Nandi at Chamundi Betta

This was third visit to Chamundi Hills. On that day my cousin Vivek and I had visited Chennakesava Devastana at Somanathpur and then come here. Purpose of the visit was to see the big Nandi. We got off the bus on the main road, walked 2 km to reach the steps connecting the base to the hill top. We climbed the steps under a blazing Sun.

My wish to see Nandi closely was fulfilled. It's truly a magnificent creation. Seated on a pedestal, the giant Nandi is a sweet looking calf with a chubby face and big eyes. Unlike other the other big Nandi idols such as Lepakshi Nandi or Basavangudi Nandi, this Nandi seems to be soaked in oil. I think Nandi is bathed in oil during some festival, probably a Enne Snana.

To my knowledge, Lepakshi Nandi is the largest monolithic Nandi in southern India (if not the whole of India). The next largest seems to be Chamundi Betta Nandi followed by Basavangudi Nandi and Nandihalli Nandi.

After Nandi darshan. we went up to the summit, visited Chamundi Devastana. I think we had to wait for an hour or so to get a darshan of Chamundidevi.

From Chamundi Betta we returned to Mysore and took a bus back to Bangalore.
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