Places: Melkote

If you are interested in visiting a quiet, away-from-it-all non-tourist-infested little hilly town, try Melkote. This is a small temple town located 30 kms from Mandya (around 100 kms down Mysore Road). It is a nice place to sit and watch the countrytside from atop a hill, feel the breeze, and take long walks along quaint streets, gentle slopes, and pleasant countryside.

Melkote is known for its ancient historic temples and quiet beauty - there's one on top of a small hill (not steep at all) - and its 101 tanks with steps and beautiful carved mandapas. Also known for its Iyengars - it is a holy place for them, and they have a major festival there every year.
At times, there are film shootings happening - there was one when we went.

Note: The place is so laid back, there are no restaurants there - only Iyengar Mess kind of places - but we ate at one of those places, and the food was so good, and so just-like-home that we had many helpings! Beats restaurants any day. There are no hotels to stay either, other than chathrams. Mandya is the nearest place where you get hotel lodging.

How to reach there:
Go down Mysore road, take a right turn immediately after Mandya town - ask someone as you may miss the road - it is a small country road surrounded by fields and ponds and small villages in between. When the KSRTC bus we went in turned into the road, I actually thought that the driver was just taking a small diversion to pick up his lunch box from home!
Road is quite okay, and the scenery is very nice. Nice places to stop and enjoy the peace and quiet.
You could even drive down to Mandya, stay overnight and go to Melkote next morning. Decent hotels right on the main road at Mandya.

Caution: Don't remember seeing any petrol pumps/repair shops after turning in from Mandya.

Request: Please keep the place as quiet and neat as you see it!