{"id":827,"date":"2026-07-15T05:07:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T05:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mysoretravelo.com\/blog\/?p=827"},"modified":"2026-07-16T05:12:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T05:12:46","slug":"temples-on-the-way-to-mysore-from-bangalore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysoretravelo.com\/blog\/temples-on-the-way-to-mysore-from-bangalore\/","title":{"rendered":"Temples on the Way to Mysore from Bangalore"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bangalore\u2013Mysore stretch isn’t just a highway you power through to reach the palace city faster. Spread across these 145 km are some genuinely old, genuinely significant temples \u2014 a couple of them centuries older than most monuments either city is known for. If you’re doing this drive anyway, a few short detours turn it into a proper pilgrimage route. Here’s exactly where they are, what to expect, and how to fit them into your trip without derailing your schedule.<\/p>\n

The main temples on the way to Mysore from Bangalore, in driving order along NH 275, are: Kengal Anjaneya Swamy Temple (Ramanagara, ~50 km), Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple (Doddamallur, near Channapatna), Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangapatna, ~130 km), and Nimishamba Temple (Srirangapatna, just a few km further).<\/strong> With a short detour, you can also cover Melukote’s Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the Hoysala-era Chennakeshava Temple at Somnathpur. Most of these fit into a single day trip without adding more than 45\u201360 minutes of extra driving.<\/p>\n

Temples Between Bangalore and Mysore \u2014 At a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Temple<\/th>\nLocation<\/th>\nDistance from Bangalore<\/th>\nDeity<\/th>\nOn the Main Route?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Kengal Anjaneya Swamy Temple<\/td>\nRamanagara<\/td>\n~50 km<\/td>\nLord Hanuman<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple<\/td>\nDoddamallur<\/td>\n~65 km<\/td>\nLord Krishna (Navneetha Krishna)<\/td>\nYes (Short Detour)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple<\/td>\nSrirangapatna<\/td>\n~130 km<\/td>\nLord Vishnu (Reclining)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nimishamba Temple<\/td>\nSrirangapatna<\/td>\n~132 km<\/td>\nGoddess Nimishamba (Durga)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple<\/td>\nMelukote<\/td>\n~130 km (Detour)<\/td>\nLord Vishnu<\/td>\nDetour (~30 km Each Way)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chennakeshava Temple<\/td>\nSomnathpur<\/td>\n~140 km (Detour)<\/td>\nLord Chennakeshava<\/td>\nDetour (~20 km Each Way)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Srikanteshwara Temple<\/td>\nNanjangud<\/td>\n~165 km (Past Mysore)<\/td>\nLord Shiva<\/td>\nOptional Extension<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chamundeshwari Temple<\/td>\nChamundi Hills, Mysore<\/td>\n~150 km<\/td>\nGoddess Chamundeshwari<\/td>\nYes (Arrival Point)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Kengal Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Ramanagara<\/h2>\n

Your first proper temple stop, roughly 50 km out of Bangalore near Ramanagara \u2014 the same region famous for its granite hills and as the shooting location of the film Sholay. This is a large Hanuman temple with a strong local following, and devotees often stop here specifically to pray for safe travel before continuing the drive. It’s an easy, quick stop that doesn’t require much of a detour off the highway.<\/p>\n

Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple, Doddamallur<\/h2>\n

Just past the toy town of Channapatna lies Doddamallur, home to the Sri Aprameya Swamy Temple \u2014 dedicated to Lord Krishna in his playful form as Navneetha Krishna (butter Krishna). Local legend places this temple at over 1,500 years old, and it’s sometimes referred to as the “Dakshina Ayodhya” (Ayodhya of the South), tied to a legend that Lord Rama himself stayed and worshipped here. It’s a quieter, less crowded stop compared to the bigger temples further down the route \u2014 worth it if you enjoy temples with genuine history rather than just scale.<\/p>\n

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna<\/h2>\n

This is the big one. Located on the island town of Srirangapatna, about 15 km before Mysore, the Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the five sacred Panch Ranga Kshetras dedicated to Lord Vishnu in India, and one of the oldest temples on this entire route \u2014 dating back to the 9th century, with major additions by the Ganga, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara dynasties over the centuries. The sanctum houses Lord Ranganatha in his reclining form on the serpent Adisesha, and the temple complex has genuinely striking Dravidian carvings and pillars. If you visit only one temple on this route, make it this one.<\/p>\n

Timings:<\/strong> Roughly 6:00 AM\u20131:00 PM and 4:00 PM\u20138:00 PM. Entry is free for regular darshan; a quick-darshan option is available for a small fee during busy periods.<\/p>\n

Nimishamba Temple, Srirangapatna<\/h2>\n

A few kilometres past Ranganathaswamy, on the banks of the Kaveri, sits the Nimishamba Temple \u2014 around 300 years old. “Nimisha” means minute in Kannada, and the belief here is that sincere prayers offered to the goddess bring relief within minutes. It’s a smaller, more intimate temple than Ranganathaswamy, and pairs naturally with it since both are minutes apart in Srirangapatna. Local vendors nearby sell fresh farm vegetables and the famous Srirangapatna puliyogare \u2014 worth picking up before you continue toward Mysore.<\/p>\n

Worth the Detour: Melukote & Somnathpur<\/h2>\n

If your schedule allows an extra hour or two, these two are genuinely worth the deviation off NH 275:<\/p>\n

Melukote (Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple<\/a>):<\/strong> About 50 km from Mysore in Pandavapura taluk, Melukote is where the saint-philosopher Ramanuja is believed to have lived for 12 years. The temple is known for its collection of precious jewels, brought out only on special occasions, and offers panoramic hill views. The local puliyogare and pongal here have their own dedicated fan base among travellers.<\/p>\n

Somnathpur (Chennakeshava Temple):<\/strong> A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture anywhere in Karnataka, built in 1268 CE. The temple’s 16 distinctly carved ceilings and intricately detailed exterior walls make it a stop for architecture lovers as much as devotees, even if it’s a slight detour from the main highway.<\/p>\n

Arrival: Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore<\/h2>\n

No trip on this route really ends until you’ve climbed Chamundi Hills to the Chamundeshwari Temple \u2014 the presiding deity of Mysore, worshipped here for centuries and the namesake behind the city’s own name. It’s less a “on the way” stop and more the natural, spiritual conclusion of the journey, best saved for after you’ve checked into Mysore and settled in.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips for a Temple-Focused Trip<\/h2>\n