Melukote is a temple and wildlife sanctuary in Mandya, Karnataka, Southern India.
Melukote is a 4,000-year-old town near Mysore city. The buildings are simply amazing and the people follow the same 4,000-year-old Brahmin lifestyle even now. Eyesores like electricity, motor bikes and mobile telephones have affected this hillock also.
Even though the language that is generally spoken is Kannada, Tamil is also understood and spoken by many, English can also be used as many people know English are a second or third language.
If you are travelling by public transportation, you have to alight at Jakkanahalli junction and get an autorickshaw for the last seven kilometer trip up the hill. Buses are also available every one hour from Jakkanahalli junction.
KSRTC operates buses regularly from Mysore, K.R.Pet and K.R.Nagar to Melukote.
Melukote is 51 km from Mysore and It is 131 km from Bangalore. From Mysore, You have to go on Mysore-Bangalore Highway and after Srirangapatana, You have to take a diversion on the left and then reach Pandavapura and go straight for another 26 km to reach Melukote.
Upper Melukote can be covered by foot in one hour. Autorickshaws charge ₹50 for dropping you in the upper temple and ₹150 for wait and return arrangement. Lower Melukote is more spacious and filled with many ancient buildings. More natural scenery can be enjoyed by walking down the hill for a distance of seven kilometers up to Jakkanahalli junction.
Melukote is famous for its puliyogare, a South Indian food made with rice, tamarind and ground nuts. You can buy Puliyogare gojju from any Iyengar shop which can be mixed with rice to prepare a quick snack at home.
Melukote is a safe place with a police station and no robbers around. B.S.N.L .mobile connectivity is available.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division