The Yadavagiri hills are   situated in Melkote, in Mandya district of Karnataka state at a height of 900m above sea level. They are the large rocky ridges of the Sahayadri   range and contain some of the oldest rock formations on the earth. There are two main temple located on these hills. These are Thirunarayana temple and the hill temple of Yoga Narasimha. The place is also associated with the great Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya.

The legend has it that the idol of   Vishnu (Moolavar) in the Tirunarayana temple was originally worshipped by Lord Brahma himself.

It is said that the idol was brought down to earth and installed at Melkote by   Lord Brahma’s son Sanathakumara. The legend further states that the festive idol of Lord Vishnu was worshipped by the Lord Rama  himself who received it from Lord Brahma.

Lord Brahma gave the idol to Lord Rama   in view of Lord Rama’s reverence for Vishnu’s idol. Thus it gained   the name of “Ram priya”.

It is further said that the Rama priya idol was inherited by Kusha’s daughter Kanakamalini who was married to a Yadava king. Later,   in the Dwapara Yuga the lord Krishna and Balrama inherited the idol.  It is believed that   they brought the idol to Melkote and installed it there.

The Yoga Narasimha temple is believed to have been installed by Prahalada who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.

This place is also famous for the Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary. It can be divided into two blocks, namely, Mudibetta and Narayadurga Forest. The forest‘s are dominated by the decidious scurb vegetation. The main idea behind the founding of this sanctuary was the protection of the Indian wolf. Cycas, circinalis which is an endangered species is found here. Many species of butterflies are also found here.