Raaya Gopura — Attraction in Karnataka

This well-known, historical temple with intricate carvings has been featured in many movies. The Rayagopura is a famous incomplete temple probably built during the Vijaynagar empire. The Temple has 4 raised pillras with intricate carvings but no gopuram. It is said to have been built overnight, but with the huge pillars and stones used for construction. There are steps, not easy though, but anyone adventurous can reach the top of the gopura, from where you can get a view of the entire Melukote. Raya gopura (Gopalaraya entrance) is an incomplete structure leading to the Melukote hill. It has four tall pillars and looks similar to Mamallapuram Rayar Gopuram. Popular Rajini movie Padayappa is said to be shot here. "Gopura" or "Gopuram" means "The Entrance A Temple" especially in Southern India. This temple entrance was built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, near the main temple of Melukote. It is said to have been built overnight (citation required). "The RayaGopura" . "Melukote" . Melukote is the location of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, with a collection of crowns and jewels which are brought to the temple for the annual celebration. On the top of the hill is the temple of Yoganarasimha. Many more shrines and ponds are located in the town. Melukote is home to the Academy of Sanskrit Research, which has collected thousands of Vedic and Sanskrit manuscripts. . The name of the place is derived from the temple of Narayanaswamy which is built on the hillock, surrounded by a fort. It is built on a granite rocky hill-range named Yadugiri, which is 3,589 feet (1,094 m) high above sea level. . At around 50 kilometers from Mysore is the lush, green and scenic place called Melkote. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, the place is famous for the beautiful Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the Yoga Narasimha temple at the hill top. It is believed that the devotee Prahlad installed the Narasimha statue at this location. This place is also famous for housing the Sri Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya for 12 years, when he left Tamil Nadu under persecution from the Chola king Kulothungacholan. The raja gopuram in this photo set is the actual temple entrance built by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. Suffering from the muslim invasion of the 14th century, the temple and the surrounding historical artifacts lay in ruins. Recently, the government of India has taken efforts to renovate the temple and its historical...

A huge structure which acted as a majestic gateway during the kingship.The Rayagopura is a famous incomplete temple probably built during the Vijaynagar empire. The Temple has 4 raised pillras with intricate carvings but no gopuram. It is said to have been built overnight, but with the huge pillars and stones used for construction. There are steps, not easy though, but anyone adventurous can reach the top of the gopura, from where you can get a view of the entire Melukote. The Raya Gopura has been used in filming of Songs from Guru and Rowdy Rathore.At around 50 kilometers from Mysore is the lush, green and scenic place called Melkote. Also known as Thirunarayanapuram, the place is famous for the beautiful Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the Yoga Narasimha temple at the hill top. It is believed that the devotee Prahlad installed the Narasimha statue at this location. This place is also famous for housing the Sri Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya for 12 years, when he left Tamil Nadu under persecution from the Chola king Kulothungacholan. The raja gopuram in this photo set is the actual temple entrance built by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. Suffering from the muslim invasion of the 14th century, the temple and the surrounding historical artifacts lay in ruins. Recently, the government of India has taken efforts to renovate the temple and its historical surroundings. Film lovers may recollect having seen this location in many movies, including Thalapathy (the Rajinikanth starrer), Guru (Abhishek Bachchan - Aishwarya Rai starrer), Rowdy Rathore (Akshay Kumar - Sonakshi Sinha starrer), and many more.The raya gopuram has some intricate carvings still standing the test of time.A stone cut inscription of a beautifully adorned temple elephant with bells on its side...It is said that Tipu Sultan had gifted elephants during his...

Melukote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, in southern India, is one of the sacred places in Karnataka. The place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is built on rocky hills, known as Yadugiri, Yaadavagiri and Yadushailadeepa, overlooking the Cauvery valley. Melukote is about 51 km (32 miles) from Mysore and 133 km (83 mi) from Bangalore. Melukote is the location of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, with a collection of crowns and jewels which are brought to the temple for the annual celebration. On the top of the hill is the temple of Yoganarasimha. Many more shrines and ponds are located in the town. Melukote is home to the Academy of Sanskrit Research, which has collected thousands of Vedic and Sanskrit manuscripts.[2]

Early in the 12th century, the famous Srivaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, stayed at Melukote for about 12 years. It has thus become a prominent centre of the Srivaishnava sect.

In the 12th century, the Srivaishnava saint Ramanujacharya took up his residence in this location for about 14 years. As a result it became a prominent centre of Srivaishnavism. Large numbers of Iyengar Brahmins migrated and settled in the region, forming the Mandyam Iyengar community.

In the early 16th century, there were around a thousand houses where Brahmins lived. In the 18th century, About 700 members of the mandyam Iyengar community were massacred by Tipu Sultan on the day of Naraka Chaturdashi. A section of the Mandayam Iyengar community, do not light lamps on...