Chamundi Hill

Chamundi Hill is a hill about 13 kilometers east of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka, reaching an average height of 1,060 meters. It takes its name from the Chamundeshwari Temple at its summit, dedicated to the goddess Chamundi, who according to legend defeated the demon Mahishasura. A stairway of more than 1,008 stone steps climbs to the temple, and the hill is also home to a large statue of the bull Nandi carved from a single piece of black granite. Beyond its religious significance, Chamundi Hill functions as an ecological reserve spanning some 613.51 hectares, home to roughly 193 recorded bird species and about 150 species of butterflies.