Melukote is one of Karnataka’s
sacred spots. It is located in the Mandya district and is about 130kms from Bangalore, perfectly
fitting my bill, for a day trip on a bike. The roads leading to Melukote are
very good, with many rest stops & coffee shops in-between for breaks, hence
we recommend bikers to give this route a shot.
Like
Belur & Halebid,
Melukote also has some exquisite architecture, but unfortunately, only some ruins remain. It is well known for ‘Cheluvanarayana Swamy’ &
‘Yoga Narasimha swamy’ temples dedicated to these avatars of Vishnu. These temples, of course are still well maintained.. Melukote
also has an
academy
of Sanskrit Research, a
college & a library dedicated to this ancient language. It is said that in
the 12
th century, Saint Sri Ramanujacharya from Tamil Nadu , stayed
in Melukote for more an a decade, and in whom the Hoysala King Vishnuvardana
found a teacher in. hence we can see the unmistakable Hoysala workmanship here
as well.
The languages spoken here are
predominantly Kannada & Tamil, though you will find boards & directions
in English, as in any other tourist spot.
Other spots to visit within Melukote are
- Dhanushkoti: A small spring. It is said that that
Prince Rama (of Ramayana) struck a bow to the ground to find water for
Sita, and that the water he found still remains.
- Melukote temple wildlife sanctuary: A vast forest
area is located nearby, which was started to preserve endangered species
like wolves & Black bucks which gambol about freely inside this
reserve.
- Kalyani/Pushkarni: The temple has a small water tank
with elaborately built steps & mantaps.
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| Rayagopura |
- Akka thangi Kola: ‘Akka’ meaning big sister &
‘thangi’ meaning little sister, in Kannada. These are water tanks with
steps adjacent to each other, which you will find on the way to
Dhanushkoti.
The view of the temple & the
town is excellent from Dhanushkoti. Make sure you pick the right time in the
day to visit the ruins. Here are some pictures from my travel to Melukote.
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| View of Melukote town |
