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Voykit pocket guide · India
H.D. Kote
Spend a half‑day exploring H.D. Kote’s temples and villages; stay in Mysore (≈50 km away) for night‑time comfort.
H.D. Kote is a small hill town in Mysuru district, Karnataka. With a handful of temples, tribal villages and trekking routes, the sights fit comfortably into a half‑day. No rail service and limited lodging mean base yourself in Mysore, 50 km away, for overnight stays.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (check)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,500–₹2,200 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Masala dosa | ₹70 |
| Chicken biryani | ₹140 |
| Bus ticket H.D. Kote → Mysore | ₹150 |
| Autorickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Autorickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MYQ · Mysore Airport
- Limited flights; most visitors fly into Bengaluru (BLR) and drive 3–4 h
Typical fares
- Bus H.D. Kote → Mysore
- about ₹150, 1 h (check)
- Autorickshaw 5 km
- about ₹80 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Autorickshaws are the main local transport; taxis are scarce. Buses run between H.D. Kote and Mysore (≈50 km (31 mi), 1 h).Autorickshaws are the main local transport; taxis are scarce. Buses run between H.D. Kote and Mysore (≈31 mi (50 km), 1 h).
See and do
Known for
- Gaddige Kenddganeshwara Temple
- Varada Raja Swamy Temple
- Mahadeshwara Temple
- Jamia Masjidh
- Tribal villages like Saragur
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mysore | KSRTC bus from H.D. Kote, about 1 h, or hire a car with driver | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Mysore city centre
- Good accommodation is available in Mysore; about 1 h by bus from H.D. Kote.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| Where is the bus stop? | बस स्टॉप कहाँ है?bas stop kahaan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No railway station in H.D. Kote; plan bus or private car.
- Limited taxi availability; rely on autorickshaws.
- Small lodges exist but basic; most visitors stay in Mysore.
H.D. Kote is a quiet rural town; typical risks are limited street lighting after dark and stray dogs. Keep valuables out of sight and carry a torch.
One and two days
No timed day plan for H.D. Kote yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gaddige Kenddganeshwara Temple
- Varada Raja Swamy Temple
- Mahadeshwara Temple
- Jamia Masjidh
- Tribal villages like Saragur
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: H.D.Kote, revision 5300582 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5300582
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
H.D. Kote
कृपया इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / General emergency112
Indian emergency number 112 works nationwide; foreign embassies are in Bangalore and New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/h-d-kote). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.