Location & Overview
The temple is located in the small town of Chotila, in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat, India.
The shrine sits atop Chotila Hill (also called Chotila Dungar / Chotila Mountain), which rises roughly 1,173 feet (≈357 m) above the surrounding terrain.
The deity worshipped is Maa Chamunda (Chamunda Mataji), a fierce manifestation of the Divine Mother associated with the slaying of the demons Chand & Mund.
The climb up the hill and the pilgrimage nature of the temple make it a spiritually significant hill‐shrine in Gujarat.
2. History & Mythology
Mythological Legend:
- According to traditional lore, the demons Chand and Mund approached the Goddess (as a form of Mahakali) to conquer her. She slew them, cut off their heads and offered them to the goddess Ambika. Then the goddess in that form became known as Chamunda.
- The legend also says that the idol of Chamunda Mataji here is self-manifested (swayambhu) or found following a devotee’s dream where the Goddess instructed him to dig into the earth at a specific spot on the hill and reveal her image.
How to Reach
Here’s how a visitor can reach the Chamunda Mataji Temple at Chotila:
By Road
- From Ahmedabad: Approx 170 km, travel time 3.5-4 hours via NH (Ahmedabad–Rajkot highway) passing Bagodara → Limbdi → Chotila.
- From Rajkot: The nearest major airport and rail hub is Rajkot, around ~60 km away. From Rajkot you can hire taxi or take bus/road transport to Chotila.
- The bus stand in Chotila is very near (~650-750 m) from the base of the hill leading up to the temple.
By Rail
- Nearest major railway station: Rajkot Railway Station (~47–60 km).
- There is also Than Junction (~21 km from Chotila) mentioned in some sources.
By Air
- Nearest airport: Rajkot Airport (~48-60 km). From there, taxi or road transport to Chotila.
On Foot / Hill Climb
- From the base of the hill to the shrine: ~620 to ~700 steps (various sources differ — some say 620, some ~700, some ~920) to reach the top.
- The climb is steep in parts, but the steps have been improved with shade, railings, water taps etc.