Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills is an important Shaiva pilgrim center in South India. Its situated at an altitude of 900m. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara who is said to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. Temple is located at the center of seven hills.
The hill is covered by dry deciduous forest. The upward trek starts from Koudalli, which is at the feet of MM Hills. The temple of Malai Mahadeswara is at an elevation of 30 km from this base.
There is a difficult trek that starts from MM Hills and leads you to Naagamale, and from Naagmale you can follow the trekking trail to Palar. On the way to Naagamale, you pass through some of the breathtaking views and shola forest. You can also spot some of the rare and colorful birds, and also elephants, bears, deer, and panthers. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Naagamale.
It takes around 14 km of trek to reach Naagamale from MM Hills via Indiganatham. If you want to trek further to Palar, itll take another 8 km of trek
Location
State: Karnataka
Exact Location: MM hills is a temple town situated in the eastern part of the Kollegal taluk.
Nearest Town: Kollegal (70 km), Mysore (140 km)
Distance from Bangalore: 210+ km
How to Reach
From Bangalore to MM hills: You need to follow this route. Mysore - Ramanagaram - Chennapattana. Maddur is 20 km away from Chennapattana. From Maddur, one needs to take a left turn to move towards Malavalli, and from there to Kollegal, which is located at a distance of 35 km, before reaching the destined location, MM hills, via Hanur and Koudalli.
From Mysore: One needs to travel towards T.Narsipur also known as T.N.Pura, which is 30 km from Mysore. Kollegal is a mere 31 km from T.Narsipur. From Kollegal, MM hills can be reached via Hanur and Koudalli.
Other Attractions in the Vicinity
Hogenakkal falls: Located at a distance of 45 km from Malai Mahadeswara temple, Hogenkal is in the state of Tamilnadu. The water plummets down from a great height and resembles smoke, thus it has been named Hogenakkal (smoking rocks). In Kannada, Hoge means smoke and kal means stone.
Advisory
Prior permission required for trekking.
Best Time to Visit
Keep in your Bag
- Walking stick
- Hiking shoes
- Woolen clothes
- Water and snacks
- Torch
- Medical kit