Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary
Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary
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Profvns
Bengaluru, India545 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
Pandavapura taluk in Mandya district is near Mysore city. 'Pandavapura' means "place of legendary Pandavas". Pandavas stayed here for sometimes while on exile. Their mother Kunthi was fond of this area. Pandavapura is of historical importance as it was used as military camp for French army that came to help Tippu Sultan in fight against British. Hence it is familiar as "French Rocks", since this town is situated amidst two rocky hills. It is also well known as "Kunthi Betta" (hill of Kunthi) by locals.
Melukote is in Pandavapura taluk, standing as one of the sacred towns, known as Thirunarayanapuram housing temple of Lord Cheluva Narayanaswamy. Lord Yoganarasimha temple is located on the top of the hill. In other words it is a temple town with series of rocky outcrop hills surrounding it. There are about 100 manmade lakes and ponds with beautiful sculptures apart from the intricately carved temple complexes and caves in Melukote hills. They are built in such a manner that once the lake on higher elevation is filled, the extra water flows automatically to fill the other on lower side and so on it goes on.
After visiting the temples just move to look out to enter the arena of wildlife sanctuary, to witness wolves. It is protected area for wolves found in between two hills namely Mudibetta and Narayandurga. Melukote forest is dense and habitat wild animals, fauna, flora etc. It is spread over in 49.82 sq. km. It is a declared sanctuary to protect habitat of Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), since 17.6. 1974. The landscape is rocky containing Tropical dry vegetation and surrounded by cultivated land. There are more than a dozen water bodies in and around this Sanctuary.
I could spot hundreds of butterflies more than what I saw in Butterfly Park in Mysore. This Sanctuary supports more than 100 species of butterflies and first of its kind in Mysore Area. Wherever you walk on here you will find Butterfly and Monkey Puzzle, though normally it is to be found in specific area. Thick shrubs are favourite space for congregation of Danaid butterflies that too near wet patches and valleys during their migration period.
Leopard, Wolf, Jungle Cat, and Indian fox, Black Buck, Spotted Deer, Wild Pig, Bonnet Macaque, Langur, Pangolin and other mammals can be seen here. Melukote Wildlife Sanctuary is dominated by deciduous scrub forest to house the mammals.
This sanctuary is rich in bio-diversity supporting Memecylon app (plant), Southern Rustic (butterfly), Bamboo Pit Viper (snake), Brown Rock Pipit (resident bird), and Ultramarine Flycatcher (migratory bird) that are considered to be rare species.
Bird Area is an important spot to observe Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, long billed Vulture Gyps indicus and endemic and others. It is said to be healthy population of Yellow-throated Bulbuls. Sanctuary is sustaining rare birds namely Changeable Hawk-Eagle (rarely sighted), Brown Rock Pipit Anthus similis, Sirkeer Cuckoo Phaenicophaeus leschenaultia and also migratory birds as recorded in its lengthy list
There are secluded water bodies adjoining the sanctuary that are breeding centers as they are least disturbed locations. The Little-ringed Plover too breeds in these water bodies.
‘Wildlife’ includes all plants, fungi, and other organisms that grow or live in an area without being introduced by humans, though traditionally refers to non-domesticated animal species. Global wildlife population has decreased by 52% between 1970 and 2014, as per report.
Mandya is at 35kms, Bangalore 140km and Mysore 55kms from Melukote. There are frequent buses plying from all these cities to Melukote. The nearest rail head is Mysore and Mandya. Preferably visit between October and April. Food and accommodation are available.
Melukote is in Pandavapura taluk, standing as one of the sacred towns, known as Thirunarayanapuram housing temple of Lord Cheluva Narayanaswamy. Lord Yoganarasimha temple is located on the top of the hill. In other words it is a temple town with series of rocky outcrop hills surrounding it. There are about 100 manmade lakes and ponds with beautiful sculptures apart from the intricately carved temple complexes and caves in Melukote hills. They are built in such a manner that once the lake on higher elevation is filled, the extra water flows automatically to fill the other on lower side and so on it goes on.
After visiting the temples just move to look out to enter the arena of wildlife sanctuary, to witness wolves. It is protected area for wolves found in between two hills namely Mudibetta and Narayandurga. Melukote forest is dense and habitat wild animals, fauna, flora etc. It is spread over in 49.82 sq. km. It is a declared sanctuary to protect habitat of Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), since 17.6. 1974. The landscape is rocky containing Tropical dry vegetation and surrounded by cultivated land. There are more than a dozen water bodies in and around this Sanctuary.
I could spot hundreds of butterflies more than what I saw in Butterfly Park in Mysore. This Sanctuary supports more than 100 species of butterflies and first of its kind in Mysore Area. Wherever you walk on here you will find Butterfly and Monkey Puzzle, though normally it is to be found in specific area. Thick shrubs are favourite space for congregation of Danaid butterflies that too near wet patches and valleys during their migration period.
Leopard, Wolf, Jungle Cat, and Indian fox, Black Buck, Spotted Deer, Wild Pig, Bonnet Macaque, Langur, Pangolin and other mammals can be seen here. Melukote Wildlife Sanctuary is dominated by deciduous scrub forest to house the mammals.
This sanctuary is rich in bio-diversity supporting Memecylon app (plant), Southern Rustic (butterfly), Bamboo Pit Viper (snake), Brown Rock Pipit (resident bird), and Ultramarine Flycatcher (migratory bird) that are considered to be rare species.
Bird Area is an important spot to observe Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, long billed Vulture Gyps indicus and endemic and others. It is said to be healthy population of Yellow-throated Bulbuls. Sanctuary is sustaining rare birds namely Changeable Hawk-Eagle (rarely sighted), Brown Rock Pipit Anthus similis, Sirkeer Cuckoo Phaenicophaeus leschenaultia and also migratory birds as recorded in its lengthy list
There are secluded water bodies adjoining the sanctuary that are breeding centers as they are least disturbed locations. The Little-ringed Plover too breeds in these water bodies.
‘Wildlife’ includes all plants, fungi, and other organisms that grow or live in an area without being introduced by humans, though traditionally refers to non-domesticated animal species. Global wildlife population has decreased by 52% between 1970 and 2014, as per report.
Mandya is at 35kms, Bangalore 140km and Mysore 55kms from Melukote. There are frequent buses plying from all these cities to Melukote. The nearest rail head is Mysore and Mandya. Preferably visit between October and April. Food and accommodation are available.
Written 20 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CoolTravelFreak
Bengaluru, India340 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
After the temple a few minutes drive and you are there at the sanctuary /// Worth a visit for all the nature lovers .. the place is quite crowded at the temple but after that it is just beautiful ..
Written 11 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tan32016
Bengaluru, India603 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
Melukote temple visit was a ritual as always, though it's a nice one, we weren't aware of their wildlife sanctuary a bit further drive. What a pleasant surprise! With home to wild cats and wolves this was well worth the visit.
Written 19 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
raks125
Bengaluru, India764 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
i liked the melkote temple wildlife sanctuary because it is huge,beautiful and not very crowded like others.this is a worth visit place.
Written 7 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
garhwaliya
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India911 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
This place is very huge and beautiful. Lots of birds were there. I loved the peace of this place. I ding real peace over here only.
Written 31 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YSSridutt
Bengaluru, India44 contributions
Sept 2013 • Family
Well, Melkote is a temple which has been operative for more than a thousand years now. However, its more a temple/spiritual spot than a sanctuary..
Written 19 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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