thumb|Temple chariot at M.M.Hills
Chamarajanagar district or Chamarajanagara is the southernmost district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in 15th August 1997. Chamarajanagar town is the headquarters of this district. Chamarajannagar district was located in most southern part of Karnataka.
It is the third least populous district in Karnataka (out of 30), after Kodagu and Bangalore Rural.
History
Chamarajanagar was earlier known as Sri Arikottara. In 1825, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III built a large temple of Chamarajeshvara in Dravidian style in memory of his father Chamaraja Wodeyar IX. It is believed that Chamaraja Wodeyar IX, the Wodeyar of Mysuru, was born here, and hence this place was renamed after him.
Geography
Being the southernmost district of Karnataka, Chamarajanagar district borders the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Specifically, it borders Mysore district of Karnataka to the west and north, Mandya and Ramanagara districts of Karnataka to the north-east, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu to the east, Salem to south-east, Erode districts and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu to the south, and to the extreme south-west, there is a very small border with Wayanad district of Kerala.
Most of the district lies in the leeward region of the Nilgiris and consists of mainly semi-arid rain-dependent flatlands along with forested hills.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Chamarajanagar district has a population of 1,020,791, or the US state of Montana. This gives it a ranking of 441st in India (out of a total of 640).
The district has a high percentage of Scheduled Castes, with a population of 259,000, making up a quarter of the district's population. Having a large percentage of forest cover the district also has a high population of tribals, mostly the Nayakas but also forest tribes like the Soligas, Yeravas, Jenu Kurubas and Betta Kurubas. These tribals have their own languages and their total population is around 120,000, and make up 12% of the district population. Other communities include Lingayats, Muslims and Vokkaligas.