Melkote

Melkote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district , Karnataka , is one of the sacred places in Karnataka. The place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Cauvery valley. It is about 30 miles from Mysore and 97 miles from Bangalore.

History

Early in twelfth century, the great Srivaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya took up his residence and lived here for about 14 years (said so). It thus became a prominent centre of the Srivaishnava sect of Brahmins, who obtained from the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, who had become a follower of the Acharya, an assignment of the fertile tracts of land in the neighbourhood, especially of the Ashta Grams, on either bank of the Cauvery

Muslim Invasion

In the 14th century, the place suffered at the hands of Muslim invaders, who wrecked Dwarasamudra and it was at Tondanur(Tonnur) at the southern foot of the hills, that the Hoysala king at first retired. It was subsequently restored, in about 1460 , by Thimmanna Dannayaka, a chief of Nagamangala, who was an army commander of the Vijayanagar king Mallikarjuna or Immadi Prudhadeva Raya . The buildings must have been on a grand scale, as can be seen from the remains of the Gopal Raya gate on the South which are of immense proportions. In 1771 , the Marathas encamped to the south of the hill after their victory over Haider Ali at Chinkurli. The Brahmins deserted Melkote which was then plundered.

Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

The principal temple is a square building of large dimensions but very plain, dedicated to Lord Cheluva-Narayana Swamy or Tirunarayana . The utsavamurthi , which is a metallic image, representing the deity which is called Cheluvapille Raya or Cheluvanarayana Swamy whose original name appears to have been Ramapriya . According to a legend, this metallic image was lost and was recovered by Sri Ramanujacharya. The annual report of the Mysore Archeaelogical Department states on the strength of epigraphic evidence, that the presiding deity of this temple was alerady a well known object of worship before Sri Ramanujacharya worshipped at the shrine in December 1098 CE. and even before he came to the Mysore region and that very probably he used his influence to rebuild or renovate the temple. From the lithic records of the period, existence of Tamil influence and Vaishnava worship in the area are also evident.

The temple is richly endowed having been under the special patronage of the Mysore Rajas, and has a most valuable collection of jewels. As early as 1614, the Mysore king Raja Wodeyar 1578 - 1617 who first acquired Srirangapattna and adopted the Srivaishnava faith, handed over to the temple and the Brahmins at Melkote, the estate granted to him by Vijaynagar king Venkatapati Raya . On one of the pillars of navaranga of the Narayanaswami temple is a bas relief about one and a half feet high, of Raja Wodeyar, standing with folded hands, with the name inscribed on the base. He was said to be a great devotee of the presiding deity and a constant visitor to the temple. A gold crown set with precious jewels was presented by him to the temple. This crown is known as the Raja-mudi after his name. A legend says that on the day of his death, he was observed entering the sanctum and was seen no more afterwards. From the inscriptions on some of the gold jewels and on gold and silver vessels in the temple it is learnt that they were presents from Krishnaraja Wodeyar III and his queens. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III also presented to the temple a crown set with precious jewels. It is known after him as Krishnaraja-mudi . Vairamudi or Vajramukuta , another crown of great value, seems to be older than Raja-mudi and Krishnaraja-mudi and it is not known as to who gave it to the temple.

All the three crowns are kept in the safe custody of the Government and brought to the temple on specific annual occasion for adoring the image of Cheluvanarayana Swamy . The vairamudi festival, which is the chief annual celebration is attended by more than 400,000 people.

Yoga-Narasimha Swamy Temple

On the top of the hill is an impressive temple of Yoga Narasimha. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III presented a gold crown to this temple.

Library & Sanskrit College

The private library of his holiness the Yatirajaswamigalu of Melkote contains a large number of Sanskrit and Tamil works bearing on the Vishishtadwaita school of philosophy, a few works bearing on logic, rheotic, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, ritual, architecture, Panchatantra, Dharmashastras, Grihya and Dharmasutra and a god number of Sanskrit works. There are also few Kannada and Telugu works. There is also a Sanskrit college here named Sri Veda Vedantha Bodhini Sanskrit Mahapathashala which was established as early as in 1854 and which is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the state. Melkote has contributed many literary figures like Pu Ti Narasimhachar, Tirumalaraya, Chikkupadhyaya and Alasingachar.

Kalyani or Pushkarani

The temple infrasturcture boasts of a large pond called as Kalyani . The beauty of the steps leading to water and the mantapas built all around are such that it has been captured in many Indian films.

Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary

Melkote is also the location of the Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary. This Sanctuary was created on 17th June 1974 mainly to protect the wolf. Other mammals found in this sanctuary are jungle cat, leopard, bonnet macaque, langur and pangolin. It is also an ornithologist's paradise, with numerous species of birds indigenous to the area.

www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/ melkote .html

www.indiantemples.com/Karnataka/ melkote .html

www.mandyam.com/Place.htm

vedavid.org/ASR/

www.ramanuja.org/sv/temples/ melkote /

www.kamat.com/indica/hometown/ melkote .htm

Distance:-	150 km South West of Bangalore.
By Road:-	3 Hours. Distance by road from Bangalore is 150kms
By Rail:-	3 Hours. Nearest railway station is Mandya which is 40 k.m. away from Melkote.
By Air:-	Nearest Airport is Bangalore.
Route:-	From Bangalore One can reach Melkote from Bangalore by car/taxi, by travelling on the Bangalore Mysore state highway and reaching the Mandya town. Just after Mandya, there is a right turn which goes to Melkote. Alternatively, one can take any of the numerous trains that go from Bangalore to Mandya and then take a bus/taxi from Mandya to Melkote. There are some buses which go directly from Bangalore to Melkote. From Mysore There are buses that go from Mysore to Melkote. Alternatively, one can catch a bus that goes from Mysore to Tumkur (and onwards) and get down at a place called Jakkanahalli Cross. Melkote is around 5 km from there.
When to go:-	Any time of the year .
Tourist offices:-	Regional Tourist Office Old Exhibition Building, Irwin Road, Mysore. Tel 0821-2422096. KSTDC Transport Wing, Yatri Nivas Building, JLB Road, Mysore , Tel: 0821-2423652, 2425349. KSTDC(bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in
Where to stay :-	Lalith Mahal Palace Siddartha Nagar, Mysore - 570 011 Tel: 0821-2470471, 2470475 Tariff Range: Rs. 5,500/- to Rs. 30,000/-+Tax Regaatis Hotel No. 13-14, Vinoba Road, Mysore - 570 005 Tel: 0821-2428817, 2426426 Fax: 0821-421689 Email: sstar@sancharnet.in Web site: www.ushashriramhotels.com Tariff Range:Rs.4,500/- to Rs.9,000/-+Tax The Green Hotel No. 2270, Vinoba Road, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore - 570 012 Tel: 0821-4255000/ 01/ 02, 2512536 Fax: 0821 - 5126139 Email: thegreenhotel@airtelbroadband.in Tariff Range: Rs.1,950/- to Rs.6,000/-+Tax King's Kourt JLB Road, Mysore - 570 005 Tel: 0821-2421142 Fax: 0821-2422384 Email: kingskourt@gmail.com Web site: www.kingskourt.com Tariff Range: Rs.1,800/- to Rs.4,000/-+Tax Hotel Best Western Ramashree Hardinge Circle, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2522265/ 02/ 05 Fax: 0821-2565781 Email: mysore@ramanashree.com Web site: www.ramanashree.com Tariff Range: Rs.2,195/- to Rs.4,295/- +Tax The Viceroy Sri Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2424001, 2428001 Fax: 0821-2433391 Email: viceroymys@data1.in Tariff Range: Rs.11,075/- to Rs. 22095/- Hotel Palace Plaza No. 2716, Sri Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2417592, 2430034 Fax: 0821-2421070 Email: plazagroup@data1.in Tariff Range: Rs. 1,200/- to Rs. 15,000/-+12% Tax Hotel The Paradise No. 104, Vivekananda Road, Yadavagiri, Mysore - 570 020 Tel: 0821-2410366, 2515655 Fax: 0821-2514400 Email: hotelparadise@airtelbroadband.in Tariff Range: Rs. 975/- to Rs.2,700/-+12%Tax Hotel Siddharta No. 73/1,Guest House Road, Nazarbad, Mysore - 570 010 Tel: 0821-2522999, 888 Fax: 0821-2520692 Email: siddhartahotel@hotmail.com Web site: www.siddhartahotel.com Tariff Range: Rs. 960/- to Rs.1,460/- +17% Tax Hotel Prakash Deluxe Opposite Medical College, 1474 - Sayyaji Rao Road, Mysore - 570 021 Tel: 0821-2521676, 2529434 Fax: 0821-2431136 Email: alevurhotels@yahoo.com Tariff Range: Rs. 390/- to Rs.750/- +Tax Hotel Bombay Tiffanys No. 313, Sayyaji Rao Road Cross, Opposite Main Bata Showroom, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2435255, 2435256 Fax: 0821-2433105 Email: bambaytiffanys@yahoo.co.in Tariff Range: Rs 390/- to Rs.950/- +Tax Hotel Luciya International Near Dasprakash, No. 1771, Old Bank Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2420261 Fax: 0821-2420404 Email: muneernmk@yahoo.com Tariff Range: Rs. 450/- to Rs. 1200/- +8% Tax Hotel Darshan Palace Lokaranjan Mahal Road, Opposite to Regency Theatre, Nazarbad, Mysore - 570 010 Tel: 0821-2520794, 24258777 Fax: 0821-2564083 Email: madhu_sudhanraj@yahoo.co.in Web site: www.hoteldarshanpalace.com Tariff Range: Rs. 600/- to Rs.1400/-+Tax Ganesh Palace Inn L-17, Chandraguptha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2428985, 2421909 Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 850/ +Tax KSTDC Mayura Hoysala No. 2, Jhansi Laxmi Bai Road, Mysore - 570 005 Tel: 0821-2425349, 2425597, Tariff Range: Rs 650/- to Rs.1,000/- Hotel SCVDS Sri Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2421379, 2425161 Tariff Range: Rs. 450/- to Rs. 750/- Hotel Govardhan Sri Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2434118, 2429422 Email: stayhotelgoverdhan.com Tariff Range: Rs.400/- to Rs.972/- Hotel Dasharath No. 1159, Ramsons House, Near Zoo Garden, Mysore - 570 010 Tel: 0821-2449121 Fax: 0821-2563602 Email: emailramsonsmysore@yahoo.com Tarriff Range: Rs. 240/- to Rs. 750/- KSTDC Mayura Yatri Nivas No. 2, Jhansi Laxmi Bai Road, Mysore - 570 005 Tel: 0821-2423492 Tariff Range: Rs. 200/- to Rs. 550/- Hotel Ritz No. 5, B N Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2422668, 2429082 Fax: 0821-2435777 Email: hotelritz@rediffmail.com Tariff Range: Rs.484/- +Tax Hotel Aashraya Dhanvantri Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2427088, 2426570 Tariff Range: Rs. 350 above Hotel Chalukya International Rajkamal Talkies Road, Dhanvantri Road Cross, Devaraja Mohalla, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2427374, 2427197 Tariff Range: Rs. 225/- to Rs. 375/- +Tax Hotel Indra Bhavan Dhanvantri Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-423933, 423755 Fax: 0821-422290 Email:hotel_indra_bhavan@rediffmail.com Tariff Range: Rs. 170/- to Rs. 450/-+Tax Shree Krishna Continental No. 73, Nazarbad Main Road, Mysore - 570 010 Tel: 0821-447042, 449044 Tariff Range: Rs. 450/- to Rs. 1100/- Hotel Kalinga K R Circle, Opposite City Bus Stand, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-431310, 070, 091 Fax: 0821-431310 Tariff Range: Rs. 260/- to Rs. 312/-+Tax Hotel Tara Kempananjamba, Agrahara Road, Mysore - 570 024 Tel: 0821-427938 Tariff Range: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 400/-+Tax Hotel Gayathri New Gayathri Building, Opposite Railway Station, Dhanvantri Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-425654 Tariff Range: Rs. 312/- to Rs. 500/-+Tax Hotel Sangeetha No. 1966, Narayana Shastry Road, Near Udupi Sri Krishna Mandir, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-2424693, 2422424 Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 550/-+Tax Mysore Dasaprakash Gandhi Square, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-442444, 444455 Fax: 0821-443456 Email: hoteldasaprakash@sancharnet.in.co Tariff Range: Rs. 400/- to Rs. 925/-+Tax Park Lane Hotel No. 2720, Sri Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-430400 Fax: 0821-428424 Email: parklanemysore@yahoo.com Tariff Range: Rs. 200/-Above +Tax Green's Boarding, Lodging& Restaurant Harsha Road, Mysore - 570 001 Tel: 0821-422415 Tariff: Rs. 120/- Above +Tax.