Nambinarayana perumal temple
Nambinarayana perumal Kovil ('Kovil' is the Tamizh word for 'temple' and 'Perumal' is the Tamizh word for 'Lord') at Thondanur ('Thonnur' in Kannada) about 18 kms from Melkottai / Thirunarayanapuram (in Tamizh) ('Melkote' in Kannada) is a beautiful example of the intricate Hoysala architecture. The Hoysalas were some of the most prominent, brave as well as art-loving Hindu rulers of Karnataka from the 10th to 14th centuries.

The principal deity, Lord Nambinarayanar looks majestic in 'Ninra Thirukkolam' ('standing posture' in Tamizh) at 1.82 metres height and ornately decorated. The 'Thaayar' ('Goddess' in Tamizh) name is 'Aravinda Naayaki'. This extremely old temple (more than 6000 yrs of the appearance of the Lord Narayana as a 'Swayambhu' or 'self-manifestation' in Sanskrit) was facelifted beautifully by the Hoysala kings and stands testimony to the most amazing Hindu greatness / history of Bharatvarsh (India).

Close to this temple (within 100 metres distances on either side of it) are the Gopala Krishna Swamy as well as the Yoga Narasimhar temples.

The Yoga Narasimhar (Narsingh avataar of Lord Vishnu or Narayanan) temple is the most famous one where Thiru Ramanujar (one of the greatest Sri Vaishnava saints who lived a 1000 years before the present times) is said to have spent 12 years of his lifetime.

He mediated there and it is also the place where the then King Vishnuvardhana with his Jain followers all embraced and became Sri Vaishnavas after listening to the holy sermon of Sri Ramanujacharya.
Nambinarayana perumal temple
In this temple Thiru Ramanujar ('Thiru' in chaste Tamizh is the equivalent of 'Sri' in Sanskrit) is believed to be in the form of a snake since he is supposed to be an avataar of the snake Adiseshan who encircles and protects Lord SrimanNarayanan. Just 300 metres away is the Thodanur Yeri (in Tamizh) (or 'Kere Thonnur' in Kannada) where a massive statue of Thiru Ramanujar has been erected on the banks

This place is about 140 kms away from Bangalore. It is a Hindu historical and archaeological wonder and a proud living Hindu heritage of Bharatvarsh.