkote

Melkote can be simply called a town of hymn and religious fervor. With a history of over 100 years this town near Mysore is considered as one of the most sacred places in Karnataka.

Most of the pilgrimage centers in the country are located in quite and serene places away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Melkote is also situated at an altitude of 900 meters where you have to reach through not-so-good ways. It is about 30 Miles from Mysore, you can avail a taxi or bus from the main city centers at Mysore and Bangalore. One can also vail a train from Bangalore which will take you to Mandya village, Melkote.

As you drive away from Mysore, Karanatka towards Melkote, the landscape undergoes curious changes, from lush green paddy fields to steep rocky formations. The common myth behind placing a temple onto the top of the hill means was to keep divinity over and above the human race. The sacred place of Melkote, near Mysore just does the same. It has two renowned temples that have attracted tourists and pilgrims from round the globe. The Tirunarayana temple or CheluvaNarayanaSwamy temple is placed at the foothills. The other temple dedicated to Yoga Narasimha on the hilltop is one of the oldest in its kind.

The Yoga Narasimha temple offers a panoramic view of the cityscape on a bright sunny day. The temple is built in a characteristic South Indian style with huge doors and vertically ascending roofs narrowing down to the top. Crafted out of stones, the temple is a marvel of architecture. The idol of Lord Narasimha, the half-man half-lion reincarnation of Lord Vishnu inspires awe and reverence in the mind of the visitors. The underground cave through dark carved steps exudes a sense of eeriness and mystery. You immediately feel the solemn sacredness of the place. The deity is worshiped for about 900 years in this temple, which speaks for the long heritage of it.

The lower temple situated at the foot of the hills has a relatively larger structure but is plainer in design than the Yoga Narasimha temple. The image of the presiding deity is hugely adorned because of the patronizing of Wodeyar kings. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III dedicated to the deity a gold crown with precious jewels. An annual procession is held every year which attracts thousands of devotees from all parts of the world.

Melkote would surely find a place in the itinerary of the tourists planning excursions from Mysore.