India GO
Karighatta Hill near Mysore: temple, steps and the river view
Karighatta is a 2,697-foot (822 m) hill about 5 km east of Srirangapatna, in Mandya district, with the temple of Srinivasa (Venkataramanaswamy) on the summit. You can drive up the winding road or climb about 450 stone steps. From the top you look over the meeting of the Kaveri and Lokapavani rivers. Entry to the hill is free.
Tour buses reach Srirangapatna and turn around, which is the only reason the hill just outside it stays a local matter. It rises 2,697 feet, with a paved road to the top or 450 steps for anyone who would rather earn the view, and the old Vaikuntha Srinivasa temple at the summit. From there you look over the meeting of the Kaveri and the Lokapavani, with Chamundi Hill, the city and the gopuram (the tower above a temple gate) of Ranganathaswamy picked out on clear days. People come up for sunset, when the two rivers go silver. On weekdays there is almost no one.
Sunset above two rivers meeting, on a hill the tour buses drive straight past
How far is Karighatta from Mysore, and how to get there
Karighatta is on the left bank of the Lokapavani, on the Srirangapatna–Bannur road, about 5 km east of Srirangapatna, according to the Mandya district administration. The India GO card puts it at around 16 km from Mysore, just off the Bengaluru highway. Buses run from Srirangapatna and nearby towns; by car or taxi it combines easily with a day in Srirangapatna.
At the hill there are two ways up: a steep, winding paved road to the top, or about 450 stone steps to the flat summit where the temple stands.
What to see on top
The temple and the view are the two reasons to come up.
Srinivasa temple
Built in the time of the Mysore kings, with a spacious courtyard. The main shrine holds Vaikuntha Srinivasa in black stone, flanked by Yoga Srinivasa and Bhoga Srinivasa; the shrine of the goddess Padmavathi is on the west side, and a Garuda statue faces the main temple.
The confluence
From the summit you see the Kaveri meet the Lokapavani. On clear days the view reaches Srirangapatna, Chamundi Hill and the city of Mysore.
Nimishamba temple
The temple of Nimishamba, a form of Parvati, stands on the opposite bank of the Lokapavani and can be picked out from the top.
History and legends
Karighatta means "elephant hill" in Kannada, and old inscriptions already call the place Karighatta or Karrighatta. The Varaha Purana is said to call the hill Neelachala, the blue mountain. Local legend links the name to a wild elephant, and another story holds that the British set up their cannons here during the siege of Srirangapatna. The temple's annual car festival falls in February–March and draws large numbers of pilgrims.
✅ When to go and what to know
- Sunset is when most people come up, for the light over the two rivers.
- On weekdays there is almost no one.
- The hill has dry scrub, with tamarind and gooseberry trees near the temple; carry water on the steps.
- The temple is a working shrine with daily worship.
- Temple hours are not published by an official source, so if darshan matters to you, check locally before you set out.
❓ FAQ
How many steps are in the Karighatta Temple?
About 450 stone steps lead to the summit. A paved road also goes to the top.
How far is Karighatta Hill from Mysore?
About 16 km, according to the India GO card; it is 5 km east of Srirangapatna.
Where is Karighatta located?
In Mandya district, on the left bank of the Lokapavani, on the Srirangapatna–Bannur road.
What is the history of the Karighatta Temple?
The Srinivasa (Venkataramanaswamy) temple on the summit was built in the time of the Mysore kings; the hill is mentioned in old inscriptions as Karighatta.
Is there an entry fee for Karighatta Hill?
No, it is free.