Over the years, Chikmagalur has evolved into a premier destination
Chikmagalur is a hill station in Karnataka, a state in southwest India. To the north is Baba Budangiri, a mountain range in the Western Ghats, with 3 large caves said to be holy. Trails through forests and grasslands lead up to Mullayanagiri Peak, a must see for all who visit. The cascading Hebbe Falls lie in an area of coffee plantations.
The forested Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, northwest of Chikmagalur, is home to a sanctuary of majectic Elephants, Leopards and King Tigers. Chikmagalur is one of the top hill station destinations in India. The hill stations around Chikmagalur are famous summer retreats since they remain cool even during summers.
Some of the most frequented attractions in Chikmagalur are:
Places To Visit
Kemmangundi
Kemmangundi, a picturesque hill station located at a distance of 55 Km from Chikmagalur on the Baba Budan Giri range of hills. Kemmangundi, at a height of 1,434 meters, is surrounded by thick forests as well as a enjoyable climate throughout the year. Kemmangundi is surrounded by the Baba Budan Giri range and blessed together with silver cascades of mountain streams as well as lush flora. Its beautifully laid out attractive gardens and charming mountain and valley views are a pleasure to the eye. Spectacular sunsets are a must see from different places in the district. For those adventurous, Kemmangundi provides a lot of peaks to climb and difficult jungle paths to discover. This place has a beautiful rose garden as well as other points of interest. There is a spot known as Z-point at about 10 minutes walk from this main location which gives a picturesque aerial view of the shola grass lands of the Western Ghats.
Mullayanagiri
Mullayanagiri, located at a distance of 16 Km from Chikmagalur is a part of the Baba Budan Giri Hill ranges. Mullayanagiri stands 1930 meters tall rewarded as the tallest peak in Karnataka state. Enroute, you can see Sitalayanagiri where the water inside the Shiva temple neither raises nor decreases. The way to Mullayanagiri is very narrow that has a views from steep cliffs. Driving towards the peak is not possible and you will have to trek up the hill from the mid way point. There’s a small temple located on top of the hill. From the highest point of the hill, you can view Arabian Sea on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. The narrow road to the temple makes two way traffic impossible. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.
Kudremukh
Kudremukh range lies at a distance of 95 km towards southwest of Chikmagalur Town. Kudremukh literally means Face of Horse (in Kannada Kudure = horse and mukha = face), so named for the reason that it has unique shape of the Kudremukh peak. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the broad hills are linked to each other with deep valley and steep precipices. Situated at an altitude of 1,894.3 meters above sea level, Kudremukh is rich in iron ore deposits.
Baba Budangiri
To the north of Chikmagalur town is the Baba Budan Giri Range or Chandra Drona Parvatha as it was known in the ancient times, which has one of the highest mountain peaks between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. The peak takes its name from the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who resided here more than 150 years ago.
Manikyadhara Falls
A popular waterfall near the well-known pilgrim centre Baba Budan Giri Dattatreya Peetha where water spills down like small pearls giving the tourists a unforgettable shower bath.
Kallathigiri Falls
Located at a disance of 10 km from Kemmangundi. Water cascades down from the top of the Chandra Drona hill from a height of 122 meters amidst breathtaking scenery. You can find an old Veerabhadra temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in a gap between rocks. This temple can be approached after crossing the waterfall.
Hanumana Gundi
Falls is located at a distance of 32 km from the Kalasa, the waterfall has water falling onto Natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet (30 m). Kadambi Falls: This is a waterfall located in the Kudremukh National Park.
Sirimane Falls
This is a waterfall located about 12 km from Sringeri, a famous temple town.
Pilgrim Centers
Sringeri
A popular temple town is located at a distance of 90 Km from Chikmagalur. It is situated on the banks of River Tunga. The Sharadamba Temple and Vidya Shankara Temple are two important attractions of Sringeri. A Vedic Peetha established by Sri Adi Shankara, the exponent of the Advaita philosophy in the 9th century A.D. In the Vidya Shankara shrine, there are 12 zodiac pillars, which are so constructed that the rays of the sun fall on the pillar corresponding to the month.
Horanadu
Horanadu is 100 km southwest of Chikmagalur and has an ancient Annapoorneshwari Temple, which has been renovated recently. With the installation of the new image of Adi Shakti, now the temple is called Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shri Annapoorneshwari. The place attracts lots of pilgrims who are provided free boarding and lodging by the temple.
Kalasa
Kalasa is located at a distance of 92 km southwest of Chikmagalur and situated on the banks of the river Bhadra. It is surrounded by lofty hills of the Western Ghats and is looked upon as one of the pancha-kshetras on the banks of the Bhadra. Nearby are the pancha theerthas, the five sacred ponds. The main attraction of Kalasa is Lord Kalaseshawara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which has a Kshetrapala shrine of soap stone in Hoysala style nearby. The Madhawacharya bande, a big rock at one of the theerthas here, is believed to have been placed by Shri Madhawacharya the founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy. A statue of this acharya is carved on the upper portion of the rock. Shakatapuram is a small village and a religious place located in Koppa Taluk of Chikmagalur district.
Shakatapuram
Shakatapuram is also known by name Bandigadi. A Mutt by name Shri Vidya Peetam is located on the banks of River Tunga.
Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy Darga
Situated on the Baba Budan Giri is the Inam Dattatreya Peetha venerated by the Hindus and the Muslims alike. A laterite cave here is believed to have been sanctified by the residence of Dattatreya Swami as well as Hazrat Dada Hayat Mir Khalander. The worship here is conducted by a fakir and the annual fair or urs is attended by both Hindus and Muslims with great fervors.
Amrithapura
Amrithapura is located at a distance of 67 km north of Chikmagalur, the main attracttion of Amrithapura is the Amritheshwara temple built in 1196 A.D by Amriteshwara Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala ruler Veera Ballala II. Delicacy of touch, originality of design and fine features have made this temple one of the notable structures of the Hoysala period.
Belavadi
Belavadi is located 29 km southeast of Chikmagalur town on the Chikamagalur – Javagal road and 10 km north west of Halebidu, Belavadi is famous for Ornate temple of Veeranarayana. Belavadi is also famous for the temple of ‘Udbhava Ganapathi’.
Simhanagadde Jwalamalini Temple
It is one of the important Jain Temples and located at the Simhanagadde town near Narasimharajapura. The temple houses an attractive black colored idol of Goddess Jwalamalini as the main deity. The history of this idol dates back to the period around 15th and 16th century. The temple has a very spacious hall and a sanctoum sanctorum. This temple attracts huge number of devotees in India as well as foreign countries. The temple was renovated in 1994. Shri Kshetra Simhanagadde is famous for the Atishaya (place of miracles) of Jwalamalini Devi – Yakshini (guardian spirit) of the Eighth Tirthankara, Shri Bhagwan Chandraprabhu in Jainism.
Balehonnur
Balehonnur is located on the banks of river Bhadra in Narasimharajapura taluk, the famous Shrimad Jagadguru Rambhapuri Veerasimhasana Mahasamstana Peeta (matha) and the Veerabhadra Temple are the main attractions here. The Veerabadra temple attached to the matha has metallic images of Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali.
Wildlife At Chikmagalur
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is 38 km north-west of Chikmagalur town. The sanctuary is surrounded by Mullayanagiri, Hebbe Giri, Gange Giri and Baba Budan Giri hills and has the tributaries of the Bhadra river flowing through it. The various wildlife can be found in this sanctuary like Gaur, Elephants, Tiger, Leopard, Sambar, Chital spotted deer, Boar, Porcupine, Muntjac, birds like the Peacock, Parrot, Partridge, Pigeon, Munia and Bee eaters, and reptiles such as King Cobras and Indian Rock Pythons.
Kudremukh National Park
Kudremukh National Park is the largest declared Wildlife Protected Area (600 sq km) of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is one of the twenty-five hot spots identified for bio-diversity conservation in the world. Kudremukh National Park comes under the Global Tiger Conservation Priority-I, under the format developed jointly by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and World Wide Fund-USA.