Mysore

An anglicised version of Kannada ಮಹಿಶೂರು (mahiśūru, literally “abode of Mahisha”). Though in Sanskrit Mahisha means "buffalo", here it refers to Mahishasura, a mythological demon who could assume the form of both a human and a buffalo. According to Hindu mythology, the area was ruled by the demon Mahishasura. The demon was killed by the Goddess Chamundeshwari, whose temple is situated atop the Chamundi Hills. Mahishūru later became Mahisūru (a name which, even now, the royal family uses) and finally came to be called Maisūru, its present name in the Kannada language.