Yoga Narasimha Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Melkote is about 51 km from Mysuru and 133 km from Bengaluru.

Why devotees come here

Yoga Narasimha Temple stands in Melkote, a pilgrimage town on a rocky hilltop in Mandya district, Karnataka. The town is also spelled Melukote. The temple is dedicated to Narasimha, and the town was once a spiritual retreat for Sri Ramanujacharya.

Melkote is a pilgrimage town on a rocky hilltop in Mandya district, Karnataka, and it is one of the sacred places in the state. Karnataka Tourism describes it as a place known for its scholarly traditions and its Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple. The Yoga Narasimha Temple is dedicated to Narasimha and stands in the same town. The village and the historic place both carry the name Melukote.

Sri Ramanujacharya once made Melkote a spiritual retreat. The town still keeps ancient chants and timeless rituals. Its streets are lined with agraharas, the traditional homes of Brahmin families. Karnataka Tourism lists November to March as the best time to visit.

A Kalyani, a sacred tank, lies near the temple and adds to the town's old-world charm. The Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple is the town's other well-known shrine, and its chariot festival, the rathotsava, is held at Melkote. The town lies in Pandavapura taluk, which is part of Mandya district. It is about 36 km north-west of Mandya town and about 51 km north of Mysuru, in southern India.

Festivals

• Every year in MarchVairamudi Utsava

  The town's festival, with a diamond crown procession held under tight security.

Tips for your visit

• Walk the agrahara streets to see the traditional Brahmin homes that line the town.
• Look for the Kalyani, the sacred tank near the temple.

Questions people ask