Temple Description

The Chamundeshwari Temple, perched atop Chamundi Hills approximately 13 kilometers from Mysuru’s palace city in Karnataka, India, is a revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Chamundeshwari, an intense form of Shakti. This goddess is deeply venerated as the state deity, known locally as Nada Devi, meaning “State Goddess.” The temple stands at an elevation of about 3,300 feet above sea level.According to legend, Goddess Durga vanquished the demon king Mahishasura at this location, which was once his stronghold. The site was originally called Mahishooru (Place of Mahisha), later Anglicized to Mysore by the British, and then Kannada-ized to Mysuru.The Chamundeshwari Temple is also regarded as a Shakti Peetha, specifically known as Krouncha Peetha, referencing the ancient name Krouncha Puri. It is believed that a part of the goddess Sati’s hair fell here.The temple’s origins trace back to the 12th century, attributed to the Hoysala Dynasty, with its towering structure likely added by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century. A notable feature is the 1,000-step staircase constructed in 1659, ascending the 3,000-foot hill to the temple. Along the path, a large granite Nandi, sculpted in the 2nd century CE, stands impressively at the 700th step in front of a small Shiva temple. This Nandi, adorned with bells around its neck, measures over 15 feet in height and 24 feet in length.