Melukote Temple Town Karnataka: Day Trip from Bangalore
Melukote is a small sacred temple town in Mandya district Karnataka.
The town offers a calm and unadulterated green environment. A road trip, 135km, from Bangalore to Melukote will prove the contrast between the 2 places. Old houses, little shops, green fields by the road, farmers at their work; the sights were soothing to my tired nerves.
Melukote Temple Town
Other synonymous names of the temple town are Narayanadri, Vedadri, Yadavadri, Yathishaila and Tirunarayanapura. Every dynasty (Hoysalas, Vijaynagar Kings and Wodeyars) that ruled over this land revered and worshiped the temples here.
Today you will find that Iskcon has established a Vedic old age home and preaching center here in Melukote. There are moderate budget stay options in the town, thus Melukote is an ideal destination to add to spiritual destination.
Must See Temples of Melukote
While the town has several small temples, 2 must see temples of Melukote are Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and Yoganarasimha Temple.
Yoganarasimha Temple at Melukote
I suggest you visit Yoganarasimha Temple first if you arrive in the morning. The temple is on a hilltop and you have to climb several steps to the temple.
According to history associated with the temple, Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Balaram ji worshipped at the temple in different time zones.
Shared below are photos of the temple of Yoganarasimha. The temple is dedicated to Lord Yoga Narasimha. It is believed that the image of Yoga Narasimha temple at Melkote was installed by Prahlada himself.
Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melukote
This temple also called Thiru Narayana Temple, is built on rocky hills called as Yadugiri or Yadavagiri overlooking the Kaveri valley. As you enter, to your right you will see the shrine of the Narayana deity that is taken out in procession during festival time.
Divine importance of this temple town Melukote is due to an idol in Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple built in 10AD. One of the legends around this idol is that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna both worshiped this idol. Some sites mention Lord Rama’s son Kusha too worshiped this idol. For several generations on after that too this idol has been revered and worshiped.
This idol, Sampath Kumara, is taken out in procession during festivals through the lanes of Melukote. If you observe carefully there is a tiny idol placed at the feet of main idol just beside the processional idol Sampath Kumara.
Interesting legend linked to this idol:
Sri Ramanuja, the great Vaishnava Acharya, stayed in Melkote for 12 years. During this time, the processional idol was lost for some time and upon knowing that the idol is in the possession of the Muslim emperor, Muhammed Shah in Delhi, Sri Ramanuja decided to go there.
Impressed by Sri Ramanuja, Muhammed Shah granted permission to take the idol back to Melukote. The daughter of Muhammed Shah followed Sri Ramanuja as she was attached to the idol because she used to play with idol as a toy. When she reached the temple and saw the idol installed there, she collapsed in front of it and breathed her last.
Moved by her death and being so involved with the idol of Nayarana, Sri Ramanuja had an idol of her installed at the temple. Even today she is worshiped along with the main deities as Bibi Nachiyar.
The idol of Bibi Nachiyar can be seen at the foot of the main idol, beside the processional idol, Sampath Kumara.
Stories and legends always make a place very interesting, and past glories such as this makes it even more divine and glorious!
Architecture of Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple
Exteriors of this temple is very simple, but inside there is a huge treasure of carvings!
There are several shrines around Thiru Narayana Temple. Sri Lakshmi, consort of Lord Narayana is worshiped in one of them. Right in front of this shrine is the Hall of Pillars. Each of them carved differently with different themes and with such precision!
See the pictures in this slide show, each of them seems to a piece of poetry in stone by itself! Though some are damaged, the ones that aren’t looks unbelievably true!
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple Poetry in stone
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple Knotted stones
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple – Monkey Gods
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple – Lord Ram and Goddess Sita
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple – incredible stone art
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- Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple – dancing damsels
The detail and the depth and texture of this incredible temple blows my mind. It must have taken a very long time and many busy hands to create such a wonder.
A very beautiful temple and a clear blue sky in no 2.
Best wishes to you for 2012:-)
A beautiful temple!
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fantastic shots! happy new year to you as well!
thanks for dropping by @ explorerminded.com
Such a beautiful place Indrani 🙂
I want to wish you
a FANTASTIC GREAT LOVELY HEALTHY
and special for you
a wonderful travel year 2012 🙂
Hugs for you
🙂
I love seeing photos of the many many temples in India and reading about their history.
I enjoyed all your posts this year. Thanks and have a wonderful new year.
With such a beautiful building I forget to look at the sky !
The sky is a beautiful backdrop to the artistic architecture of the temple. Happy New Year.
Gorgeous shots…beautiful temple
Hugs
SueAnn
Arquitetura maravilhosa!!!
Que 2012 traga novos sonhos e novas alegrias!
Beijinhos.
Brasil
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¨¨¨¸.•°` BOAS FESTAS!!!
¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮FELIZ 2012!!!
Beautiful temple located majestically atop a hill.
Indrani, it is a lovely temple. Great shots, thanks for sharing. Happy Skywatching and I wish you a very Happy New Year!
Very beautiful temple. nice shot.
Beautiful pictures, I like that perspective, a magnificent temple, an architectural gem.
beautifully captured!
Love this place .
Very nice.. Melkote is one of my favourite places..Beautiful and serene place..
Our family deity (kuladeivam in Thamizh). My paternal grandfather was from Melkote. The roads… couldn't believe the roads when I went this year, used to be *terrible* when I was a kid. Decades ago that was! Looking forward to the promised post 🙂
A beautiful palace and yoga, I love them all. Great photos.
Incredibly beautiful temple, gorgeous blue skies and what a terrific post for the day, Indrani!! Hope your week is going well!
Sylvia
Wow a very beautiful place. Happy Thursday!
Fantastisch liebe Indrani…
Ich wünsche Dir und Deiner Familie von ganzem Herzen en guete Rotsch is Neu Joor 2012. Mögen Euch Gesundheit, Glück und Wohlergehen beschieden sein.
Herzlichst und liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz
Hans-Peter
It's a wonderful temple….good shots.