The village is located in the lower Gauldalen valley, along the river Gaula, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the city of Trondheim.

[1] The village lies along the European route E06 highway as well as the Dovrebanen railway line.

The railroad stops at the Melhus Station in the central part of the village.

It was the site of the Rimul farm in Melhus at which Jarl Haakon was killed by his slave, Tormod Kark.

Jarlshola is the location in Melhus thought to have been the hiding place of Jarl Haakon and Tormod Kark on their last night before the infamous murder at Rimul.