Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills Mysuru – where Mahishasura was killed by Goddess Chamundeswari – Mahishasura Mardini & One of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas / Shrines dedicated to Goddess Shakthi  – Visit, Temple Timings, History, Contact Number, Travel Guide (Update)

– 1000 years old goddess durga temple in mysuru

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple is one the most famous 1000 years old Goddess Durga temple in Chamundi Hills (Mahabalachala) Mysore. This temple is also one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas – the famous shrines dedicated to Goddess Shakthi. This temple is about 13 km from Mysuru and resides at a height of about 3 thousand 486 feet above sea level.

The Goddess Chamundi / Durga at this temple is in the fierce form of Goddess Shakti, who is the slayer of demons, ‘Chanda’ and ‘Munda’ and also ‘Mahishasura’. Hence the goddess is also known as the Mahishasura Mardini. This temple is worshipped by all famous Indian rulers like Hoysalas, Vijayanagara Empire, and Mysuru Wodeyars.

Skanda Purana and other ancient texts mention this place as Trimuta Kshetra, which is surrounded by eight hills. Generally, Chamundi Hills – the home of Goddess Chamundeesvari Devi temple is one of the first places people visit when they visit Mysore. Devotees and tourists who come to see Mysore will enjoy other tourist attractions only after having a darshan of Goddess Chamundeswari first. The temple’s current Raja Gopura tower was built by Krishna Raja Wodeyar III in 1830.

If you go to the top of the hill, the worldly goddess Chamundeswari with 18 arms will be visible. The temple is greeted by a grand Nandi statue as much as 5 meters tall and 7.6 meters in length, also sits halfway up the hill on the way to Chamundi Temple, Mysore and we can find a small temple devoted to Lord Shiva at a short distance from the statue. The Chamundi Village is also located just close to this temple.

A massive Mahisasuran idol with a cobra in one hand and a sword in the other can also be seen at the entrance of this temple. The view from the temple is stunning, as we can see many significant structures of the city including the Lalitha Mahal Palace on the way to this temple.

History of Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills Mysore

The Mysore city was early known as Mahishasura – Mahisha Mandal. The asura king Mahishasura who was known to be immortal was a big threat to the people and the dharma.

To save the people from the Mahishasura, Goddess Chamundeswari killed the asura after a fierce battle as the form of Goddess Chamundeshwari / Durga. This battle was known to be lasted for 10 days.

After the battle, Goddess Chamundeshwari / Durga accepted the request of the devotees, that she should stay in the same place and bless them in Chamundi Hills.

The temple was initially constructed as a simple shrine, but as goddess Durga’s divinity spread, it rapidly grew in popularity. Many rulers have been associated with contributing to the development of the Chamundi temple in Mysore.

The credit for major contributions to this temple goes to three dynasties- Hoysala, Vijayanagar, and Mysore rulers. According to history logs, the original shrine was built in the 12th century by the Hoysala rulers, with the towers being built by the Vijayanagar rulers of the 17th century.

In Mysore, the Chamundeshwari Temple is the ideal fusion of stunning architecture, tranquil settings, and spiritual sentiments. The temple is made up of a magnificent seven-tier tower called a Raja Gopuram / Gopura. In addition to these, the temple also has Navaranga Hall, Antharala Mantapam, Prakara, and a Vimana.

The tower at the entrance has a small image of Lord Ganesha on the doorway. The doorway is silver-plated and has images of the Goddess in different forms. On either side of the doorway are the images of ‘Dwarapalakas’ or door-keepers. As one enters inside, on the right-hand side is a small statue of Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles.

After a few steps, there is a flagstaff, the footprints of the Goddess, and a small statue of Nandi, facing the sanctum sanctorum. On the right side, before approaching the flagstaff, there is an image of Lord Hanuman attached to the wall.

Festival at Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills Mysore

As Navaratri is celebrated as the state festival of Karnataka. Sri Chamundeshwari Temple is famous for the celebrations of festivals like Dusshera / Navaratri.

During this festival, the Goddess is decorated in 9 different ways to depict nine different aspects of the Goddess Sakthi. On the 7th day of Navaratri, Chamundi graces the devotees wearing the most valuable jewels donated by the Mysore Maharajas family. Also, there will be a decorated elephant Balarama’s Savari – a road procession around the main roads of Mysore city.

Travel Tips for Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills Mysore

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Mysore Address:  Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi Hill, Mysuru 570010, Karnataka, India.
Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Contact Number / Phone:+91 0821 259 0027 / +91 0821 259 0127

Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Timings: 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM,

How To Reach Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundi Hills Mysore:

There are 1008 stone-cut stairs leading up to the temple, which is built at the summit of the Chamundi hills. The two primary paths can be used to access the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysore. To get to the temple, you can either walk up the steps or use a car to navigate the winding valley route.

On-Road: The Chamundi Temple is about 13 km from Mysore City, and getting there is simple and inexpensive with local taxis or auto-rickshaws for either a one-way or two-way excursion. The drive to the Chamundi Hills from the railway takes around 30 minutes. Additionally, KSRTC bus services are provided every 20 minutes from the Mysore city bus terminal to Sri Chamundeshwari Temple to ease and comfort travelers.

Nearest Airport: Nearest Airport – Mysuru Airport (MYQ)

Nearest Railway station: Nearest Railway station is Mysore Junction and its station code is MYS.

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