Yathindra Siddaramaiah reviews preparations for Ashada Fridays at Chamundi Hills in Mysuru

Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah visited Chamundi Hills on Wednesday (July 15) and reviewed the arrangements made by the district administration for Ashada Fridays, scheduled to start from July 17.

During the visit, he held discussions with officials and directed them to make adequate arrangements to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience.

Though arrangements have been made for VIP darshan on Ashada Fridays, Mr. Yathindra said there would be no inconvenience to ordinary devotees.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Yathindra said the VIPs will be allowed darshan only between 5.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. “The first priority is to ensure that ordinary devotees have easy access to darshan. Therefore, VIPs arriving after the stipulated time will have to join the general queue,” he clarified.

Only vehicles of dignitaries like legislators, Ministers and judges entitled to protocol will be allowed to proceed up the hill. Private vehicles of devotees will not be allowed to proceed up the hill on Ashada Fridays and on the day of the Vardhanti festival.

Everyone has to park their vehicles in the designated parking area at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Grounds, and travel to the hill via the free ride on KSRTC buses, he said.

Vehicles of those carrying recommendation letters from influential persons will not be allowed to proceed up the hill. He said no special concession or preferential darshan would be provided to anyone carrying such letters.

For the convenience of devotees climbing the hill via the steps, arrangements have been made for drinking water and resting places, besides the free distribution of badam milk and biscuits, he added.

₹2,000 darshan

Mr. Yathindra also justified the authorities’ move to withdraw the ₹300 darshan ticket and introduce the ₹2,000 one.

The queue for the ₹300 darshan ticket would be almost as long as the queue for the general darshan. So, the people paying ₹300 for darshan were not getting any special benefit. Hence, the authorities have decided to introduce the ₹2,000 darshan ticket on an experimental basis, he said.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Zilla Panchayat CEO S. Yukesh Kumar, Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, Deputy Commissioners of Police Harsha Priyamvada and Sundar Raj, Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Secretary Roopa and other officials were present during the inspection.

Published – July 15, 2026 07:00 pm IST