Chamundeshwari Temple

The Chamundeshwari Temple crowns the summit of Chamundi Hill on the edge of Mysuru and is dedicated to Chamundeshwari, a fierce form of Durga. Several dynasties supported the shrine over the centuries, and the Wadiyar kings of Mysuru regarded the goddess as their family deity. The hilltop also gives wide views over the city below.

The temple is built in the Dravidian style, with a gopuram over the entrance, carved pillars and walls showing episodes from Hindu mythology, many of them about the goddess and her forms. Legend says she killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura here, and a statue of the demon stands near the entrance. Other stories tell of a saint who prayed on the hill for the good of humanity, and of a spring whose water is believed to ease bodily pain and bring success.