One fine weekend in October, we visted Melukote and Rangana Thittu. Tough our plan was to start at early morning around 6.00am from HSR Layout to Melukote, being a weekend, as usual, we started at 9.00 AM from HSR layout.
Hence, we started late in the moring, we decided to visit Ranganathittu and eveing visit to Melukote.
Ranganathittu is locted at Mandya district, largest bird sanctuary in the state, on the banks of Kaveri River.
We started through nice road (near Electronic city), on the way,we stopped for food at our favourate Vatika Veg restaurant near Bidadi. Spent an hour for heavy breakfast, and continued our journey, reached Ranganathittu bird sanctuary at 1.00 pm.
Entry fee is Rs.70/- per adult.
This place was not up to my expectations. It offers a calm and peaceful environment, full of greenary. The birds stay on islands in the middle of the river. We Spent two hours wathicng birds and crocodile on the bank of lake. Don’t have expectation to watch different varieties of birds. There is an option for boat ride too. Not much crowded place.
Statrted at 3.00pm, had luch on the way to Melukote, reached Melukote at 4.30 Pm.
Melukote is located at Mandya district, which is 178kms from HSR Layout Bangalore.
The distance between Ranganathittu and Melukote is about40 Kms and it takes one hour.
Melukote has 2 temples, one is lord Cheluvanarayana swamy and the other is Yoga Narasimha swamy. Melukote is 3,000 feet above sea level, which makes the weather pleasant and cool.
Yoga Narasimha temple is on a small hillock, there are steps that lead to this temple. There is a road that leads to half way of the hillock which is driveable, that will reduce the no. of steps to climb. The view from the hill is very scenic and green.
Fist we visited Yoga Narasimha temple, temple opens at 5.30 pm. After Darshan, view from the temple is bveautiful, which gives 360 degree scenic and green from the top.
We have reached upto half way to Yoganarasimha temple, rest 200 steps we had to climb. Howver, its not steep and easy to go.
After a visit to Yoganarasimha temple, we came to Cheluvaraya swami Temple for Darshan. Temple is beautiful and need to spend time to see the beautiful carvings on pillars of the temple.
Thern, we rush to Raya Gopura for sunset view. Weather was pleasent and sunset is beautiful.
On the way to RayaGgopura, you can find Akka thangi Kola. While returning, we spent some time in Kalayani.
Started around 8 pm from Melukote and returned to Bangalore at 11 pm via Nice Road
It is a memorable one day trip.
Trip Advice: better to visit Melelokote around 3.30-4.pm. Temple openes at tis time and go for sun set view also.
