Melukote

Melukote is a temple and wildlife sanctuary in Mandya, Karnataka, Southern India.

Village house in old Melukote

Village hut in lower Melukote

Understand

Melukote is a 4,000-year-old town near Mysore city. The buildings are simply amazing and the people follow the same 4,000-year-old Brahmin lifestyle even now. Eyesores like electricity, motor bikes and mobile telephones have affected this hillock also.

Temple Lodge at Melkoute

Talk

Even though the language that is generally spoken is Kannada, Tamil is also understood and spoken by many, English can also be used as people are well educated.

Get in

If you are travelling by public transportation, you have to alight at Jakkanahalli junction and get an autorickshaw for the last seven kilometer trip up the hill. Buses are also available every one hour from Jakkanahalli junction.

By bus

KSRTC operates buses regularly from Mysore, K.R.Pet and K.R.Nagar to Melukote.

By car

Melukote is 51 km from Mysore and It is 131 km from Bangalore. From Mysore, You have to go on Mysore-Bangalore Highway and after Srirangapatana, You have to take a diversion on the left and then reach Pandavapura and go straight for another 26 km to reach Melukote.

Get around

Upper Melukote can be covered by foot in one hour. Autorikshaws charge Rs.50 for dropping you in the upper temple and Rs.150 for wait and return arrangement. Lower Melukote is more spacious and filled with many ancient buildings. More natural scenery can be enjoyed by walking down the hill for a distance of seven kilometers up to Jakkanahalli junction.

See

• Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Upper Melukote (1 km). Very beautiful stone structure of unbelievable big area. (updated Oct 2016)
• Yoga Narasimha Temple, Old Melukote (1 km uphill). It's atop the hill. You can take a car halfway up and have to climb a few steps to reach it. All temples in Melukote are open till 6 PM. (updated Oct 2016)

Do

• The old buildings. The old buildings on the hilltop are so numerous that they cannot be counted in one stretch. Their beauty is beyond description and enjoying a single hut can take half an hour and their style cannot be captured in your modern camera. People here appear to have frozen into a lifestyle that is thousands of years old and their architectural tastes match with their way of life. (updated Oct 2016)

Eat

Melukote is famous for Puliyogare, A south Indian food made with Rice, Tamarind and Ground nuts. You can buy Puliyogare gojju from any Iyengar shop which can be mixed with rice to prepare a quick snack at home.

• Subbanna Mess, Upper Melukote (1 km). Rs.100 for a Rs.50 level lunch. You are not allowed to eat in peace as the owner constantly observes you and intervenes giving directions for proper ancient way of eating. (updated Oct 2016)
• Annapoorna Mess, Near Yedhushala Bookstall (1 km). Rs.60 for vegetarian lunch on stiched leaves. (updated Oct 2016)
• Shree Nidhi Restaurant, KSRTC bus station (2 km). (updated Oct 2016)
• KSRTC Canteen, KSRTC Bus Station (1 km from the temple). Only snacks, cool drinks and juice items are available. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• Bagur Yathri Nivas, Upper Melukote (1 km). Roof level ventilators give light and keep away cold winds. Simple accommodations. ₹500 for rooms without bath with only bed and no windows. (updated Oct 2016)
• Yadhugiri Guest House, Near Upper Temple (1 km), ☎ [phone], [phone]. Rs.650. (updated Dec 2018)

Stay safe

Melukote is a safe place with police station and no robbers around.

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