A climber’s point of view on Chamundi Hill

Sir,

My first visit to Chamundi Hill, as I remember, was when I was in class 4 in 1974. I have been visiting the Hill since then on all possible motorable and walking paths.

I find this agitation to leave the hills as it is an ill-conceived idea and a short-sighted one. I am amazed at the kind of people supporting this agitation.

I am sure most, or none of them, have visited the Hill and have seen the deterioration of the hills over the years. I can’t imagine leaving the Hill as it is now.

What is it now? No proper parking, no pathway to walk to the temple, no photo opp point on the top, no souvenir shop worth its name or product.

Instead, what is there? Chaos to park the car, unhygienic eateries all over, cheap plastic toys and good, cramped walkway and no info on the other two temples on the Hill, much older than this main Sri Chamundeshwari Temple.

If the people, who are agitating to maintain this filthy Hill as it is now, may Goddess Chamundeshwari give them better sense.

What is needed is to clear the top area of ALL shops. Make parking compulsory at the parking bay built, add greenery on top of the hill, make a better walkway to the temple from the parking lot and give better information to make people visit the other two temples atop the Hill. That is what is needed. Not the status quo.

– Shankar Prasad, Jayalakshmipuram, 1.2.2026

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This post was published on February 5, 2026 5:55 pm