Avadhoota Datta Peetham is one of Mysore's more unusual religious complexes: part ashram, part temple campus, part cultural institution. It is associated with Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and draws devotees for Datta worship, music, and large festival gatherings. For travellers, the interest is in the layered campus life rather than a single monument.
The grounds include shrines, halls, a bonsai garden, and Shuka Vana, an aviary that has become almost as well known as the ashram itself. Dress and behave as you would at an active religious site, and allow time to wander rather than rushing in for a photograph. It combines neatly with Chamundi Hill or the southern side of Mysore.