Alight here to go to the temple town of Melukote. Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Yoga-Narasimha Swamy Temple (4th pic) are some of famous ancient temples in this town.
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Travel: Mandya is the major station near Melukote. Lot of KSRTC buses are available from Mandya, some 40 Kms away.
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Food:
This town is very famous for Puliyogare. Puliyogare is Tamarind Rice, which is offered to God at Temples. Then they are distributed to devotees as Prasada. This town's Puliyogare is very famous in that, the recipe itself is named after it and also the paste is sold in Bengaluru with the town's name as an USP.
Even Sakkare Pongal (Sweet (Sugar or Jaggery) Pongal), another offering to God is famed and available here.
The Puliyogare in this place is the best and different from others, garnished with grated coconut and red in colour from Byadagi chilli powder being used.
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The main and the most famous place from where the fame spread was from Subbanna Mess. Last 2 Pics. It is located on the way from the Bus Stand to Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple. There the Puliyogare costs 35 Rs per plate. They serve it along with some Puliyogare paste as side dish. Also Sakkare Pongal is available which also costs 35 Rs - a small cup.
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Another, but better place is the Sri Annapoorneshwari Mess. First 3 pics. Its located next to Subbanna Mess. There too the price is same, but what is unique is the traditional meals available here. It has to be one of the best I have had. The food is served on dried leaves stitched together with small stick splinters. South Indian traditional meals are served on Banana Leaf or dried leaves plate. You can also ask for a plate, if you want. They serve the same Puliyogare, Sakkare Pongal, Rice, Vegetable Sambhar, Thili Saaaru ( a preparation similar to Sambhar, made from tomatoes, chilli, pepper etc...) and finally buttermilk. A vegetable too is served with rice happala (papad). All these items are unlimited. You can have any number of servings. So instead of just taking a plate of Puliyogare and a plate of Sakkare Pongal for 70 Rs. You can opt for the Meals which is also 70 Rs and have those items and others in unlimited quantity. A different type of pickle, unlike the ones served in restaurants is served there. Overall a really unique food experience one can have at this place, which is open from afternoon till evening.
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Also during the walk around the town admiring the old temple gate, pond and temples, one can notice that all hotels serve the same thing - Puliyogare and Sakkare Pongal. Even the pushcart vendors. You can also buy the Puliyogare paste there and mix it with boiled rice, add some fried groundnuts and have it at home.
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The town and its numerous temples can be planned as a day trip. There are many ancient temples and also a hill top temple and also the small town itself is very ancient. One can just walk around and admire the old houses and quaint surroundings or just sit in the temple and look at the intricate stone carvings. The town is located in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary, so there is greenery all around.
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On weekends its advisable to avoid going there. People from Bengaluru and other cities crowd the small town and generally ruin the serene atmosphere. There are lots of monkeys there and these people behave as though they haven't seen a monkey in their life and just taunt, throw fruits at the simians, trying to take selfies with them and generally cause mayhem rather than simply visit the temples.
So its better to go on weekdays, where it is so empty, that we can even sit inside the temple in peace, even near the sanctum sanctorum.
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