Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings Today, Sevas & Entry Tickets

Chamundeshwari Temple darshan timings today follow a three-session schedule: 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, on all seven days of the week. Many travel sites still print a wrong 5:30 AM opening, so devotees often reach the hilltop ninety minutes too early. This guide gives you the verified schedule, abhisheka slots, ticket prices, and the smartest hour to walk in.

Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings at a Glance

• Darshan and pooja sessions: 7:30 AM–2:00 PM, 3:30 PM–6:00 PM, 7:30 PM–9:00 PM daily.
• Abhisheka: 6:00 AM–7:30 AM and 6:00 PM–7:30 PM; Fridays start early at 5:00 AM.
• Entry: free darshan, plus ₹30 special entry and ₹100 VIP entry tickets.
• Location: Chamundi Hills, about 13 km from Mysuru city, at roughly 3,489 feet.
• Bookings: official portal chamundeshwaritemple.in, run by the Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority.

Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings: Full Daily Schedule

The temple atop Chamundi Hills keeps the same core schedule throughout the year. Darshan runs in three sessions, while the early-morning and evening hours go to abhisheka rituals. The table below shows the complete day.

So the longest open stretch is the morning session, which gives devotees six and a half hours. The temple closes between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM for naivedya, and again between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM for the evening abhisheka. Plan around these two breaks, because devotees arriving at 2:15 PM wait over an hour at the gate.

Are Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings Different on Fridays?

Yes, Fridays start earlier. The Friday abhisheka begins at 5:00 AM instead of 6:00 AM and runs until 6:30 AM, since Friday is the most auspicious day for Goddess Chamundeshwari. Regular darshan still opens at 7:30 AM, yet crowds on Fridays routinely double, so reach the hill before 7:00 AM.

Ashada Fridays, which fall during July–August, draw the year’s heaviest rush after Dasara. On those days, the authority extends hours and regulates queues, and private vehicles often face restrictions on the hill road. Therefore, use the KSRTC bus on Ashada Fridays rather than driving up.

Special Entry Tickets: ₹30 and ₹100 Options

General darshan at the temple is completely free. For faster access, the Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority sells a ₹30 special entry ticket and a ₹100 VIP entry ticket at counters near the temple entrance. The ₹100 line moves fastest, because it bypasses both the free and ₹30 queues.

Which one should you pick? On a weekday morning, the free queue clears in 20–40 minutes, so paying adds little. On weekends, Fridays, and festival days, the ₹100 ticket can save two hours or more. Families with elderly members should also note the battery vehicle service, which costs about ₹30 per person from the parking area to the temple.

How to Book Sevas and VIP Darshan Online

Online booking works through the official portal, although counter purchase remains available daily. Follow these steps:

1. Open chamundeshwaritemple.in and click “Book Sevas/Rooms”.
2. Select the seva or VIP darshan type, then pick your date and slot.
3. Enter devotee details and complete the payment.
4. Download the e-ticket and carry a printed copy — the temple insists on printouts.

Saree-offering (seere) bookings open only for the current month, while next month’s slots release five days in advance. For booking issues, call the temple office at 0821-2590027 or the temple line at 0821-2590127.

Abhisheka Timings at Chamundeshwari Temple Before Darshan

Abhisheka is the ritual bathing of the deity with milk, honey, ghee and panchamrutha, performed before the sanctum opens for darshan. Ticket holders attend the 6:00 AM or 6:00 PM slot, and they receive prasadam between 7:30 AM–10:30 AM or 7:30 PM–9:00 PM. Devotees describe the pre-dawn abhisheka as the most peaceful experience the temple offers.

The temple also conducts sevas such as kumkumarchana, Chandika Homa, Saptashati Parayana and Tulabhara. Current seva rates appear on the official booking page, since the authority revises them periodically. If a specific seva matters to your visit, confirm availability a week ahead, because festival weeks sell out early.

Dasoha: Free Meals on the Hill

The temple serves dasoha, free meals for devotees, every day. The lunch dasoha runs from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM near the temple complex. The food is simple, hot and prasada-grade, so most pilgrims time their morning darshan to end by noon and eat before heading down.

Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings During Navaratri

During Navaratri and Mysuru Dasara, the temple extends its hours well beyond the normal schedule, and exact daily timings change with each day’s rituals. Lakhs of devotees climb the hill across those ten days, since Chamundeshwari is the presiding deity of the entire Dasara festival. Expect waits of three to five hours for free darshan.

Chamundi Jayanti and Ammanavara Vardhanthi also reshape the day’s schedule, when the goddess is taken out in a golden palanquin. For any festival date, check the official website or call before you travel, because the authority announces revised hours only days in advance.

Best Chamundeshwari Temple Darshan Timings to Beat Crowds

Tuesday to Thursday, between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, gives the shortest queues of the week. The hill is also cooler at that hour, and the morning view of Mysuru city from the top is worth the early start. Avoid 11 AM–1 PM on weekends, when tour buses from Bengaluru arrive in waves.

Month-wise, October to March offers pleasant weather, although October itself brings Dasara crowds. After the evening abhisheka, the 7:30 PM–9:00 PM session stays surprisingly quiet on weekdays, so it suits visitors finishing a Mysuru sightseeing day.

How to Reach Chamundi Hills

The temple sits 13 km from Mysuru city centre, and three routes lead up. KSRTC city buses (route 201) leave the Mysuru city bus stand every 15–20 minutes, so the bus remains the cheapest and easiest option. Autos and cabs from the city cost more but drop you near the temple gate.

Mysuru Junction railway station lies about 12 km away, while Mysore Airport is roughly 15 km from the hill. From Bengaluru, the temple is around 150 km — an easy half-day drive on the expressway.

Climbing the 1,000 Steps

Fit devotees can take the traditional stone stairway of 1,000 steps, built in 1659 by Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar. The giant monolithic Nandi, nearly 15 feet tall, sits at the 700th step beside a small Shiva shrine. The climb takes 45–90 minutes, so carry water and start before 8 AM in summer.

Dress Code, Photography and Temple Rules

The temple expects modest traditional wear, although no rigid dress code is enforced for general darshan. Photography inside the sanctum is not allowed, so keep cameras packed once you enter. The entire hill is a declared no-plastic zone — carry cloth bags and guard your belongings, because monkeys snatch food and loose items near the steps.

What Most Guides Get Wrong

Several popular travel portals list the opening time as 5:30 AM or 6:00 AM. That figure actually refers to the abhisheka slot, which only ticket holders attend. General darshan starts at 7:30 AM, so devotees who trust those listings stand outside for ninety minutes. Similarly, some pages claim a 1:30 PM closing, while the morning session genuinely runs until 2:00 PM.

Another common miss: guides rarely mention the printed-ticket rule. Online bookings on the portal require a physical printout at the temple, since phone screenshots are frequently refused. Print before you leave Mysuru city, because print shops near the hilltop are unreliable.

Other Shakti Peetha Temples Worth Visiting

Chamundeshwari Temple counts among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, where the hair of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen. Devotees on a Shakti Peetha circuit also visit the Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple in Maharashtra, another of the eighteen peethas. Goddess devotees travelling south often pair this trip with the Tiruchanur Padmavathi Temple near Tirupati as well.

Before You Go

Chamundeshwari Temple darshan timings stay fixed at 7:30 AM–2:00 PM, 3:30 PM–6:00 PM and 7:30 PM–9:00 PM, with abhisheka before each darshan block. Reach by 7:00 AM on a weekday for the calmest darshan, and buy the ₹100 VIP ticket only on crowded days. For festival dates, confirm revised hours on the official temple website or by phone before climbing the hill.

FAQs on Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysuru

What are the Chamundeshwari Temple darshan timings today?

Darshan runs daily from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. These hours apply on all weekdays and weekends, unless a festival schedule is announced. Abhisheka takes place before darshan, from 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM.

Is there an entry fee at Chamundeshwari Temple?

No, general darshan is free. Optional ₹30 special entry and ₹100 VIP entry tickets cut queue time, and both sell at counters near the temple gate as well as online.

Do Chamundeshwari Temple darshan timings include abhisheka?

No, abhisheka runs separately before each darshan block — 6:00 AM–7:30 AM in the morning and 6:00 PM–7:30 PM in the evening, for ticket holders. On Fridays, the morning abhisheka starts early, from 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM.

How do I book VIP darshan or sevas online?

Book through chamundeshwaritemple.in under “Book Sevas/Rooms” by selecting the seva, date and slot, then paying online. Carry a printed e-ticket, because the temple does not accept screenshots.

How far is Chamundeshwari Temple from Mysore city?

The temple is about 13 km from Mysuru city centre, on top of Chamundi Hills. KSRTC buses leave the city bus stand every 15–20 minutes, while cabs take around 30 minutes.

Can senior citizens avoid the climb?

Yes, a motorable road runs to the hilltop, so no one needs the steps. From the parking area, a battery vehicle carries elderly and disabled devotees to the temple for about ₹30 per person.

Is photography allowed inside the temple?

No, photography is prohibited inside the temple. You may photograph the gopuram, the Nandi statue and the city views outside, but cameras must stay away once you enter the shrine.

What is the best day to visit Chamundeshwari Temple?

Tuesday to Thursday mornings see the lightest crowds. Fridays carry special significance for the goddess but bring heavy rush, while Navaratri offers the grandest rituals along with the longest queues.