Melukote

Introduction:

A piligrimage to melukote can be one-day affair form Bangalore or Mysore. Lord Cheluvanarayana resides in this holy place. Along with famous Rama priya utsavar, which ramanujacharya got it from Kashmir king. Apart from 108 divyadesamas, which Ramanujacharya has founded, Melukote is one among the various abhimana kshetras.
Table of contentes:
1) How to reach
2) Geography
3) Passtime

4) Places to visit in and around

5) Other info

How to reach:
By Road:
One can reach Melukote from Bangalore via Mandya. Direct buses to Melukote are available form Banglore at an interval of 2 to 2.5 hrs. The first bus starts @ 8.15 from Kempegowda bus station, Bangalore. The direct bus takes around 4 to 5 hrs to reach Melukote. But this is a longer route. Better option would be to go to Mandya and then take buses from there to melukote. There are many private buses from Mandya to melukote.
While returning last bus is @ 5.30PM which reaches banglore by 10. But taking local advice is suggested. More convinient option is to take bus to Mandya and from there take bus for Banglore (which would take around 2 hrs).
One can also reach Melukote from Mysore.
By Rail:
Catch a train from Banglore railway station, which goes to Mysore via Mandya. Get down @ Mandya station. From there catch bus to Melukote. There are no direct trains to Melukote. One has to go via Mandya only.
By Air:
Reach Bangalore International Airport and follow the advice given in the above sections (by rail/road).
Geography:
From Google earth embade a map.

Passtime:

Vairamudi story, Yoga nrasimha, Kashmir king.

Places to visit in and around:

Akka tangi kola, yoga narsimha, udbhava Ganesha (Monolith structure), Kalyani. Around: Shrirangapatna, Mysore, halebidu are near by.

Other Info:
1) For Brahmins food facility is available in shri math. One has to get the coupon inside temple from the temple priest. One doesn’t have to pay for the coupon. Shri math is on the road, which is behind the temple. One could see chariot infront of Shri math.
2) Becarefule about the belongings especially during festival times. Many incidents of pickpocket and theives have been reported in the past.
3) Don’t forget to take prasadam which is distributed infront of temple @ noontime.
4) Devotees can contribute for annadana seva in Shri math. Which goes into feeding other devotees on a daily basis.

Devarayan Durga

Introduction:
A piligrimage to Devarayan Durga can be one-day affair from Bangalore. Lord Narisihma resides in this holy place. Along with godess Lakshmi. Ramanujacharya has founded this place.
One has to leave morning before 7. First go to Gauravan Halli Lakshmi then visit Devarayan Durga as temple in Devarayan durga opens only by 9AM.
Following is direction:
Gauravan Halli Lakshmmi /Siddaganga → Devarayan durga → Namada Chilume → Hebbur Kamakshi → Bengalore.
Table of contentes:
1) How to reach
2) Geography
3) Passtime
4) Places to visit in and around
5) Other info
How to reach:
By Road:
One can reach Devarayan Durga from Bangalore via Dabaspet. Direct buses to Devarayn Durga are available form Banglore, the frequency is very less. It is tough to go by Bus to Devarayn Durga as visiting places like namada chilume is not possible. But one can find auto.
If you travel by car then take right side diversion from Dabaspet. It takes 2 hrs to reach DevarayanDurga from bangalore.
By Rail:
There is no rail service available for Devarayan Durga.
By Air:
Reach Bangalore International Airport and follow the advice given in the above sections (by road).
Geography:
From Google earth embade a map.
Passtime:
1) Namada chilume – It is believed that Lord Rama during is vanavasa period he visited Devarayan Durga along with his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita mata. One day when he was applying nama on his forehead he found no water to mix nama so that he can apply. Then he used his arrow on one stone which created hole on stone and water stream started coming out. Thats why it is called namada chilume. One can fill bottles with this water. This water is very sweet, chill and tasty and can be stored for longer time in home.
2) GauravanHalli Lakshmi –
This temple actually has goddess lakshmi's face carved on stone with eyes, nose and lips nothing else. once few thieves stole all silver jewellery's of goddess Lakshmi. As soon as they stole they lost their eyes. Having realized their mistake they prayed to goddess Lakshmi that they will construct small hut for her. As they told they completed their promise and they got back their eyes.
It is said that if people are not having child then they can go and visit this place and pray goddess Lakshmi.
Places to visit in and around:
Namada Chilume which is 7 kms away from devarayan Durga.
Gouravan halli Lakshmmi – 22 kms away from Devarayan durga. Here annadana facility is available from morning 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Food is good and tasty.
Hebbur Kamakshi – Around 1 hr journey from Devrayan durga one needs to go via Tumkur.
Siddaganga Math – This is around 30 kms away from Devarayan Durga. This is basically trekking place. It is said that the stream water which is in Siddaganga math cures physical pain/diseases if it is being sprayed on the affected person. I have never tried, one can try out.
Other Info:
1) Devarayan Durga temple belongs Shri Vaishnava followers but any one can visit the place.
Devarayan Durga has two temples
a) Bhoga Narasimha (Lower Devarayandurga) - Opens @ 9 AM. Abhishek starts @ 10:30AM, Maha magalarati @ 12 after that Prasad distribution. One can contribute for abhisheka and Prasadam which is being offered to lord.
b) Yoga Narasimha (upper DevarayanDurga) - Opens @ 10.30 AM and remains opened through out the day. But closes by 5:30 PM. Here also Abhisheka to lord is being performed.
3) There is pushkarni on top of hill near yoga narasihma temple.
4) Next to Pushkarni Anjaneya temple is there. This temple closes early. Deity worship is carried out by Madhwa followers daily.
5) Near Anjaneya temple and just below Yoga narasihma there is small cave which will be closed all the time. This cave has small stream/water inside. There is saying that this stream washes lord Narasihma's feet and flows here. But no one knows from where this stream originated. If one wishes to enter into cave they can ask in seva counter for visit, they will help.
6) Near bhoga Narasihma temple, raghawendra swami vrindavan, vyasaraya Vrindavan and Prahlad temple is present.
7) One will not find any eatables except biscuits, snacks, tea/coffee, soft drinks, bhel, fruits and cucumber. But quality of product is not good. It is better to not to buy any snacks and biscuits as they are old stocks.