About Shree Chamundeshwari Temple:
- It is a Hindu temple located on the top of Chamundi Hills in Karnataka.
- It is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, who is an avatar of Durga.
- The original shrine is considered to be built by the Hoysala rulers from the 12th century and later by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century.
- Notable though are the 1000-odd, stone stairway steps that lead to the temple carved sometime in mid-17th CE by Maharaja Dodda Devaraja of Mysuru.
- It is considered as Shakti Peetha and is one among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
- Architecture:
- The temple is of a quadrangular structure.
- Built in Dravidian style, it consists of the main doorway, entrance, Navaranga Hall, Antharala Mantapa, Sanctum Sanctorum, and
- There is a beautiful seven-tier Gopura, or pyramidal tower, at the entrance and a ‘Vimana’ (small tower) atop the sanctum sanctorum.
- The gopuram, adorned with colourful sculptures of gods, goddesses, and mythical figures, is visible from miles away.
- The tower at the entrance has a small image of Lord Ganesha on the doorway.
- The doorway is silver-plated and has the images of the Goddess in different forms.
