I tries to visit Chamundi Hills during auspicious occasion of Navratri. Last time during Shaardiya Navraatri, I was at abroad so could not make it there. But during this first oppertunity at Chaitra Navraatri, I decided to get the blessings of Mother Goddess.
The day was Sunday, 29th March, the third day of Chaitra Navraatri. It is devoted to Mother ChandraGhanta, the third of the nine divination of the Almighty Mother.
Chamundi Hills being in close proximity of Bangalore is a suitable place to get the blessings of the almighty mother.
The Chamundi Hills are located close to the palace city of Mysore. Its average elevation is 1,000 meters.
After my saadhna, I started at around 7:15 from my home, took breakfast at Chandan's home and togeather we all proceeded towards Mysore.
From Chandan's house at J P Nagar, I was not sure about the Mysore Road. Navratan suggested me to take NICE road from Kanapura Road.
I did that, after taking NICE road, it tokk us a drive of about 8 KMs to reach Mysore Road near Chennapatana, between Kengeri and Bidadi.
NICE road is really nice and my Alto raced to 100 KMPS effortlessly! (Suggestion to all readers to drive carefully and not to get tempted with other vehicles.)
Legend has it that that the demon Mahishasura, the king of the area that is currently Mysore, was killed by the Goddess Chamundeswari (also Chamundi) after a fierce battle. The hills hence got their name and a temple of the goddess was built on the top. The goddess is also known as MahishasuraMardini meaning, She who slayed Mahishasura. The temple has a very beautiful idol of the goddess wearing a garland of skulls. The temple has always been patronised by the rulers of Mysore. In earlier days, the Maharajas of Mysore would ride the ceremonial Dasara elephant during the annual Dasara festival, but after India gained independence, the idol of Goddess Chamundi is taken on an elephant.
The blissful Mother bestowed her blessings on us. With her grace the priest called me a little inside the sactum sanctorium, and it was a wonderful feeling to be there close the almighty mother.
Then we started back for Mysore and in between stopped for a while at Nandi. It is one of the largest in India. It is 16ft. tall and 24ft. long, cut out of a single granite stone in 1659.
List of Largest Nandi in India
1. Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
2. Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
3. Chamundi Hills, Mysore, Karnataka
4. Bull Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka
5. Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
6. Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka
7. Shanthaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka
Then we returned to Mysore and took lunch at a hotel infront of Mysore Bus stand. Car parking was a little problem, but got it by Mother's grace.
In the evening we decided to visit Brindavan Gardens. It is about 18 KMs from Mysore on Hunsur Road.
The Brindavan Gardens is one of the most beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the world. Modeled on the design of the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir in the Mughal style, the garden is enriched with a number of terraces, parterres, fountains, running and cascading waterchannels, water chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees. Today, the Brindavan Gardens is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur and illumination/ musical fountain.
The Krishnaraja Sagar dam (Popularly known as KRS) is built across the river Cauvery. The Cauvery rises in the hills of Brahmagiri in Talacauvery, Kodagu District in the Western Ghats and traverses Eastwards in Karnataka for about 320 Km. before entering Tamil Nadu and finally joining the Bay of Bengal.
The dam is named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV during whose rule the Chief Engineer, Sir M. Vishveswaraya engineered the construction of the dam.
The best time to visit the gardens is after sunset when all the bright colourful fountains come alive and seem to dance with joy to the accompanying music. This is a sight worth beholding as the entire garden is transformed into a fairyland.
We started back when Lord Anshumaan was still there on Horizon and drove non stop, except at one place to take tea and have some rest.
Then took dinner at Chandan's place, before returning to my home at around 11:00 PM.
In total we drove with our Alto about 367 KMs.
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