Chamundeshwari Temple

Chamundeshwari is the tutelary deity of Mysuru and its former royal house, embodying the triumph of divine power over evil. Her slaying of Mahishasura is celebrated as the very meaning of Vijayadashami (Dussehra), when good conquers evil. The famed Mysuru Dasara, with its caparisoned elephants and royal pageantry, honours the goddess as the protector of the land. She is revered across Karnataka as a powerful and benevolent mother.

The Chamundeshwari temple crowns the Chamundi Hills, reached by road or by climbing about a thousand steps past the giant monolithic Nandi carved from a single boulder. The goddess, a form of Durga, is worshipped as the vanquisher of Mahishasura — the demon after whom Mysuru (Mahishuru) is named. Patronised for centuries by the Wadiyar kings of Mysore, the temple is richly adorned and offers sweeping views over the city and its illuminated palace. The Mysuru Dasara, one of India's most spectacular festivals, is intimately connected with the goddess and culminates in a grand procession.