His mother, Rajkumari Putammani Devi, was the eldest daughter of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III.

He facilitated the founding of Agricultural Banks to help finance farmers and initiated life insurance for government employees.

In May 1878, Chamarajendra Wadiyar married Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi, daughter of an arasu (royalty) of Kalale, a prominent nobleman of Mysore state.

They had four sons and three daughters, of whom the following survived to adulthood: Chamarajndra Wadiyar died of diphtheria, in Calcutta, on 28 December 1894, aged 31.

His wife, Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana Avaru, served as regent of Mysore during the minority of their son.