Mandya Tourism

Mandya is visited by tourists from all over the world. Some of the Important places of tourism in Mandya are :

Located 19 kms North-West of Mysore is the KRS Dam and the ornamental terraced Brindavan Gardens. The swirling Musical Fountains dancing to the rhythm of soft music and colourful Lights transform this place into a fairy land in the evenings, attracting thousands of visitors.

How to reach there: By road from Mysore or Srirangapatna. Some trains between Mysore and Bangalore also stop at the KRS Railway station.

Timings of Entry to Brindavan Gardens: Closes at 9.00 P.M. on week days and at 10.00 P.M. on sundays. The illumination is between 7.00 and 8.00 P.M. on week days and between 7.00 and 9.00 P.M. on Sundays.

Where to stay at the Brindavan Gardens: The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) Hotel.

The man who gave the British nightmares in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, Tipu Sultan, son of the legendary soldier King Hyder Ali ruled his kingdom of Mysore from this island town. Srirangapatna is a land of history and culture. It is home to several monument that tell eloquent tales of courage and honour. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan fought four wars with the British. In the Fourth Mysore war in 1799 Tippu Sultan was killed in the battle field.

Daria Daulat Bagh Location : 14 K.M.s north-east of Mysore on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway at Srirangapatna

Tipu's summer palace, Daria Daulat, built in 1784, was his favourite retreat. Being a fine example of sarcenic architecture, it is now a museum and the mural paintings in it tell eloquently of his valour and his losing battle against British Expansion. It has ornate and beautiful frescoes.

Tippu's Fort at Srirangapatna holds within it the Juma mosque and the Ranganatha Swamy Temple. Outside the fort, is the Gumbaz, the tomb of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. Gumbaz is a magnificent example of Indo-Islamic architecture, with an imposing dome, doors of ebony inlaid with ivory.

The Masjid-e-ala mosque built during Tipu's time(1784) was completely painted by the "Baburi" motif which was later whitewashed by the British. It has with two tall graceful minarets and beautiful carved flowery designs on the roof and pillars. In the centre of the mosque are delicately chiseled bunches of grapes and other creepers. A stony solar clock is in the courtyard.

How to reach there: By road from Bangalore, Mandya or Mysore. Srirangapatna is located 125 K.M.s away from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway. From Mysore Srirangapatna is just 15 K.M.s away.

Where to Stay at Srirangapatna: Hotel Mayura Riverview run by the KSTDC has lovely riverside cottages at Srirangapatna. Phone:

Royal Amblee Resorts and Fortview Resorts located on the Highway at Srirangapatna also provide good quality accommodation and local cuisine.

3 Kms South of Srirangapatna is the Sangama - where the two branches of river Kaveri re-unite in joyful exuberance.

Four K.M.s from Srirangapatna and 18 K.M.s from Mysore is the Ranganatittu Bird Sanctuary that allows a close view of birds, both exotic and familiar and of crocodiles that resemble mud banks. Birds from as far away as Siberia make this their home. River Kaveri spreads among stones and lagoons to form a group of islands full of lush green vegetation making this place an ideal haven for birds which migrate here from all over the world.

Situated 12 kilometers from Maddur towards Halagur, this is a unique bird sanctuary which has been internationally recognised as it co-exists with the village community. The birds nest in the trees that are found in and around the village. One can view colorful birds like grey pelicans which arrive from Australia and various other parts of the world during April-May.

36 Kms North from Mandya is Melkote, a sacred pilgrim centre, known for its Vairamudi festival in March- April. More than one lakh devotees congregate here for this festival. Melkote used to be known for its Handlooms. The great saint Ramanujacharya walked this land a thousand years ago. The Chaluvanarayan Swamy and Yaganarasimha swamy temples of Melkote boast of a history of more than 1000 years. Melkote is also home to the Academy of Sanskrit Research.

How to reach there: By road from Bangalore (135 K.M.s), Mysore (50 K.M.s) and Mandya (50 K.M.s)

Where to Stay at Melkote: The Forest Department and the Public Works Department have a guest house each. The Academy of Sanskrit Research has lovely cottages surrounded by lush green gardens.

Shivasamudram, where the river Kaveri cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls, is treat to watch. Falling down 75 Mts. into a deep rocky gorge, these falls are at their best during the Monsoon months (July to November). Asia's first hydro-electric project was set up here in 1905. Power was evacuated from this power project to Kolar Gold Fields near Bangalore for running the Gold mines.

How to reach there: Shivasamudram is located of the Bangalore Kollegal National Highway, 120 K.M.s from Bangalore. From Mandya the distance is 75 K.M.s towards the east.

A fine Inspection bungalow overlooks the deep and verdant Shimsha valley where the river Shimsha joins the Cauvery. This place is reached by the road that branches off from the main Maddur-Malavalli-Kollegal road. A large number of tourists visit this place.

Kaveri Fishing Camp, at Bhimeshwari. A paradise for anglers with the rich Mahaseer fish found in abundance. Karnataka Jungle Lodges and Resort, Bangalore manages this Fishing Camp. It has comfortable cottages (They call them Log Huts) and tents, giving the customers taste of the wild and comfort of home simultaneously.

How to Reach there: From Bangalore this camp is just 100 K.M.s away of the Bangalore Kollegal National Highway. From Bangalore after Kanakapur, you would reach a small town called Halagur. From this town to the left you travel for 23 K.M.s to reach this wild fishing camp.

The Lakshminarayana temple is a magnificient example of Hoysala architecture of the thirteenth century. The intricate carvings in stone depict various images from the Mahabharata and other epics.

The temple is a trikutachala or three-celled temple. Only the main cell has a sukhanasi and a tower.

Some of the images carved on the walls are about two and a half feet high. They are of fine proportions and well executed. The figures of Panduranga, Dakshinamurti and Mohini are particularly noteworthy. Groups of dancing ladies with accompaniments in impressive poses adorn the capitals of the pillars in the navaranga. There are also some interesting sculptures in the friezes, the scroll work and the railing panels. An annual jatra called Rangada-habba is held here in honour of Anjaneya about the month of April. It resembles the Holi festival in some respects. The villages put on various disguises, sing the praises of god and dance the whole night, squirting, at intervals, saffron water (vasanta) over one another.

Hosahallu is a village near Krishnaraj Pete town. One can reach Hosaholalu by road from Mandya (60 K.M.s), Mysore (50 K.M.s) and Bangalore (160 K.M.s).

The Mallikarjuna Temple at Basaralu is a good and highly ornate specimen of Hoysala architecture, built in the thirteenth century by Harihara Dannayaka, during the rule of the Hoysala King Narasimha II. Two fine elephants with animated appearance flank the doorway of the porch. Impressively worked images of a height of about two and a half feet, representing Gods and heroes, adorn the main wall above the basement. Sixteen handed Shiva dancing on Andhakasura's head, Durga with 22 arms and Saraswati, both in dancing postures, Ravana lifting the Kailasa, Arjuna shooting the fish target, Draupadi rushing forth with garland and Gajasura Mardana are some of the remarkable images which are particularly interesting. There are six friezes of sculptures depicting war elephants, horsemen, lions, swans and makaras and illustrating Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and several puranic episodes.

Situated about eight miles from K.R.Pet town and ten miles from Sravanabelagola, this temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture. It was constructed in A.D.1171, during the rule of the Hoysala King Narasimha I, by a lady named Bammare Nayakiti. This ornate structure has some special features. The sides of the temple are convex viewed from outside and bulge out so that the interior dimensions are widened beyond the base. The deep indentation of the horizontal courses in the basement and the knife-edge to which the cornices have been brought are also interesting points. It is a single celled temple and has an impressive and lofty stone tower. There is a well executed image of Vishnu, about four feet high, in one of the niches of the navaranga The madanike figures carved on the capitals of the pillars of the navaranga are of extra-ordinary workmanship and are life-like..

Hemagiri in K.R.Pet Taluk, about six miles from K.R.Pet Town, is on the bank of the river Hemavati. The left bank of the river has a continuous strip of grand and fascinating foliage. Many people frequent this place for rest and recuperation. An anicut is constructed at the foot of the hill across the Hemavati river here and is called the Hemagiri anicut, from where channels are drawn for irrigation purposes. A big cattle fair is held here at the time of the car festival of the local Venkataramanaswami Temple.

A monument to mark the freedom struggle at Maddur in particular and Mandya district in general, this is an architecturally unique building located on Bangalore Mysore Highway, 80 K.M. away from Bangalore and 25 K.M.s from Mandya. It has a small garden around it and a musical fountain.

Among the many lakes in the district, the Tannur lake which was also called the Moti Talab, in the Pandavapura Taluk, is an old lake with historical association. It is situated about 3 miles to the left of the seventh mile of the Pandavapura Railway Station- Nelligere Road. Being located on a hilltop, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the valley below and other hills in the area. A climb up the hillock next to the lake can also be a wonderful experience. This tank has been constructed by putting up an earthen bund across the gap between two rocky hills. The bund of this tank is said to have been constructed in the Hoysala days (12th century) by Sri Ramanujacharya who named it as Tirumalasagara. Well pleased by the clear water of the lake, Nasir Jung, son of the then Subedar of the Deccan, gave it the name of Moti Talab(lake of pearls) in 1746. The bund was later repaired by Tipu Sultan.

The musical fountain in the well maintained "Kaveri Vana" gardens in front of the D.C. Office attracts hundreds of visitors every Sunday. The statue of Kaveri in the centre of the dancing fountain is a rare feature that lends it a lot of beauty and grandeur.