Monday, May 31, 2010

Motorbike trip to Melkote

  I and my friend recently visited Melkote on my motorbike. Melkote was a prominent centre of Srivaishnavism during 12th century and is the abode of Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and Yoga-Narasimha Swamy Temple. Melkote is located in Mandya district around 140 km from Bangalore. To reach Melkote , one has to travel on the Bangalore-Mysore expressway and take a right turn after crossing Mandya town and travel another 40km.

 We started on an early Saturday morning and  it took us around 4 hours to reach Melkote (including the time spent on breakfast at Kamat Lokaruchi on the way :) ). We rode at 70kmph most of the time on the Bangalore-Mysore expressway, but once we took the right turn and entered Melkote road, we had to carefully navigate curvy roads, speed breakers and curious villagers who were drying hay on the road. The other place of interest is the wildlife sanctuary near the temple. We did not spot too much wildlife here, though. Start to finish, we covered 300 km and consumed about 6L of extra-premium petrol.
   
 Green Fields on Melkote Road
 


     Cheluva Narayana Temple




Yoga-Narasimha Swamy Temple on  the hill



The Kalyani (Temple Pond)




Cheluva Narayana Temple visible from the hilltop(L) One of the many children who make their livelihood on the steps leading to the hilltop(R)



   The Steps leading down from Yoga-Narasimha Swamy Temple 



  Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary

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