Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur (also known as “Chikkamagaluru”) is a hill town located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka and 240 kms from Bangalore. Situated at an altitude of 3,400 feet at the foothills of Mulliyangiri range, Chikmagalur is one of the best hill stations in Bangalore.
Situated in the Deccan plateau, Chikmagalur is famous for its serene environment, lush green forests and tall mountains. It is called as the “Land of Coffee”.

Chikmagalur is an amazing place if you want to visit with your loved ones to just come out of the hectic world. I was so fed up with my work life that I did not think even for a minute about travelling to this amazing place. This trip which was entirely a trekking one was the start to all the treks I have covered till now. I had never been on treks before this trip and all the while during this trip I was regretting for going there because there were so many treks and so much of walking and climbing in the rain. I went with my crazy best friend and by the end of the trip I had so much of fun that I decided I am not going to stop here no matter what. I found so much of peace on the mountains  while trekking and with the beautiful nature that I wanted to go for more treks. So this trek was my starting point.

So here we go…

BEST TIME TO VISIT

September to March since it’s a cool and pleasant throughout the year( I visited in the month of August).

MODE OF TRANSPORT:-

Bus- Catch a private or a public bus to Chikmagalur bus stop. Hire a taxi to reach your destination.

Train- Nearest Station is Kadur- 40 kms and Hassan- 60 kms away from Chikmangaluru.

Flight- from Mangalore airport- 113 kms away from Chikmangaluru.

Car/Bike- best way to travel since it’s a short distance from Bangalore.

I travelled from Bangalore by KSRTC bus till the Chikmagalur bus stop and the guy came to pick us up from the homestay.

DAY 1

We reached at 6.15 am at Chikmagalur bus stop.

It is better to hire a Jeep and travel early in the morning since the view is mesmerizing.

FIRST POINT:- Seethalayanagiri

This is the most scenic place to visit in Chikmagalur and also the starting point of the ghat road to reach Mullayanagiri peak which is of 2 kms trek and 500 steps to reach the top. The area around the peak is the home for many animals, birds and wild flowers. It is located on the route from Mullayanagiri  to Chikmagalur  and a road trip would just be the perfect shot. One can park the vehicle at Seethalayanagiri temple and take the final 2km by walk to reach Mullayanagiri.

My advice would be not take your vehicles to the top, one can park it near the Seethalayanagiri temple and go by walk since the road is quite dangerous.

 This takes us to our Next view point.

SECOND POINT:- Mullayanagiri Peak

Acrophobia Alert! After reaching Mullayanagiri, one has to climb about 500 steps to reach the peak. After all the hustle and bustle the experience was amazing with 360 degrees view of the Chandra Drona hill range. Drive safely during rains, as it might get very slippery. The height of this peak is around 1925 meters above the sea level. It is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. On top of the peak, there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hundreds of Shiva devotees trek all the way up to offer their prayers. One can have a memorable experience when compared to other places to visit in Chikmagalur.

Just below the Temple to the left there is a beautiful cave that one can also see.

THIRD POINT:- Kavikal Gandi Viewpoint

It is 11 km from Mullayanagiri and 18 km from Chikmagalur, Kavikal Gandi, also known as “Horse Shoe Viewpoint”, is a popular viewpoint in Chikmagalur. There is a check post on the road in which the horse shoe viewpoint can be easily reached by climbing up about 50 steps from this check post. This is an amazing place where one can soak up in the soothing breeze.

FOURTH POINT:– Greenland Viewpoint

This is an amazing view point some 10 kms away from Kavikal view point. It’s an amazing place where we can see almost the entire of Chikmagalur. Covered in full greenery, one can go there to spend some time with the nature and listen to the birds chirping. We had been there during the rains and it was very windy and chilled.

FIFTH POINT:- Baba Budangiri

Also known as the “Chandra Drona Parvatha”, Datta Peeta has several high mountain rises. Located in the Baba Budan Giri range, this is a popular tourist destination. The mountain is named after the Muslim saint Baba Budan.  The Baba Budangiri range is very prominent in Chikmagalur. It is a picturesque destination with rich sightseeing attractions. Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in this region. This place rises to a peak of about 1900 metres and has an amazing story behind this place.

SIXTH POINT:- Jhari Waterfalls

Also known as the “Buttermilk Falls”, this nature site is located at a distance of 12 kms from Baba Budangiri. Surrounded by thick forests and coffee plantations, this falls is fed by several mountain springs. We need to do a small trek to reach this falls  in-between the tea plantation and dense forest. One can get a lot of leech therapy on the way.

DAY 2

FIRST POINT:- Hirekolale Lake

Glistening amidst massive mountains, this manmade lake is alluring site for nature lovers. Especially at sunset, the saffron and vermillion of the sky create magical reflections in the waters, making this place a slice out of paradise. It sprawls over a region of 22 hectares and the lush green surroundings magnify its charm. One of the best places for photography lovers.

SECOND POINT:-Bandekallu Gudda

Ideal for trek as well as Jeep Ride through the beautiful coffee estates to reach on top of the mountain (gudda in Kannada). It has a breathtaking view and is one of the favorite place for the travelers due to it’s terrain.

THIRD POINT:- Cave temple

This is also a beautiful place surrounded by coffee plants and lush green forest. One has to climb almost around 300 steps to reach the temple. Temple is made by 2 overlapping rocks. It is not so famous among the trip groups as it is one of the hidden places in Chikmagalur. It is also one of my favorites in this trip.

FOURTH POINT:- Shooting Point

This place has an amazing view though the road to this place is very rough and bumpy. One has to be very careful while riding or driving to reach the peak, also there is rock climbing from where we can see the amazing view. Though we went till the top we did not get to see the view since it was raining very heavily that day.

That was the end of my most adventurous trip in the monsoons. I am a person who doesn’t like rain and while I was on this trip I did not go out at 2 locations and that’s when the trip guide warmed me that he will throw me out of the car if I do not get out at the third location.

Monsoon trips are good for people like me who doesn’t like rain and get a whole new experience. This was my first trek and I enjoyed it so much in these two days that I thought I will travel at least once a month somewhere new.

So guys it’s never too late to just enjoy your trips, whether you are young, old, married or single. You have to find some way to at least to go on treks may it be a short single day trek or a long one.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE MISSED TO SEE AND ARE ALSO QUITE FAMOUS:-

Kudremukh National Park (one can just go to this place alone for a 2 day trip)

BELUR

One can even cover Belur which is a historical places in Karnataka and just 26 kms from Chikmagalur. This place is famous for the temples with its finest architecture.

Some of the places in Belur that can be visited are:

• Chennakesava Temple/Belur Temple
• Narasimha Pillar
• Madanikas
• Doddagaddavalli
• Halebidu
• Belavadi

FAMOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING:-

Coffee

Food- Dishes like the Akki Roti, kakadu  and many more treats that are prepared with coconut milk are the local delicacy.

COST:- 6000-8000/- depending on the home stay.