Chamundeshwari Temple

Chamundeshwari Temple is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, located atop Chamundi Hills about 13 km from Mysuru city in Karnataka. Revered as the tutelary deity of the Mysore royal family and considered one of the Shakti Peethas, the temple features Dravidian architecture with a seven-storey gopuram. Originally built in the 12th century and later expanded by Vijayanagara rulers and the Wodeyars, it attracts pilgrims and tourists year-round.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple complex with Dravidian architecture, a seven-storey gopuram, pillared corridors and a sanctum housing the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The temple sits atop Chamundi Hills offering panoramic views of Mysuru city. The approach is via a winding ghat road or the historic 1000 stone steps flanked by a large monolithic Nandi statue midway. Inside, visitors experience darshan queues, devotional rituals, and prasadam counters, with shops and stalls outside selling flowers and offerings.

The original shrine is believed to have been built in the 12th century by the Hoysalas. The temple was later expanded by the Vijayanagara rulers in the 17th century and further developed by the Wodeyars of Mysore, who regarded Goddess Chamundeshwari as their tutelary deity. The seven-storey gopuram and the large Nandi statue on the hillside are attributed to later Wodeyar patronage.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, a form of Durga, and is regarded as one of the Shakti Peethas and among the most revered Shakti temples in Karnataka. It is the family deity of the Mysore royal family and the central focus of Mysuru Dasara celebrations, attracting devotees especially during Navratri and Dasara.