Chamundi Hills BR Hills Biligiri Rangana Betta nandi Shivanasamudra Talakad Bharachukki Gaganachukki Balmuri Edmuri Gopalaswamy Hills Himwad Goapalaswamy Betta in Mysore Mysor Mysooru Mysoor Mysur Maisuru

Mysooru - Hills & Falls

A visit to the majestic Chamundi Hills is a must on the itinerary of every tourist. This is a famous landmark of Mysore and is the place to be if you want to have the panoramic view of Mysore city from the top. The view of the city from the Chamundi Hill is breathtaking during late evenings when the entire city is brightly lit. Whether you are religious or an atheist your trip to Mysore is incomplete without a visit to this hill. This splendid hill is visible from a distance of about 8 to 10kms from all directions in the city. Located atop the hill at a height of 1065 meters above sea level and about 800 feet above Mysore city is Chamundeshwari temple which was built in 12th century by the Wodeyar dynasty. This hill is a symbol of victory of Good over Evil Goddess Chamundi : Chamundi hill took its name from Chamundeshwari temple. Goddess Chamundi is the presiding deity of the Maharajas of Mysore. Goddess Chamundeshwari is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi who took this form to destroy the demon king Mahishasura. On your way to the top you will find a huge monolith statue of Nandi, Lord Shiva's bull. This 4.8 meters high statue was initially in grey color but with continuous application of coconut oil on it by devotees, it has turned black. The statue is believed to be 300 years old and its main attraction, apart from its size, is the meticulous craftsmanship of its ornaments especially the magnificent pendant bell around its neck. At the top of the hill is a gigantic statue of Mahishasura, the demon. It is made of mortar and painted with bright colors. The city of Mysore is said to have derived its name from the demon king Mahishasura.
It is said that Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar who ruled Mysore from1659 to 1673, built the 1000 steps leading to the temple that are carved out of granite rock. He built it to make hill climbing comfortable for the pilgrims. How to reach: You can either drive down atop the hill or climb 1000 steps. It has a good motor able road and KSRTC (State transport) have buses that regularly ply from Mysore to the top of the hill. Cabs are available as well. Entry to the temple is free. Locals consider Tuesdays, Fridays and the 10 days of Dussehra as the auspicious days to visit the temple. During the auspicious days there is a serpentine queue to enter the temple. The tower of the temple is illuminated on festivals and on public holidays. Note: One needs to remove shoes to enter the temple. There is a shoe stand to keep the shoes. Caretakers charge nominal fees for safe keeping of your shoes. Those who are uncomfortable walking bare feet are recommended to wear socks.
Shivanasamudra Are you bored with the routine and thinking of taking a well deserved break from the mundane? Shivanasamudra Falls which is about 85kms to the east of Mysore is a refreshing option to choose from. At this point, the river Cauvery cascades down a deep rocky gorge in two breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls - Bharachukki and Gaganachukki. The view of the twin falls during monsoons is simply beautiful. The falls are considered to be one among the 100 best waterfalls in the world. The waterfalls are pristine and are not easy to approach as they are too steep and rocky. It is said that the Gaganachukki falls are shaped like a large horsetail and Bharachukki is a jagged crashing cascade. The falls swell to about 1, 000 feet wide in monsoon. 1.5 kms away from the falls is Asia's first hydro-electric project which was set up in 1905 by the then Maharaja of Mysore.
Talakad Talakad is situated on the banks of river Cauvery, near Mysore and is known for its sand dunes. There are a number of temples on the banks of Cauvery in Talakad that are buried under the sand dunes and which were excavated by the archeological survey of India. Talakad was the capital of the Gangas during their rule over Karnataka. It came under various dynasties after that. It was ruled by the Cholas of Tamil Nadu from the 11th to the 12th century. Talakad came under the Hoysalas in the 12th century. After this the Vijayanagar Kings and the Maharajas of Mysore patronized this place. Talakad town has the magnificent temple of Shiva known as Vaidyeshwara. The temple is built of granite in the Dravidian style. It is claimed that most the temple structure was built under the Vijayanagar Kings. Some of the major features were added by the Hoysalas. The eastern door of the Navaranga is intricately carved and enormous dwarapalakas decorate the entrance. Panchalinga darshana is a rare pilgrimage that is celebrated every twelve years. The Vaidyeshwara temple, Arkeshwara temple, Vasukishwara or Pataleshwara temple Saikateshwara or Maraleshwara temple and Mallikarjuna temple constitute the Panchalingam. The Pataleshwara Shivalinga is said to change colors according to the time of the day-red in the morning, black in afternoon and white in the evening. Note: Since the transportation is not good to this place, visitors are advised to make their own transport arrangements such as cabs or private vehicles to reach this place. Also they are advised to carry eatables.
Malai Mahadeshwara Hills or M.M. Hills This place in Chamarajanagar District is located about 142 KMs from Mysore. There are seven hills around this religious place. The lord Mahadeshwara (Shiva) temple located here is one of the holy places for shaivaits. There are many government run guest houses for the devotees visiting the place. Facilities are good here. There are lots of Tourist buses and private buses plying to and from Mysore. This place can be visited in one day.
Biligiri Rangana Betta or B.R. Hills This place in Chamarajanagar District is a religious place. Located about 120 KMs from Mysore, the temple of lord Biligiri ranga is located at a height of 5000 ft. For those interested in camping and adventure there is K.Gudi jungle camp which is located on the way to B.R. hills. Jungle trek and other adventure sports are offered here. It is also home to a lesser-known wildlife sanctuary which covers an area of about 550sq.km. and is inhabited by a number of animals. It is said that the sanctuary has more than 250 species of birds like the Paradise Flycatcher, Racquet Trailed Drongo and the Crested Hawk Eagle, to name a few. There is accommodation in the sanctuary in the form of Jungle lodges and resorts. The best time to get a good look at the wildlife is at dawn. To visit the temple on top of the hill you can either climb the 150 steps leading to the temple or drive through the lush green forests. The temple is dedicated to Biligiri Rangaswamy and the temple is built in the Dravidian style. There is a guesthouse maintained by the temple authorities that provides accommodation. These hills are a wonderful combination of a hill resort and a wildlife sanctuary. . The Ratha festival is held twice annually in January and April. There are lots of tourist buses to this place and can be visited in one day. Essentials Best Time to Visit: September to April Climate: Summers: 22 to 38 degree C, Winter: 10 - 32 degree C
Balmuri and Edmuri On the way to K.R.S. from Mysore, 3 Km away from the main road, there are two beautiful small waterfalls, which is the hot spot for nature lovers. You also come across an ancient Ganesh temple in the vicinity. You can catch the K.R.S. bus, hire a cab or an auto to reach here
Himavad Gopalswamy Hills:is a popular hill resort and a trekker's delight as well. It is situated in the verdant Western Ghats of Mysore Districts. The temple here is dedicated to Lord Hoysala.
Blue Lagoons Two Km from K.R.S. is this beautiful island created by the backwaters of K.R.S.Dam. You can reach the spot cutting through the shallow waters. It is a beautiful picnic spot. You are advised to take precautions to reach there. How to reach: Hire an auto, cab from K.R.S. to reach this spot.