More often than not, places of worship form an integral part of any city’s past and this goes true for the Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore as well. Located atop Chamundi Hills, this is one of the most famous temples in South India. The temple was constructed by the Wodeyar family as a dedication to their family deity, Goddess Durga. It is built in the Dravidian style and has an ornate seven-tier pyramidal tower at the entrance. There are two ways to reach the temple – by driving up the hill or by climbing up the 1,000 steps. If you take the steps, you will also come across troops of monkeys on either side! Many iconic landmarks in the city such as Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Krishna Raja Sagar, and St. Philomena’s Church can be spotted from the hills.