Chikmagalur is a small and popular hill station in Karnataka. It’s located in western-ghat. This is the land of coffee, elephant and leopard and of course natural beauty. Chikmagalur is a district of Karnataka as well.
Travel Type: Trekking, Nature, Family enjoyment
Best Time to visit: October to March
Time to spend: 2 days
Nearest Major City: Bangalore, Mangalore.
Best mode of travel: Bus, Car, Taxi, Trek
Trekking route: There are four popular beautiful and adventure trek routes available on Baba Budan Giri hill range.
Trekking route: There are four popular beautiful and adventure trek routes available on Baba Budan Giri hill range.
History
Chimagalur (Chikka-magaluru) meaning 'Chikka' or Younger, 'Magalur' mean Daughter and 'Ooru' mean city. Meaning of the name is dowry or younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary of chief Sakrepatna. In 1670 Baba Budan bring coffee plant from Mokka and started plantation in Chikmagaluru which is the first coffee plantation in India. The full range of hill has been given to his name.
How to reach there
If you are coming from other states of India, can come to Bangalore or Mangalore by Air or Train. Chikmagalur is about 150 kilometers far from Mangalore and about 250 kilometers from Bangalore.
Chikmagalur don’t have any rail station and nearby rail station is Kadur which is about 40 kilometers away from Chikmagalur. Train ticket cost can check from IRCTC website.
Road connectivity is very good to Chikmagalur from Bangalore and Mangalore. You can take prepaid taxi, out-station Ola, Uber etc. to reach there. Very good A/C, Non-A/C, Sleeper bus service also available to reach Chikmagalur.
Bus & Car Travel Time and Cost
From Bangalore, by private car or taxi, it takes about 5:30-6:30 hours depending on road traffic condition. On the way you will get beautiful view of villages and coconut trees. You may take multiple break if wish to tea-coffee.
By Taxi
You can book hatch back, sedan or SUV car depending on your requirement and cost will be about 5,000 Rupees to 7,500 depending on car type for round trip.
By Bus
You can book A/C or Non-A/C bus ticket to reach Chikmagalur. Sleeper and Chair car bus also available. Bus fair will be around Rs. 650 – Rs. 1,100 depending on demand of ticket. Usually bus starts journey from Bangalore around mid night (about 11 pm) and reach there at very early morning (about 5 am). To book bus you can KSRTC (Govt. bus) or any online service on Red Bus, Make my trip etc companies.
Package tour also available and it costs about Rs. 6,700 – Rs. 9,000+.
This road has multiple toll.
From Mangalore, by private car or taxi it takes about 4:00- 5:00 hours. There has very limited Bus service so you may need to book prepaid taxi to reach Chikmagalur. Taxi fare will be about Rs. 3000 for one way journey.
Please watch full video of Bangalore to Chikmagalur journey from below.
What to see on the way from Bangalore to Chikmagalur
If you are coming to Chikmagalur from Bangalore these following places you can visit on your journey. To complete all of these you must start journey at very early morning.
Shravanabelagola situated about 143 kilometers from Bangalore in Hassan district. The 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshwara is located on Vindyagiri Hill in Shravanabelagola, this the world's largest monolithic statue. This is Jain religious temple. To know more about Shravanabelagola click here.
*photo taken from wikipedia
Shettihalli Rosary Church
This Church also called drowning church of Karnataka, and why it called the below picture tells it. This church was build about 450 years ago and once the Gorur Hemavaty dam has been set this church has gone inside the water. Except Summer whole year this Church remains in water. This is lonely place so you will not get anything to see except Church and Hemavaty reservoir.
This Church also called drowning church of Karnataka, and why it called the below picture tells it. This church was build about 450 years ago and once the Gorur Hemavaty dam has been set this church has gone inside the water. Except Summer whole year this Church remains in water. This is lonely place so you will not get anything to see except Church and Hemavaty reservoir.
Gorur Hemavaty dam
Hemavaty river has been started from Gorur Hemavaty dam. This is huge dam and in below picture you can see only one section of this. Gorur Dam is located is about 12 kilometers away and from the church so you can visit there too.
Halebeedu was capital of Hoysala Empire during 12-13th century. Halebeedu means 'old city'. This is a tourist place near Belur (about 34 kilometers) in Hassan district and about 230 kilometers from Bangalore. There has some best architecture of Hoysala empire. Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara temple are most famous.
To read more about Halebeedu visit this link.
Belur
Belur city is located in Hassan district around 220 kilometers from Bangalore and about 35 kilometers from Chikmagaluru. I would suggest you must visit to Belur once while going to Chikmagalur or at the time of returning. If you want to visit the temple casually may be 30-40 minutes is okay but if you want to see it in details then it will take 2-3 hours.
Belur main attraction is Chenna Keshava Temple which was built by Hoysala Dynasty, it was start on 1116 AD and it took 103 years to complete. This was build to celebrate victory of Hoysala over Cholas in Talakkad. To know details about Belur temple click here.
Places to visit in Chikmagalur
Chikmagalur has multiple places to visit and covering all places in a day is not possible, because you need to travel more than 200 kilometers in hill road. So its better to plan for two days if want to cover all places.
Chikmagalur city
Chikmagalur city located in at the feet of Baba Budan Giri Hill range, from city you can see these hills. Its better to do early breakfast and start travelling early morning, if possible by 6am.
Chikmagalur travel - sightseeing , food and hotels video is here
1. Mullayangiri
Mullayangiri is one of the highest peak of Baba Budan Griri hill range with height 1130 meters from sea level. This is very beautiful hill.Car can go till a level and you can get small shops over there for tea-coffee and snacks. From the base point need to trek to reach at the top point of Mullayangiri which has more than 500 steps.
View from Mullyangiri hill top.
2. Jhari Falls
Jhari fallas located about 22 kilometers from Chikmagalur city on the way to Baba Budan Giri, before 12 kilometers. Jhari water falls is down from the road and you need to take local Jeep to reach there. Road condition is really bad hence private car not adviseable to go. You can pack own car or local taxi and can take Jeep to reach the point. At Jhari falls you will get few snacks shop for tea-coffee-egg omelet etc.
Duration to cover the place: 3 hours
Way to travel: Trek/local Jeep
Cost: Rs. 600 per jeep for max. 6 people.
Distance from main road: Down to 4 kilometers.
Timing: 8AM to 5PM.
Peak season: September to December (Post rain).
Neel Kurinji is the another attraction for Baba Budan Giri hill range. This flower blooms after every 12 years. Last time it came on 2006 and this year in 2018 it was there. So next it will come again 2030.
Neel Kurinji we found near Jhari Falls
Coffee: Without coffee Chikmagalur is incomplete. On Chikmagalur market you will get lots of coffee shops who sales local coffee in many packets from 100 grams to kilo-grams. When you visit Chikmagalur must buy some coffee from there, its cheap and good quality.
Coffee trees and green and red coffee bin
3. Baba Budangiri
Baba Budan Giri is hill range situated about 36 kilometers from Chikmagalur. Budan giri height is 1895 meters and road connectivity is there to reach. Muslim saint Baba Budan was Muslim (Sufi) saint in 17th century. He went to Saudi from India and bring coffee plant from there. He first start coffee plantation Chikmagalur range, this was first coffee plantation in India. This hill range name has came from his name only.
Duration to cover the place: half day
Way to travel: Trek, car.
Timing: 8AM to 5PM.
Peak season: September to March
Baba Budan Giri Hill Range
Near by visiting places -
Caves: Three large caves are there to see.
Seethala contains a 'matha' and the dual shrine temple of 'Seethala-Mallikarjuna'.
Waterfalls: There has three waterfall near by with epic associations namely Gada Theertha, Nallikayi Theertha and Kamana Theertha.
Gada Theertha: According to mythology, Gada Theertha was created by the Pandava prince Bhima with his gada.
Dattatreya Peetha: A cave here is believed to have been the residence of Sri Dattatreya Swamy. An annual Jatra or Urs, which is held for three days after the Holi Festival according to Hindu calendar, is attended by both Hindus and Muslims.
At Baba Budan Giri
Sunset from Baba Budan Giri hill range another plus point. You can spend the evening there to watch a beautiful Sunset.
4. Coffee Museum
India's only coffee museum is located just 5 kilometers away from Chikmagalur city and near to Zilla panchayat bhavan and RTO. Its a great place to visit to know about coffee related things. including its history, plantation, processing. They shows a 10 minutes video to which cover everything about coffee.
Timing: 9am to 5pm except Sunday.
Phone Number: 082622 21619
Website: Click here
5. Yagachi Dam
Yagachi Dam is located on the way to Chikmagalur from Belur. This dam was constructed on Yagachi river. This is a quite big dam and its good to visit. This is a advanture water sports center with multiple facilities.
Duration to cover the place: 1-2 hours
Way to travel: Car, Auto.
Timing: 7AM to 6.30PM.
Boating: Rs. 600 for Speed Boat upto 4 person
Banana Ride: Rs. 500 up to 6 person
Jet ski: Rs. 300 per Person
Kayaking: Rs. 200 for 2 person.
6. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in western ghat and about 79 kilometers from Chikmagalur near Lakkavali village. Main attraction is tiger, elephant, leopard, Chital, Sambar, 300 types or bird, butterflies etc.
Safari timing: 6 am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.
Safari fees: 500rs per person.
Best time to visit: October to February.
Accommodation: Jungle Greens Home Stay (Muthodi village) & River Tern Jungle Lodge, near Lakkavalli, Bhadra Dam.
7. Habbe Falls
Hebbe falls is quite outside of Chikmagalur and it is about 10km away from Kemmangundi and 65km from Chikmagalur. This falls goes down from 551 feet high and has two state, Dodda Hebbe (big falls) and Chikka Hebbe (small falls).
Trek is an option to reach at there but be aware of leeches hence its advisable to take Government approved forest jeep to make the travel.
Hotel: If you wish to stay there can book hotel in Kadur, especially at KM road, there has plenty of AC/Non-AC hotel available, few are decent.
Trekking in Chikmagalur
At Baba Budan Giri there has multiple trek route, which are enjoyable. Popular routes are -
- Baba Budan Giri to Mullyangiri 12 kilometers
- Budangiri to Gaalikere 4 kilometers
- Budangiri to Manikyadhara Falls 7.5 kilometers.
- Attigudi Junction to Baba Budangiri 6 kilometers.
Restaurants
In Chikmagalur you will get lots of restaurants everywhere in the city. However most of these are in MG Road.
Mayura Deluxe is a very good pure veg restaurant in Chikmagalur city. Idle, Dosa and other south Indian food are really good and reasonable price.
Hotel Taj on Indira Gandhi Rd, Joythinagar is a very good Veg & Non-veg restaurant to have lunch and dinner.
Siri Cafe is another popular destination in Chikmagalur. People used to visit there while going to hills. They serve excellent tea, coffee and snacks. Phone number 076760 47172.
Where to stay
Many hotels are available near to bus stand, MG Road and in Chikmagalur. There also has many resort, home-stay. Usually hotel rent starts from Rs. 1000 (weekdays), 1500 (weekend) and can go according to hotel quality.
home-stay where we stay. 2BHK, per room charge was Rs. 1750. owner contact: 95382 80008
Local website to book home stay and hotel, they are agent: www.homestayadvisor.in
A flora Residancy: 08262-237050
J P Lodge: 9448101672
President Palace: 08265-222267
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