Save Chammundi Movement

Chammundi hills is well known for Chamundeshwari Devi Temple atop the Hills, which is the Patron deity of Mysuru and thousands of people visit it daily for hundreds of years now.

It is equally important as an urban ecological site which is also home to a huge biodiversity of around 600 species of flora, birds(150 species of which 72 breed here), Mammals(20 species) Reptiles(23 species) and millions of insects (including 153 species of butterflies) which play a major role in maintaining the ecological balance of our whole city (Ref: https://www.mysorenature.org).

Thus Chammundi hill with a large part considered as RESERVE FOREST is a very important Cultural, Heritage and an Ecologically Sensitive Zone which needs to be preserved as it is forever.

Over the period of years, in the name of development the hill top environs have been overrun by constructions, of which many are illegal and badly planned buildings. Government’s Development Plan for Chammundi Hills, meant to increase tourists, included construction of a shopping complex, dormitories, guest houses and multi-level parking atop the hill. This has led to commercialisation of the heritage site which is now fighting the continuous adverse civic and environmental impacts as the Hill is littered with huge and growing quantities of solid wastes generated by the existing commercial activity.

Further, in recent times the roads leading to the hilltop have been caved down (landslides) at three points and the reasons are yet to be ascertained. But still the authorities were keen on widening these roads to four lanes.  Several times ropeway was proposed and have been stopped at the instance of protests from the netizens.

Indeed, noted litterateur Dr.S.L.Bhyrappa warned that “tourism will kill tourism”. However, before that happens, tourism will certainly destroy the ambiance of Chammundi Hills by making it a commercial center. 

Today, the spiritual-religious-heritage sanctity of Chammundi Hill is threatened.

Government needs to take a proactive, people-and-environment-friendly approach, to protect and preserve the spiritual-religious-heritage-ecological sanctity of Chammundi Hill.

This will also help to protect the Chammundi Hills from the onslaught of Climate Change, and will be in keeping with the policy and commitments of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

 Mysoreans for Saving Mysore

(Note: We do not need any funds for this petition)