Nov 09, 2015 10:52 PM
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(Updated Nov 10, 2015 10:33 AM)
Alright, so I visited Mysore in Oct 2015 and it was a 3 day visit(22, 23 and 24). Though Mysore is filled with Various other Tourist spots and many other Temples, this was the most beautiful and must visit Temple and a Tourist sport as well at Mysore. So on 24th Morning we got ready and started our journey towards the Sacred hill of Mysore "Chamundi Hills" to Visit the famous "Chamundeshwari Temple" and below is my Experience with Details of this location.
The hill is Located south of mysore and Close to Mysore Palace and Race course. The Road to this Hill is very well built, probably one of the best hill roads in South India I guess. Next best to Tirupati. Though the temple is Situation at about 3489 ft mean sea level, it did not look like we are at that height. The Roads on The hill we so wide and good that it just took only 10 minutes to climb this hill. And in fact climbing the hill was not hard at all, No hairpin bends and all, and it looked like we are on a state Highway on The ground!
There is no Parking for Vehicles on the Top and everyone needs to park their cars on the side of the Roads only - This what I thought, but no there is parking for the Temple on the other side of the Temple. Since we visited this Temple During Dussehra time, the Crowds were heavy and hence we were Diverted to Temple Lake Location and Climb from there. While the main Entrance is on the other side where the Parking is there for Cars and buses. Anyhow, we luckily found a parking place as another car just cleared a place and We parked out Sedan their safe!
To Reach The actual Chamundeshwari temple, there are actually two ways - One is through the Bus stand, which main and usual and other via Lake climb way. Since We Were Diverted to go through the Lake, we had to Climb the Steps for few meters and then walk through the small town of the Temple and reach the main temple(Total 380 meters Exactly). this is Well built pathway with fancy and eatery shops Available on sides but make sure the elder ones can climb this without any problems.
the temple is Actually For Lord Durga. Very beautiful Temple and fully Colored in Gold. Very Clean Temple building. It was good opportunity for photography up there. Go that I carried my DSLR along with me. I took a help lot of snaps.
Since the Crowd was heavy, we decided not to get into the Temple Premises. And so we just Stayed out. My mom alone went to the Entrance of the temple to catch a gimps of Lord Durga and meanwhile to took a lots of photos of the Temple building. Well it was pretty Difficult to take photos as well because of heavy crowds, hence was interrupted by devotees.
The Temple has a place of Coconut breaking(in the front), Separate Counter for Prasadam and also a separate counter for Donations as well. Do after Visiting temple, we walked back down and on the way enjoyed Tender Coconut and monkeys. And after reach down to parking place, there is a temple Lake just opposite to the temple entrance. so Dipped our hands and legs and then left the place.
- Other Things to see in the Temple -
1) Shiva Temple(adjecent to the Main Temple)
2) Sri Narayanaswamy Temple(behind Shiva Temple)
3) Brahmakumaris Spiritual Museum also known as "Godly Museum".
4) Silk and Arts Emporium
5) Chamundi Hill Park.
6) Shopping Complex
I did no visit any of these Places because, first, I did not have enough time and secondly, I was diverted to the main Temple Through another way hence did not get the Chance to visit any of these.:(
- Other Places to visit on the hill -
1) Bull Nandi -
While on half way back there is this large Bull Nandi Statue. Nandi is actually the Vehicle of the Lord Shiva. The Statue is about 4.9 meters tall and 7.6 meters long and carved out of a single piece of black granite.
Behind the Nandi Statue is the Cave Shiva temple. Only a Family of 4 can Enter into that Temple at A time.!
The Place has lots of space of Car Parking. But car parking can only be done road Side.
The Place is also very excellent for Photography and Selfies.
The Road leading to this temple is one ways. hence after visiting this Statue, the Way leads Straight back to down hill.(see Points to remember).
2) View Point -
This is point from where the Ariel view of Mysore City can be viewed and photographed. For best use of this place, you need to have either a Binocular or a super Zoom Camera.
This Point Comes at the junction of Temple and Nandi Statue. Since its a Junction, there a vast space for road side car parking there. But bus parking is not allowed here.!
You need some time and patience to locate things like Mysore Palace from here. The place is seen just little left behind the Race course ground.
a) The order of Sequence for Visiting this Hill is - Chamundeshwari Temple -> Veiw Point -> Nandi statue. Or View Point -> Chamundeshwari Temple -> Nandi statue. This is because of the Roads. Until View Point the Road is wide and double way. But after you visit Temple and come back down to visit Nandi Statue, the Road is One way and hence if you skip View point on the way to Nandi, you won't be able to see View point again because the one way route heads straight back down the hill.
But there are few other point on this route too to view the Ariel view of Mysore city.
b) The best time to Visit this place is - Usually Anytime of the year. But Avoid Summers because hot summers will make you climbing to temple difficult.
DO NOT visit this Temple during festive Seasons like Dussehra. The Crowds are heavy during these Festive times.
1) The Hills may have Restaurant to eat but I am not sure.
2) The hill Can also be Reached by local Bus. There is bus stand at top there.
3) There is no Accommodation on Top there. So do not think of staying up there.
VERDICT -
Overall a must visit Temple and Hill at Mysore. Best of awesome Wide Road and Clean Environment. Best of Photography too!
