Madikeri is the capital town of Kodagu district. This elevated charming town formerly known as Mercara is an excellent base to enjoy Kodagu country side. Kodagu , which means dense hill country, is the smallest district in Karnataka and is spread over a delightful area in the Western Ghats,with rolling hills, forests, coffee plantations and hiking opportunity.
The kodagu’s or Coorgi’s, as they are better known had a unique culture and are fiercely independent. They are best known for their coffee, beautiful women and high-ranking military officers. Believed to be descendants of migrating Persians and Kurds they are proud of their martial traditions and are very hospitable. They also have a distinctive cuisine, in which pork curry and rice dumplings are all time favourites.
Madikeri is well connected by bus services to all major places in this part of the country although there are no air or rail services to this town. It is easy enough to walk around although autos are available.
About 133 km from Mysore, a famous pilgrimage place has a temple dedicated to Sri Mahadeshwara and attracts large number of devotees from all the country during the festivities. A Rathothsava will be held during Kartikamasa and Shivaratri.
NANJANGUD
This small town is situated on the banks of Kapila, one of the tributaries of River Cauvery. Nanjundeshwara temple is the main attraction here. It is built in Dravidian style and is supported by 147 columns; the car festival that’s held here by the end of March is a well-known event.
GOPALASWAMY HILLS
This popular hill station is a delight for trekkers situated in the western ghats of Mysore Dist. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The speciality of this sanctum is that it remains cool during all seasons. Visitors and trekkers should get prior permission from the Forest Department to avail the traveler’s bungalow if planning for an overnight stay.
It’s situated some 100 km from Mysore. This place is a Jain pilgrimage centre and is considered as one of the oldest and important Jain cultural epicenter in India. The mammoth statue of Lord Bahubali is the main attraction of Shravanabelogala. A Ganga dynasty King constructed this in 981 AD. This is the world’s tallest monolithic statue that stands tall in an imposing 17 meter height from the majestic hill Indragiri. Mahamastabisheka is due in the year 2018.
BELUR
Situated 156 km from Mysore and 40 km from Hassan, this prime attraction is a 12th century Hoysala temple constructed by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. It’s a Channakeshava temple where Lord Vishnu deity is worshipped daily. It will be a long lasting memory if one gets an opportunity to witness the morning 10 am or Evening 7 pm ritual. This temple is considered as the finest specimen of Hoysala artistic and engineering excellence. Its great work in stones has representation of sages, birds, cultural & social life of that period. This temple is open from sunrise to sunset and there is no entrance fee. Non-Hindus are not allowed into the inner sanctum of the temple.
HALEBIDU
Hoysaleshwara temple is the major attraction of Halebidu. This incomplete Hoysala temple is the most outstanding specimen of Hoysala architecture. Its construction began by 1121. Even after 80 years the temple wasn’t completed. The routine rituals started only after those 80 years. Its open daily from morning to evening and the entrance is free.
Located 52 kms from Mysore at a confluence of three rivers, the Cauvery, the Kabini and the mythical Sphatika Sarovara, this place is an important pilgrimage center. It was sanctified by the sage Agasthya, who is said to have founded the AgasthyeshwaraTemple. The AgasthyeshwaraTemple complex contains many monuments belonging to the Ganga, Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagar periods.
GOMMATAGIRI
The granite statue of Gomateshwara in early Vijayanagar style, dominates the summit of the 50 meter hill. This Jain centre attracts many pilgrims during annual abhisekha (anointing ceremony) in September.
CHUNCHANAKATTE
The town traces its name to a dam (katte) said to have been built by a chieftain, Chuncha, the CauveryRiver, after it crosses the dam, flows through a rugged rocky valley, cascading into a waterfall at two levels. The KodandaRamaTemple, built in late Vijayanagar style, is the site of an annual 15 day jatra (fair) including cattle fair.
SUTTUR
Fourteen kms from Nanjangud, Suttur is well known for the Shivarathreeshwara Math which runs many educational institutions and hostels in the area. Inside the math premises, is the triple shrined MahadeswaraTemple in Hoyasala style. An annual jatra (fair) is held in honor of its pioneer saint, Shivarathreeshwara.
Somnathapur is situated around 35 km east of Mysore and is famous for the Hoysala Temples that are still in excellent condition. A visit to either Somnathpur or Belur-Halebid is an experience, for here you see a style of architecture unique to the region. The temples were built in the twelfth to thirteenth centuries by Hoysala rulers and their officials. Each small, compact, structural temple is lavishly decorated with sculpture and the profusion covers every inch of wall space. This tightly packed sculptural scheme is exclusive to Hoysala art and was never replicated. A bangle could be made to rotate on a sculpted hand and stone bells could be made to ring on a statue.
SHIVANASAMUDRAM
Shivanasamudram is situated around 75km from Mysore. Shivanasamudram means ‘SEA OF GOD’ is 25kms downstream; where the Cauvery plunges over 100m into a series of wild and inaccessible gorges. The twin waterfalls Gaganachukki and Bharachukki are the most alluring spots near the island. The first Hydro Electric Project in India was commissioned here in1902.
TALAKAD
This is an ancient town, situated on the left bank of the River Cauvery, 60 kms south east of Mysore. Sri Kirtinarayana, Sri Kartikeya,
Sri Vaideeswara, Sri Pataleswara and Sri Maraleshwara temples are present here and also several monuments lie buried in the sand. Panchalinga Darshanam Jatra will be held once in 12 years coinciding with existence of some stars.
B.R.Wildlife Sanctuary is about 90 kms from Mysore towards Chamarajanagara. Stretching over 525sq km, this sanctuary located at 1350m above the sea level among the B.R.Hills is hard to reach, but cool and scenic. The best time to see wild life here is between the months of June to October, when the animals come out for water at the end of the dry season. There are wild elephants, sloth bear, barking deer, sambar and wild dogs apart from about 60 different species of birds. On the highest peak of the hills is the BiligiriRangaswamyTemple the focus of the Ratha Festival every year in April. Permits are required to enter the sanctuary, and these are easily obtained from the Forest Department Office in Chamarajanagara. There are direct buses from Mysore every day.
BANDIPURNATIONAL PARK
BandipurNational park forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is joined to the MudumalaiNational Park in Tamil Nadu. BandipurNational Park was formed by extending the VenugopalWildlifePark set up in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas. A popular game resort of the rulers of Mysore. The flora in the forest comprises teak, rose wood, hone, mathi, bamboo and sandal trees. It is mainly pristine moist deciduous forest with over 50 species of trees and over 200 varieties of flowers. There are tigers, jackals, sambar, barking deer, mouse, deer, and wild dogs, including a large numbers of monkeys apart from wild elephants and over different species of birds including the great Indian horned owls. The best time to visit is between March and April although the most comfortable time is between November and February. Visitors can hire elephants or vehicle to go around the park. The park is tiger reserve in the country under the project tiger scheme.
Kokkrebellur Bird Sanctuary: The Bird Sanctuary is situated about 10 kms from Maddur on the Bangalore-Mysore Road. Painted stork and pelicans come here during the breeding season commencing in January till the end of June.
MELKOTE
Situated in the rocky hills of Yadugiri, Melkote is well known as the birthplace of Great Visistadvith Philosopher Ramanuja. It is located 50kms North from Mysore in Mandya Dist. This very quite and serene place draws pilgrims to the ChellapillaiTemple present in the vicinity. The idols her are Krishna and Narasimha and are constructed on the topmost peak. Vairamudi is celebrated in the month of Phalguna, the month in the Hindu calendar under the Pushya Nakshatra, The Vairamudi,which will be kept in the Mandya district treasury, will be brought under heavy security to the temple for the festivities, The festivities begins from April 1st with the ceremonial flag-hoisting or dhwajarohana, followed by various alankaras everyday. On the seventh day is the rathotsava, followed by teppotsava and the avagrutha on the ninth day.
NAGAMANGALA
The principle attraction of this town north of Melkote is the SaumyakeshavaTemple built in the 12th century and later added to by the Vijayanagar kings. The sanctum is kept locked expect at prayer times.
HOSAHOLALU
Home of the LakshminarayanaTemple the village of Hosholalu is 20kms west of Melkote. This temple is a superb example of 13th century Hoysala architecture.
1) Located 12 kms north east of Mysore, this island town is embraced by two branches of the CauveryRiver. SriRanganathaSwamyTemple originally built in the 9th century is located within the fort. Dedicated to an avatar of Lord Vishnu after whom the town is named, the inner hall of this wonderful temple is the most impressive. Supported by massive pillars, it offers a clear view of the reclining deity in the sanctum. The deity is a magnificent figure, reclining on a seven headed serpent. Fortress in the River Kaveri was in the 18th century, the capital of the warrior kings Haider Ali and Tippu Sultan. Though an important pilgrim place for Hindus, Srirangapatana is basically a cosmopolitan tourist town known for temples, mosques, churches and Jain basadis. Ranganatha temple is the centre of attraction in Srirangapatna. Built by Ganga Chieftain Tirumalaiah,Sri Ranganatha temple was in charge of the various dynastic rulers in history. Hence the temple design is a mix of Hoysala and Vijayanagar architectural styles. Near Tipu palace is the European style church, built by the French ascetic missionary Abbe Dubois.
2) SANGAM
3 kms form Srirangapatna bus stop is the Sangam, where the tributaries of River Cauvery converge. While returning from the Sangam, you can take a little deviation to visit the scenic Goshai Ghat. Goddess Nimishamba Devi’s shrine is nearby the Location. People throng to get her blessing Every Tuesday and Friday.
3) DARIA DOULATH
This was built in the year1784 is an Indo Saracenic structure and is also known as Tippu’s summer palace. Presently Daria Doulath Bagh is converted into a Museum With items that were used by Tippu Sultan and the objects used by him during his losing battle against the British.
4) RANGANATHITTU BIRDS SANCTUARY
This Bird Sanctuary is located about 5 kms from Srirangapattna 16kms from Mysore. This sanctuary comprises a group of six islets on River Cauvery and is a heaven for birds owing to its abundance of insects and fish. Great interest to all bird lovers and is a nesting and breeding centre for birds. Though the number of species of birds listed here exceeds 110 few are more common and easily identifiable. As a leading Heronry, this sanctuary is well visited by birds of the Heron family, viz, the Grey Heron and Purple Heron which are slender birds of about 3ft with pointed bills and bear the colors of their name. The Spoonbill is also a white bird and its clear identity is the long black bill with flat rounded tip shaped like spoon. The most colorful bird is the Painted stork. The season to visit the Sanctuary is from June to October. Boating facilities are available on payment.
These tranquil ornamental gardens are located about 19kms away from Mysore below the magnificent Krishnaraja Sagar dam. The dam owes its origins to Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar who built it to provide continuous water supply for the sivasamudaram power station. It is one of the biggest dams in the country and forms a 130sq km lake. The dam built by
Late Dr.Sir M.Vishweshwaraiah across the River Cauvery is capable of holding 44000 million cft.Just below the dam are the BrindavanGarden. The lush green lawns, concealed lighting, dancing and musical fountains are the main attractions here. There is a small boating lake, bathing pool and plenty of food and drinks stands. There are buses every thirty minutes from Mysore to K R S including Volvo buses. There are also a couple of places to stay here including Royal Orchids, Hotel MMK.
BALMURIFALLS
It’s the most visited spot to laze around and relax but make sure you carry your own picnic hamper. This place is frequented by the film troupes as it provides a great backdrop. Swim with extreme caution as there are lots of whirlpools. From KRS is about 3 kms.
VENUGOPALSWAMYTEMPLE
This is one of the OldestTemple; it was below the water of River Cauvery at KRS. It has exquisite carvings and beautiful architecture. The Temple was visible only when there is no water but now this temple has been shifted to Hosa Kannambadi near the River Cauvery. About 7 kms from KRS with the same design and architect.
Stretching along the Sayaji Rao Road is one of the most colorful bazaars in India this is Heritage market. It has a vast space where fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and otherproducts are sold. It is indeed well worth a visit and it provides an excellent subject material for photographs.
Built at the foot of the Chamundi hills, Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV has built this palace in the year1921; it was designed after the St.Paul’s Cathedral in London. Several ornamentation’s in the building are reminiscent of British palaces. The palace has pleasant surrounding and is presently converted into a star hotel maintained by ITDC.
FOLKLOREMUSEUM
MysoreUniversity (JayalakshmiVilasMansion) at Manasa Gangothri is converted in to folklore museum and is renowned for its folklore objects. The Museum is open from 10.30am to 5.00pm expect Sunday and Government holidays.
KUKKARAHALLI / karange LAKES
These lakes are the most prominent lakes in MysoreCity. They have always inspired poets, Litterateurs, bird’s watchers, nature lovers and also health freak. Seasonally these lakes attract migratory birds from all over the world. KaranjiLake has one of the best walk in aviary built similar to the Jurong bird sanctuary in Singapore and it also houses one of the first Butterfly parks in India. Boating facility is available too. KukkarahalliLake is the most visited place for morning and evening walks.
Built in the Gothic style with twin spires 175ft in height “between”1933 – 1941, designed by French architects. The stained glass windows, made in France, overlooking the apse, showing the Birth of Christ, the Last Supper and The crucifixion of Christ are works of art. It is one of the largest churches in India.
Visiting hours from 5.00am to 6.00pm all the days entrance free.
RAILMUSEUM
Situated close to Mysore Railway Station, Mysore City, Opposite to CFTRI
The museum exhibits the luxury coach used by the Mysore Royal Family and locomotive steam engines dating back to the 19th century. This museum is first of its kind in India and was built in the year 1979. The Maharani’s Saloon carriage that boasts of a kitchen, dining car unit and a royal toilet dating back to 1899 is indeed worth watching. There is also a battery operated mini-train providing a ride. This museum is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm and has a nominal entry fees. Monday Holiday.
‘Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens’ well known as the Mysore Zoo was established in 1892 by the royal patronage. It houses some of the rare & exotic species in lust green surroundings close to natural habitat for animals and birds. The zoo is also famous for breeding rare animals in captivity. It is situated on the way to Chamundi Hills and is open for public from 8.30am to 5.30pm expect on Tuesday. The authorities at the zoo also invite general public to adopt animals for a period of one year and have also started a club exclusively for youth, in order to create awareness about animals. The area has been declared as a ‘Plastic Free Zone’.
SRIJAYACHAMRAJENDRAARTGALLERY
The building was built in 1861 and was converted into an art gallery during the reign ofKrishnaraja wodeyar IV.It used to serve as a royal auditorium and is now used as a art gallery for the public. It has paintings of the members of the royal family. One can witness some exclusive traditional Mysore style leaf and oil paintings from the contemporary artists like Raja Ravivarma and Svetoslav Roerich. Display of furniture, glass and chinaware, oriental and western decorative arts sculpture and musicals instruments. Entrance fee is nominal and visiting hours are between 9.00am to 5.00pm on all days.
MYSOREPALACE Designed by the English architect, Henry Irwin the then consulting architect of the colonial government of madras. The MysorePalace dominates the skyline of Mysore. A three storied in the Indo-Saracenic style built “between” 1897 – 1912, the palace has beautifully designed squire towers at cardinal points, covered with domes. The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars and the kalyanamantapa (Marriage Pavilion) with its glazed tiled flooring and stained glass, Domed ceiling are worth noting intricately carded doors, the golden howdah (elephant scat) paintings as well as the fabulous, jewel encrusted golden throne (displayed during Dasara) are amongst the palace’s other treasures. The walled palace complex houses the ResidentialMuseum (incorporating some of the palace living quarters), temples and shrines including the ShewethaVarahaswamyTemple. The palace is illuminated on Sunday, Public Holidays as well as during the Dasara Celebrations when 97,000 electric bulbs are used to illuminate it.
Admission to the palace is by tickets; from10.00am to5.30pm. Visitors to the palace can witness and enjoy the ‘Sound & Light’ programme very shortly.
Image by Ravages via Flickr
