MYSURU: After a gap of two years, thousands of devotees visited Sri Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills on the first Friday of Ashada season. The devotees had started arriving late on Thursday and spent time near the hill shrine till the temple opened at 5.30am on Friday.
According to the temple’ executive officer CG Krishna, about 50,000 devotees visited the temple till 5pm on Friday. The temple remained open till 9.30pm.
As private vehicles are banned at the hill shrine, Mysuru district administration arranged free bus service to the hills from the grounds in front of the Lalitha Mahal Palace where parking facilities were provided. The devotees were ferried up the hills and dropped back at the same place.
The temple authorities created four separate entrances to the temple including one for VIPs and one general. The other two are paid entrances for Rs 300 and Rs 50. Devotees were seen in long queues at all three entrances. Bus services commenced at 3.30 am on Friday.
Administration will make similar arrangements during next three Ashada Fridays and on Chamundeshwari Vardhanthi to ensure devotees have hassle-free darshan of the deity.
Krishna said CCTVs and drinking water plants were installed at the premises. Restroom facilities have also been arranged, he said.
