Chamundi Hill Mysore

Chamundi Hill on the outskirt of Mysore, Karnataka is one landmark place which never fails to be present in the itinerary of tourists visiting Mysore. While driving to Mysore, these hills can be seen from a distance of about 8 to 10 kms. The average elevation of the Chamundi Hill of Mysore is 1065 meters above sea level and approximately 800 meters above Mysore. It is about 3 kms from the City of Mysore.

On the top of the hill stands the Chamundeshwari Temple that has its emergence which dates back to the 11 th century. Chamundeshwari was the omnipotent deity of the Mysore Maharajas and has been idolized for centuries. Goddess Chamundeshwari is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and took this form to vanquish the demon Mahisasura. The fierce form of Shakti can be witnessed in Goddess Chamundeshwari. The temple has the image of the Goddess wearing a garland of skulls.

Maharaja Dodda Devaraja built the flight of 1000 steps in 1659 which leads up to the peak of the hill. The steps are carved out of granite rocks and are built to help the pilgrims ascend the hill easily. History also claims that Chamraja Wodeyar who worshipped there in 1573 was miraculously saved from a lightning hit. It is also asserted in history that Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar constructed 63 houses at the floor of Chamundi hills and named it Devarajapura. He donated it to the Brahmins who took care of the temple. As the kings used horses to go to the temples, there were separate set of equestrian steps carved out on the hills. Krishnaraja III built the marvelous gopuram (pyramidal temple tower) in late 18 th century and presented the Nakshatramalika jewel.

A colorful gigantic statue of the Mahishasura made of mortar stands atop the hill to greet the visitors. The temple also has several images of Nandi (the bull mount of Shiva). On the 800 th step on the hill, there is a colossal statue of Nandi. The statue is over 15 feet high and 24 feet long. There is a small palace on the top that belongs to the Kings of Mysore called Lilathadri. A temple tank called Devikola is used during festivals. The Chamundi Hill in Mysore also has shrines dedicated to Shive-mahabaleshwar and Lakshmi Narayana-Vishnu.