Chamundeshwari Temple, Hindu temple on Chamundi Hills, Mysore, India
Chamundeshwari Temple is a temple in Mysore, India, built on Chamundi Hills and devoted to the goddess Chamundeshwari. The site includes a tall tower, several halls with granite columns, and an open courtyard through which pilgrims walk to reach the inner shrine.
The Hoysala rulers built an early shrine at this site in the 12th century, which was later expanded. In the 17th century, the Vijayanagara Empire added the tower and more structures around the main hall.
The deity inside wears nine different sets of jewels and garments during Navaratri, each representing a transformation of divine power. Many of these ornaments come from the Wodeyar royal treasury and appear only during special occasions.
The site opens daily and is easier to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon when fewer people are present. For the staircase climb, wear comfortable footwear, while buses run regularly from central Mysore to the hilltop.
A monumental granite Nandi statue stands halfway up the hill, marking the seven hundredth step of the long staircase. The sculpture was carved from a single block of stone and draws many visitors who offer flowers and incense there.
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