Chamundi Hill, just beyond the palace hotel of Lalitha Mahal, is the site of the local royal family’s temple to Sri Chamundeswari, with some interesting sculptures nearby. The hilltop temple is a popular destination for pilgrims from Karnataka and beyond and from its location 1,200 m above sea level offers commanding views over the surrounding area.

Part way down the hill (approximately 300 steps) is a massive monolithic granite sculpture of Nandi, the bull upon which Lord Shiva travels the universe. This black bull, anointed over centuries by gallons of ghee and marigold, sits impassively alongside the 1,000 steps which lead up the hill to the temple from the surrounding lowland.

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