Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore

One of the must-see places in Mysore is Chamundeshwari temple. The temple is named after the goddess Chamundeshwari, who killed demon Mahishasura. This temple was also build by Hoysala rulers as mentioned in my earlier post about their intricate building architecture. The entrance Gopuram is 7 stories tall, with silver doors and the idol made of gold. As a matter of fact, Mysore gets its name from the demon Mahishasura, who originally ruled it. A statue of Mahishasura is installed on the way to the temple. The temple has typical Indian mythological carvings. There is a huge granite Nandi on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short distance away, with layers of decorative bells and jewelry. We can either trek the Chamundi hill or there are very good roads to drive or take the local bus. The view of the city from the top is very scenic. Moreover, at night it’s beautiful with city lights glittering.

The best day to go in the evening would be saturday-sunday. Because, then we can see the beautifully lit Mysore Palace from 7-8 pmJ. Beware of the reckless bike drivers, who switch off their bikes while driving down the hill, it’s hard to see them with no headlights on. Please avoid driving like that.

The Gopuram:

Mahishasura:

Nandi: