Chamundi Hills

The Chamundeshwari Temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills. Patronised for centuries by Mysore rulers, it was renovated during the time of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1827).

Named after the Goddess Chamundi, the Chamundeshwari Temple sits atop the main hill.^[1] The main hill itself features an ancient stone stairway of 1,008+ steps leading to its summit, which was constructed in 1659 by Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar. Approximately halfway to the summit is statue of bull Nandi, the vahana, or "vehicle" of Lord Shiva, which is 4.9 m tall and 7.6 m long and carved out of a single piece of black granite. Around this point, the steps become significantly less steep and eventually the climber is rewarded with a panoramic view of the city.

The Temple has a quadrangular structure. A key feature is the statue of Mahishasura bearing a sword in his right hand and a cobra in the left. Within the temple's sanctum stands a sculpted depiction of Chamundeshwari. She is seated with her right heel pressed against the lowest of the seven chakras. This cross-legged yogic posture echoes the posture of Lord Shiva. Worshipers believe that this powerful yogic posture, if mastered, provides an added dimensional view of the universe.

During the rule of Wadiyars of Mysore, the Maharaja was seated in the golden howdah atop the elephant during Vijayadashami (tenth day of Dasara) procession. Post-independence, the Maharaja was replaced by an idol of Chamundeshwari, while the Dasara into a State festival.

From the peak of the Chamundi hills, the Mysore Palace, the Karanji Lake and several smaller temples are visible.

Due to its popularity as a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, Chamundi Hills faces environmental challenges such as plastic waste accumulation and pressure on local ecosystems.^[3] Various cleanliness and conservation efforts are periodically undertaken by local authorities and community groups to address these concerns and promote sustainable tourism.

According to a legend, the asura Mahishasura (king of the city that is currently known as Mysore) was killed by goddess Chamundeswari (also called Chamundi) after a fierce battle. The goddess is also called Mahishasura Mardini.^[4]

According to mythology, this rocky hill was known as Mahabalachala. Two ancient temples occupy the hill, the Mahabaleshvara and the Chamundeshvari; the Mahabaleshvara Temple on the hill is the older of the two and is a place of pilgrimage. The car festival and 'Teppotsava' are held there.

The name of Mysuru comes from the old Kannada word "Mahishooru". Mahishooru literally means 'the village of Mahishasura.' The British then modified this name to 'Mysore'. Then, on 1 November 2014, the government of Karnataka changed the name to 'Mysuru'. The hill thus has an indirect influence on the name of the city

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  A 2nd-century CE sculpture of Nandi at the Chamundi Hills
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  The Nandi statue in the modern times
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  The decorated Nandi statue

Chamundi Hills Reserve Forest Area (613.51 hectares) serves as a critical "green island" and a microcosm of the regional biodiversity, with its strong influence on the Microclimate of the Mysore urban area.^[5] The hill is home to over 440 species of flowering plants, 193 species of birds, 153 species of butterflies, 20 species of mammals and 10 species of reptiles. ^[6]

Long-term avian research conducted between 1996 and 2006^[7], has documented 193 bird species in the reserve forest, representing ~34% of birds of Karnataka (570) and ~14% of India's total bird diversity (1,396)^[8]. The unique positioning of the hill allows it to act as a watershed and a corridor for birds moving between local water bodies such as Kukkarahalli Lake, Lingambudhi Lake, and Karanji Lake.

• Resident species: 96 species (69%) are year-round residents, with 63 species confirmed to be breeding within the hills, including the Bonelli's eagle and Franklin's prinia. The peacock population has also thrived since 2020.^[9]
• Migratory species: 41 species (29%) are winter migrants, including the vulnerable Lesser kestrel.
• Conservation status: The critically endangered Indian white-backed vulture has been recorded in the area. However, endemic yellow-throated bulbul completely disappeared from the hills during the survey period (last seen in August 2003).The "Big Four" venomous snakes of India can be found here are the spectacled cobra, Russell's viper, common krait, and saw-scaled viper. Non-venomous species such as the Oriental rat snake and common trinket snake are also frequently documented by local naturalists.^[10][11] Other reptiles seen on the hill include the peninsular rock agama ^[12], Mysore day gecko^[13], Bengal monitor^[14], the Indian chameleon^[15] and the Oriental garden lizard.

More than 150 species of butterflies are found here (~10% of India), and the hill is a documented waypoint for the mass migration of Nymphalidae between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.^[5][16][17] Other species include Blue Tiger, Common Crows, Scarce Shot Silverline (2012) and Emigrants ^[18]

The primate population of Chamundi Hills is primarily represented by the bonnet macaque^[19] and the tufted gray langur. The population of bonnet macaques has remained stable (240 in 2004) even as the species faces sharp declines elsewhere in Southern India due to habitat loss.^[20] These macaques are highly habituated to high-traffic tourist areas. In contrast, the Hanuman langurs are typically more shy and reside in the deeper forest patches.^[21] The hill supports mammals including the Indian leopard^[22], Jungle cat, Black-naped hare, Pangolin and Common palm civet.^[5][23][24]

• Lalithadripura
• Sacred mountains of India