Things to See in Mandya District, Karnataka
How to reach there: Regular KSRTC buses are availabe, by train or private vehicle.
Route: Bangalore – Kengeri – Ramnagaram – Maddur – Mandya on Bangalore – Mysore state highway
Where to stay: Hotel hari Priya on Bangalore – Mysore highway (Rs 300 – 1000), Hotel Kaveri (B.G layout), Hotel Gayatri (bus stand road) etc. Also, one can stay in Mysore and go for day outings.
Where to eat: Hotel Haripriya or numerous dhabas on the road side.
Mandya is one of the districts of the Indian state of Karnataka. It shares its boundary with Mysore district in the south, Hassan district in the west, Tumkur in the North and Ramnagaram in the east. Mandya has fertile agricultural land. Sightseeing is easy here due to proximity from both Bangalore and Mysore. There are many things to see that apart from the popular destinations the tourist circuit. Lets see what are our options:
2. Brindavan Gardens: Brindavan Gardens is actually in Mandya district but easily accessable from Mysore. It takes around 1 hour from Mysore city by bus.
3. Melkote: Melkote is prominent religious place in Karnataka. One can also enjoy nature there.
4. Kokkrebellur Reserve Forest: Kokkrebellur Reserve Forest located near Kokkrebellur village is famous for the vist of migratory birds during the winter season around October – November and remains here till April. Around 40 km from Mandya city and 80 km from Bangalore Kokkrebellur Reserve Forest is a great place for bird watching. One can find Pelicans, horned birds etc.
6. Panchalingeshwara temple : There are two Panchalingeshwara temples, one in Somnathpur and the other in Govindahalli, Mandya.
7. Panchakuta Basadi: Panchakuta Basadi located in Kambadahalli is a splendid architecture on display. Kambadahalli is a prominent jain religious center on the Shravanabelagola – Mandya road about 18 km away from Shravanabelagola. The monuments here were built by the Ganga dynasty in the 9th – 10th century. Kambadahalli is 135 km from Bangalore. Kambadahalli literally in Kannda means village of pillars – Khamba (pillar) and halli (village).
How to reach there: To reach there from Bangalore one has to take NH 48 towards Hassan. After reaching Bellur cross (105 km from Bangalore), take left towards Nagamangala about 17 km away. At Nagamangala, drive west from here for 14 km towards Shravanabelagola, take right and drive for another 1 km to reach Kambadahalli.
8. Mallikarjuna Temple: Mallikarjuna Temple located at Basaral or Basaralu about 24 km from Mandya town. This temple was constructed by a Hoysala commander Harihara Dandanayaka around 1234 AD during the time Hoysala king Narasimha-II. I will not say it is small but rather compact and it has wonderful stone sculpture of the Hoysala perioed.
Around Mandya
1. Bangalore
2. Mysore
3. Talakad