Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple

A hilltop shrine atop Chamundi Hills overlooking Mysuru, dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the fierce form of Durga said to have slain the buffalo-demon Mahishasura nearby. A giant statue of the demon stands near the temple, and the thousand-step stone stairway up the hill passes a monolithic Nandi bull carved from a single rock.

A Vishnu temple on the historic island of Srirangapatna — the former capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan, despite being Muslim, was a devotee of this temple and gifted it precious jewels. The site also has Tipu's summer palace and the place where he fell in battle (1799).

Five ancient Shiva temples (Panchalinga — Vaidyanatha, Pathaleshwara, Maruleshwara, Arkeshwara, Kirtinarayana) half-buried in sand dunes beside the Cauvery river — an extraordinary and eerie landscape. The famous Panchaling Darshana (viewing all five) once in 12 years during the Teerthavari festival draws 3 million pilgrims.

A Vishnu temple in the Biligiri Rangana Hills (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary at an elevation of 1,700 metres — where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. 'Biligiri' means 'white rock' in Kannada — the rock formation near the temple glows white in evening light. The scenic hill drive through the tiger reserve is an experience in itself.