Chikmagalur Tourism

Chikmagalur is a quaint hill station situated at an altitude of 3,400 feet on the foothills of the Mullayanagiri range in Karnataka. Translated as ‘the land of younger daughter’, it is said to have been given as a dowry to the youngest daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakharayapattana.The hill is popular for its mountain ranges, green and verdant environment, favourable climate, coffee plantations, trekking and cascading waterfalls.

Location

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Highlights

1. Chikmagalur is a beautiful location with miles of spectacular lush green views accompanied by the whiff of rich aroma of coffee from the coffee plantations.
2. A sheer adventure, the hiking expedition at Mullayanagiri is characterized by beautiful nature and exotic flora with plenty of breathtaking views
3. The Chikmagalur Golf club is a well maintained golf club which can be accessed with a guest pass and is a must visit for golf enthusiasts.
4. The kemmanagundi, home to Mullayanagiri is a spectacular hill with sheer unparalleled beauty comprising of rich dense forests, majestic waterfalls and breathtaking nature trails.
5. The Kudremukh trek is another adventurous trek at Chikmagalur. The second highest peak in Karnataka, it is a challenging experience of a 9.5km long trek.
6. Kalhatti Falls which is an absolute delight for nature lovers. It is a beautiful scenery of water cascading from 400 feet surrounded by the lush greenery.
7. The village of Belavadi for it’s scenic beauty and historical significance. A village adorned with luxuriant emerald carpet of grassland, it consists of the Veer Narayana temple constructed by Hoysolas and historical attribute of the legendary warrior Belavadi Mallamma.

Recommended For

A perfect escape for nature and coffee lovers.

How to get to Chikmagalur

By Air - The nearest airport is the Mangalore Airport 113 km away. From there a bus, taxi or car can be taken to Chikmagalur.

By Train - The nearest station is located in Kadur 40 km away. From here a taxi can be hired to Chikmagalur

By Road - There are regular bus services from Bangalore, Mangalore and Hubli. You can also arrive by car from Bangalore via Hassan or take a cab from Banaglore.

Places to Visit in Chikmagalur

1.Mullayanagiri

Mullayanagiri is the highest peak at 2,000 metres above sea level between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris and a major tourist attraction. It’s a favourite with trekkers as it has amazing challenging and scenic trails of lush grasslands making it a memorable trek.  A moderately challenging trek, it starts from Sarpadhari to Mullayanagiri and is 3 km long path with a 60-degree steep ascent with marvelous views of pristine verdant greenery, small streams and caves. Apart from trekking, it is also apt for mountain biking due to its perfect track.  The stunning hills are located 12 km from Chikmagalur and offer a mesmerizing panoramic view of the city. On top of the peak, there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The best time to trek here is during the spring season as summers get too hot and during monsoons it is not advisable due to the risk factors involved.

2.Baba Budangiri

This is a prominent mountain range in Chikmagalur due to the shrine that was built for Sufi saint Hazrat Dada Hayat Khalandar. The shrine is visited by both Hindus and Muslims. Also, there are three exquisite caves with three siddhas buried here, making it a point of annual festival in the caves. The region has a spectacular scenery making it the most frequented attraction by tourists.

3.Hebbe Falls

Hebbe Falls is an enchanting luscious waterfall surrounded by dense green forests and vegetation. The waterfall torrents from a height of 550 feet and splits into two streams forming Dodda Hebbe (Big Falls) and Chikka Hebbe (Small Falls). To reach the fall, one has to undertake an 8km arduous trek from Kemmangundi. The sight of cascading water from the heights is an absolute riveting sight to behold.

4.Hirekolale Lake

Hirekolale Lake is a stunning man made lake 10 kms from Chikmagalur. The highlight of the lake is the sight of it during sunset as it shimmers in the vivid hues of saffron shade reflected by the radiance of the setting sun giving it an almost magical appearance. One of the popular attractions, it warrants a visit for it’s spectacular beauty.

5.Coffee Museum

Known for its coffee plantations, Chikmagalur has a dedicated coffee museum where the process of plucking the beans to drying and powdering is displayed for visitors to understand the process. The museum has a gallery with pictures and exhibits, a video presentation on the story of coffee and a laboratory demonstrating the grinding of coffee beans.

Interesting Facts About Chikmagalur

1. Chikamagalur is also known as the ‘coffee land of Karnataka’
2. Baba Budangiri is also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, Datta Peeta.
3. Many homestays offer a walking tour of the private coffee plantations
4. Chikmagalur is famous for its two types of coffee varieties that are grown here – Arabica and Robusta