Melukote / Melkote, Mysore - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

About Melukote

At a distance of 50 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore, Melkote, or Melukote is a historical town located in the Mandya district of Karnataka. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, it is one of the popular pilgrimage sites in Karnataka, and among the best places to visit as part of Mysore tour.

The town is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Cauvery valley. The town derives its name from two words, Melu means top and Kote means fort. There are two popular temples reside in this town, one is Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the other one is Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple. Many more shrines and ponds are located in the town. Melukote is home to the academy of Sanskrit Research, which has collected thousands of Vedic and Sanskrit manuscripts.

History of Melukote

According to the history, the great Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya lived here for about 14 years in the 12th century AD and thus it became a prominent center of the Srivaishnava sect of Brahmins. The Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, also known as Thirunarayana or Cheluvaraya, who was installed by Lord Krishna. The utsavamurthy, or procession idol, of the deity is referred to as Cheluvapille Raya, with its original name believed to be Ramapriya. This idol was lost during the invasion of the Moghuls but was later retrieved by Ramanujacharya from Bibi Nachiyaar, the daughter of Mohammed Shah. The temple has enjoyed the patronage of the Mysore royal family, which has bestowed valuable jewelry upon the deity, including two exquisite crowns known as Krishnaraja-mudi and Vairamudi or Vajramukuta.

Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple is another major temple in Melukote and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha. Built on a hillock, the temple overlooks the town of Melukote. The main deity is in seated posture with the Yogapatta. It is believed that the idol of Lord Yoganarasimha was installed in the temple by Prahlada. The temple is considered to be one of the seven holy centers devoted to the worship of Narasimha. There is a Sanskrit Pathashala inside the temple that dates back to 1853. One has to climb nearly 400 steps to reach the temple from the foothills.

The town features three ponds, with two located at the foothills and one atop the hill. Among these, Kalyani Pond, situated near the Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, is the largest and is encircled by beautifully carved stone pillared mantapas. Rayagopura, located approximately 300 meters from the Cheluvanarayana Temple, is an intriguing site and a popular filming location. Also known as the Gopalaraya entrance, Rayagopura is an unfinished structure that leads to the Melukote hill, characterized by four tall pillars and looks similar to Mamallapuram Raya Gopuram. This temple entrance was built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and is said to have been built overnight.

Things to do at Melukote

Apart from being a pilgrimage place, Melukote has served as a hub of education, producing numerous literary figures, including Tirumalarya, Chikkupadhyaya, Alasingachar, and Narasimhachar. The Sri Vedavedantha Bodhini Sanskrit College, established in 1854, is among the oldest educational institutions in the area. Furthermore, an ancient library founded in 1935 houses a vast collection of books and manuscripts in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. The town is also home to several prominent institutions of the Sri Vaishnava sect, including Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt, Ahobila Matha, and Parakala Matha.

Another notable feature of Melukote is the Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established in 1974. This sanctuary is renowned as a haven for birdwatchers, hosting over 200 species of birds, as well as various wildlife such as wolves, jungle cats, leopards, bonnet macaques, langurs, and pangolins. Visitors can also explore the nearby temple town of Thondanoor, which is famous for its Nambi Narayana, Parthasarathi, Yoganarasimha, and Ramanuja temples. Additionally, Melukote is recognized for its high-quality handlooms, particularly in the weaving of dhoties and sarees.

Festivals of Melukote

The Vairamudi Brahmostava held in March - April is the main festival of Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and is attended by more than 400,000 people. The main event of this festival is the procession of Lord Cheluvanarayana Swamy through the streets of Melkote, which are decorated in his honour. In the procession the Lord's idol is carried on a golden garuda, along with idols representing his divine consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. The festival is named for the legendary diamond studded crown, the Vaira Mudi, the diamond crown which the Lord only wears during this procession. For the rest of the festival the Lord wears the Rajamudi, another crown studded with precious stones.

Melukote Temple Timings

Yoga Narasimha Temple

Monday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM - 8 PM

Cheluvanarayana Temple Timings

Monday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM - 1 PM & 4 PM - 8 PM

Melukote Entry Fee

Free Entry

Best Time to Visit Melukote

The best time to visit Melukote is between June and November, when the weather is warm and sunny. March is another suitable time to visit Melukote as this is the time to witness the famous Vairamudi festival.

How to Reach Melukote

Melukote is most conveniently reached by road. Situated approximately 133 kilometers from Bangalore and 51 kilometers from Mysore, the area is well-served by numerous bus services connecting it to these cities. Upon arrival, visitors have the option to hire a taxi or cab for transportation to Melukote.