Chikmagalur
Karnataka · 247 km from Bangalore
- Distance
- 247 km
- Ideal duration
- 2 days
- Best season
- Sep–Feb
- Avg cost
- ₹4,600
About Chikmagalur
Chikmagalur is where coffee first came to India — legend says Baba Budan smuggled seven beans in from Yemen and planted them on the hills that now carry his name. Today it is a two-night escape of estate stays, hairpin roads and the drive up to Mullayanagiri, at 1,930 m the highest point in Karnataka. It pairs well with Sakleshpur or Kemmangundi if you have a long weekend, and it is one of the friendliest destinations for first-time trekkers — the walk to the Mullayanagiri temple is short, and the views over the Bababudangiri range do all the work. **Getting there.** Overnight tempo traveller from Bengaluru via Hassan (about 5–6 hours), or the night bus to Chikmagalur town where operators pick groups up at dawn. **Where to stay.** Estate bungalows and homestays outside Chikmagalur town, usually 20–30 minutes from the base of Mullayanagiri.
Things to do
- • Sunrise at Mullayanagiri peak
- • Baba Budangiri and Manikyadhara falls
- • Coffee estate tour and cupping
- • Hebbe Falls jeep trail
- • Kemmangundi and Z-Point
- • Hirekolale lake at sunset
Best time to visit
September to February, once the monsoon has washed the hills green but the trails have dried out. Avoid mid-June to August if you want views rather than cloud.
How to reach
Overnight tempo traveller from Bengaluru via Hassan (about 5–6 hours), or the night bus to Chikmagalur town where operators pick groups up at dawn.
Where to stay
Estate bungalows and homestays outside Chikmagalur town, usually 20–30 minutes from the base of Mullayanagiri.