Pickup at 5:45 AM and breakfast near Kunigal. Climb Vindhyagiri hill to the Gommateshwara statue, then Chandragiri hill with Chandragupta Basadi and Bhadrabahu's cave. Lunch in Melkote, then the Kalyani tank, the Cheluvanarayana temple and sunset at the Yoga Narasimha temple on the hill, before the drive home past Pandavapura. About 330 km, close to 7 hours of driving with stops. Home by about 9:15 PM.
- 5:45 AM
Pickup from your home
Your driver calls you 30 minutes before. We leave early to get out of Bengaluru before the traffic and to finish the big climb before the rock gets hot.
- 1 h 48 min · 79 km
- 7:45 AM
Breakfast stop near Kunigal
Idli, vada and dosa at a highway eatery on NH75. Pay as you eat.
- 1 h 14 min · 74 km
- 9:30 AM1
Gommateshwara statue, Vindhyagiri hill
2 h hereAbout 620 rock cut steps up Vindhyagiri hill to the 57 foot statue of Bahubali, carved from one stone around 983 AD. Shoes come off at the foot of the hill, so wear socks. The statue area is said to close from about 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, so we climb in the morning. Dolis (carried chairs) wait at the foot for anyone who cannot climb, paid there.
- 11:30 AM2
Chandragiri hill and Chandragupta Basadi
1 h 15 min hereThe smaller hill across the town, about 190 steps cut into the rock, also climbed barefoot. On top is a walled group of old Jain shrines, including Chandragupta Basadi and Chavundaraya Basadi, and the small cave with the footprints said to be Bhadrabahu's. Free entry, and much quieter than Vindhyagiri.
- 50 min · 35 km
- 1:30 PM
Lunch in Melkote
A simple Iyengar mess lunch on a leaf, with Melkote's famous puliyogare and sakkare pongal. Pay as you eat. Messes can run short by mid afternoon, so we drive straight here from Shravanabelagola.
- 2:30 PM3
Kalyani tank and Raya Gopura, Melkote
1 h 15 min hereWalk the big stepped temple tank with its stone mantapas, and the Raya Gopura, a tall unfinished gateway of four huge pillars on the rock, a favourite spot for film shoots. Open air and free. There is little shade, so carry a cap and water.
- 4:00 PM4
Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Melkote
50 min hereThe main temple of Melkote, linked with the teacher Ramanujacharya, who lived here. It closes in the afternoon and opens again at about 4 PM, so we come right at opening. Free darshan. Shoes off at the gate, and cover shoulders and knees.
- 5:05 PM5
Yoga Narasimha Temple, Melkote hill
1 h hereYour driver takes you part of the way up the hill, then a flight of stone steps leads to the temple at the top. The doors open again at about 5:30 PM. Stay for the wide view over the plains as the sun goes down, around 6 PM in winter. If you would rather be home earlier, skip the wait and we leave by 5:30 PM.
- 2 h 40 min · 135 km
- 9:15 PM
Drop at your home
The drive home goes past Pandavapura and onto the Bengaluru Mysuru expressway. Evening traffic into Bengaluru can add 30 to 45 minutes.