Chamundi Hill Temple, Mysore - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

About Chamundi Hill Temple

At a distance of 8 km from Mysore Zoo & 13 km from Mysore Railway Station, Chamundi Hill Temple is a Hindu temple located in Mysore. It is one of the major places of pilgrimage in Karnataka, and among the must-visit places as part of Mysore tour packages.

Mythology

The Chamundi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari, an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi who took this form to destroy Mahishasura. Regarded as one of the best places to visit in Mysore, the temple is also known as Krouncha Pitham and is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas representing the hair of Sati Devi.

History of Chamundi Temple

Perched at an altitude of 1065 m, the Chamundi Hill Temple was believed to be built in the 12th century by the Rulers of the Hoysala Dynasty while the temple tower was probably built by Vijayanagara rulers in the 17th century. It gained a lot of significance after the Wodeyars, came to power in 1399 AD. The Wodeyars made extensive contributions to this shrine as Goddess Chamundeshwari is the tutelary deity of the Mysuru Maharajas and the presiding deity of Mysuru. Further, a flight of one thousand steps was built in 1659 that leads up to the 3000-foot summit of Chamundi Hill.

The Architecture of Chamundi Temple

The temple is a fine example of Dravidian temple architecture. The temple tower is 40 meters high with 7 stories and is painted in gold color. The main tower is followed by another tower that leads to the maha mandapa of the temple which has plain pillars followed by an antarala and the sanctum. The idol of goddess Chamundi inside the central sanctum was made with pure gold. Most of the time, the pilgrims have to get a glimpse of the goddess from maha mandapa. Those who are performing special poojas are allowed into the Antarala area close to the deity. There are several images of the goddess in different forms carved on the outer walls of the temple. The doorway of the tower has a beautiful image of Ganesha. There is a huge granite Nandi on the 700th step on the hill in front of a small Shiva temple a short distance away. Believed to be sculpted in the 2nd century CE, this Nandi is over 15 feet high and 24 feet long with exquisite bells around its neck. Besides, there is a colorful image of the Mahishasura situated on the summit of Chamundi Hill.

Chamundi Hill Temple Timings

Monday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Tuesday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Wednesday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Thursday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Friday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Saturday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM
Sunday: 7.30 AM - 2 PM, 3.30 PM - 6 PM & 7.30 PM - 9 PM

Chamundi Hill Temple Entry Fee

General Entry is Free
Special darshan available for Rs. 30 and Rs. 100

Best Time To Visit Chamundi Hill Temple

The best time to visit the Chamundi hills is dawn and dusk. The temple is highly flocked during the months of September and October due to the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali. In the late hours of the day, during the Dussehra season, a view of Mysore from the top of Chamundi hills is like a dream that makes you wonder at the immense beauty of the fully lit-up city.

How to Reach Chamundi Hill Temple

The temple can be reached either by walking or by bus or hiring a cab/auto. A well-laid motorable road is available to the hilltop. There are also one thousand steps from the bottom for those who prefer to walk. It usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour for Darshan and can go up to 2-3 hours on special occasions.