Camping in Chikmagalur

Get ready to feast your eyes with the charm of wild and natural beauty at Kudremukh National Park. This place is notable as one of the most visited Chikmagalur tourist places and offers a refreshing getaway. It is appreciated for its scenic splendor and houses some of the most gorgeous flora and fauna in the state of Karnataka. The word Kudremukh means a horse face and gives the name to the peak located in this park which is often hailed as a thrilling trekking place. Kudremukh National Park is a delight for wildlife enthusiasts and adventure lovers who wish to escape the worries of life in the most wonderful surroundings. This place is nestled between beautiful tea and coffee plantations and offers a rejuvenating trip in the midst of mesmerising wilderness and it is also one of the famous stops while trekking to Kudremukh Peak• Location: South Kanada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Karnataka• Best Time to visit: December to February are the best months to visit Kudremukh National Park • Entry fee: INR 200/ USD 3 for Indians and INR 1000/ USD 15 for foreigners• Timings: The advisable time to visit here is from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. • Distance from Chikmagalur Bus Stand: It is approximately 130 kilometres away from Chikmagalur Bus Stand

Situated at a distance of 20 km and 23 km respectively from Chikmagalur and Baba Budangiri, Mullayanagiri is Karnataka’s highest peak with an altitude of 1950 meters. There’s a small temple located on the topmost summit of this Mullayanagiri peak within which you have a small statue of Tapasvi Mullappa Swamy. According to the regional mythology, Tapasvi Mullappa Swamy observed meditation for years at the cave on top of the Mullayanagiri peak. This is the reason why the peak got its present identity. The old Kannada literature, however, relates the term ‘Mullai’ to the forests. The caves at the top of the Mullayanagiri hills are not so deep and has an entrance which directly leads you to the temple’s garbhagudi. Adventure buffs have a lot of things to do here as the destination serves as a hub for trekking, mountain biking, and road biking. Nestling amidst the Nilgiris and the mighty Himalayas, the panoramic beauty of Mullayanagiri is astounding. This is what makes the Mullayanagiri peaks as one of the most appealing destinations for intermediate trekkers. The trekking route to the topmost summit of Mullayanagiri starts from Sarpadhari which extends up to 3 km. It is relatively steep; yet you can easily cover the distance within 1.5 hours. There’s a Nandi statue, small streams, and a cave with a small water source to adore on your way. As there are no food or water reserves, you need to carry enough of them with you. Otherwise, you need to hold on your hunger and thirst until you reach the Lord Shiva temple located at the top. History of Mullayanagiri - Once there was a saint named Tapasvi Mullapa Swamy. Locals of the regions in and around the Mullayanagiri believe that he used to meditate at the top summit of this Mullayanagiri hill. In this manner, the mountain got its current identity. In the early days, when the asphalt rock and concrete steps were totally absent, people used to climb the summit by a trail known as Sarpanadi or Sarpadari. This is not so famous trails in modern days.

Bababudangiri is an amazing trek in the mountains of Chikmagalur, located at a distance of 250 km from Bangalore, making it ideal for a weekend getaway. Starting on the hiking trail from Sarpadhari (alternatively from Attinagundi), you can see the peaks of Budangiri (1895 m) and Mullayanagiri (1930 m) looming at a distance. Together, the two mountains appear like a crescent moon, therefore known as the Chandra Drona Range. Trekking enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to on the Budangiri hike. Trails snake through dark forests of shola trees, occasional moraine-filled rocky stretches, and miles of serene green grasslands on the rolling hills. Come on this trek to take in all the spectacular vistas of the enclosing slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, try your luck at spotting wildlife when crossing through the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and test your stamina at negotiating a few steep inclines. Some of the highlights on this trek are- walking on the Blade Ridge on the way to Mullayanagiri, camping and campfire in the forest clearings, ancient cave explorations, and stunning hillscape photography from several viewpoints along the way. Blooming of the kurinji flowers in the low lying slopes of the Nilgiris is a rare seasonal attraction in these parts of the hills.The flowers blossom at an interval of every 12 years, cloaking the entire vicinity in shades of blue, giving the Nilgiri hills its name! The Budangiri mountain is also an important pilgrimage for Hindus and Muslims for the legacy of the Sufi saint Baba Budan and the hindu deity Dattatreya. Baba Budangiri Temple/MosqueThe Baba Budangiri shrine is important to both Hindus and Muslims. You will find the grave of Baba Budan- the Sufi saint, after trekking to the flat top of hill. From the Dargah of the islamic saint, a stairwell rises up to the Dattatreya Caves- believed to be inhabited by the hindu deity Dattatreya Swami. Fascinating stories associated with these mythical figures circulate among pilgrims here. The Islamic saint is known to have been sent by the Prophet Muhamamd to India and the deity Dattatreya is believed to be the embodiment of Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwar.You will be thrilled to hear about a peculiar connection between coffee plantations in the Nilgiri Hills and the Sufi saint coming from faraway Middle-east. Legend has it, the saint had returned from his Hajj to Mecca with seven raw cocoa beans which he planted in the soils of these mountainsides! A sweeping view of the Chikmagalur valley from the shrine can be found down below. 3 km ahead of the religious site, the Manikyadhara Falls is another brilliantly scenic place that you can check out.Baba Budangiri TrekThe Baba Budangiri trek has two viable flag-off points, the trailhead at Sarpadhari and the one at Attigundi. Going by any of the routes, trekkers will first reach the Mullayanagiri mountain-- the highest peak in Karnataka and furthering from here to Baba Budangiri. The trail will demand you to carefully negotiate steep uphill stretches and walking on a moraine-filled ravine. The block cliffs of Mullayanagiri soon comes into sight after crossing Sarpadhari, surrounded by thickets of shola trees.The enthusiastic shutterbug in you has to jump to life on finding the striking contrast of resplendent green forests, and grasslands against the black rocked cliffs on this trail. Upon reaching the mountain-top, you will be greeted with a spellbinding birds-eye view of the valley lying below.