Things to Do in Chikmagalur
Chikmagalur is a beautiful hill station situated at a height of about 3400 feet. It is a less explored destination that requires your immediate attention. Here, you find tree plantations; especially coffee fields. This destination is considered to be one of the most scenic places that maintains a pleasant weather throughout the year. It is believed that years ago the land of this district was given as a dowry to the younger daughter of a legendary chief who ruled Sakrepatna- Rukmangada.It is only on the basis of this belief that the hill station got its name “Chikmagalur” that means ‘young daughter’s town’. If you are a nature lover, you surely will enjoy the mesmerising beauty of this place that has rugged regions, lowlands, the most scenic views and the best things to do in Chikmagalur As the hill station is less explored, the beauty is absolutely raw in its purest form. It is easy to find all of the basic facilities for visitors like good accommodation options, restaurants, attractions, internal transport facilities etc.
The Western Ghats start from this region and the beautiful Yagachi River originates from the surrounding hills. Chikmagalur is famous for its serene environment, lush green forests and tall mountains. It is also famous for the coffee and is often referred to as the coffee land of Karnataka. There are enough number of places to be visited here which means there are many things to do.
Some of the best things to do in Chikmagalur, that should surely remain on your list are visiting Mullayanagiri, which is the highest peak of the state, trekking to Kudremukh peak, enjoying the views of backwaters of Hirekolale lake, exploring the coffee plantation fields, getting your feet wet at the buttermilk falls, exploring Belavadi and Hale bidu, take a pilgrimage tour to Horanadu Annapoorneshwari temple, discover the beauty of Bhadra Dam, trek to Bababudangiri hill, visit Belur, visit Kavikal Gandi viewpoint, etc. These are some of the most beautiful spots in and around Chikmagalur and must be on the best “things to do” in Chikmagalur list.
Things to Do in Chikmagalur
People Also Ask About Chikmagalur Things To Do
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What is the best time to visit Chikmagalur?
The best time to visit Chikmagalur is from September to March. The city is best known as 'The Coffee Land of Karnataka' and is situated on the foothills of the Mullayanagiri range. It experiences summer, monsoon and winter.
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Can we go on road trip from Bangalore to Chikmagalur? How much is the distance?
One can reach Chikmagalur via road from Bangalore. The distance is about 245 Kms. There are two modes of transport that you can opt for:
- The first viable option is you road trip the distance in your own car. In the comfort of your own car, you can cover the distance with your family.
- The second option that you can opt for is taking a bus from Bangalore to Chikmagalur. You can book tickets online via the red bus.in website for hassle-free bookings.
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What activities can be done in Chikmagalur?
Chikmagalur is famous for diverse things. Find below more information on the same:
- Beautiful temples to visit and get blessings from namely Kote Ganapathi Temple, Hati Maramma Temple, Deviramma Temple Bindiga.
- There are scenic waterfalls in Chikmagalur that you can make a part of your itinerary. Kallathigiri Waterfall, Hebbe waterfall and Shanti Waterfall.
- Lastly, treks are one the most adventurous things that Chikmagalur has to offer. You can trek to Kudremukh, Mullayanagiri, Kemmangundi trek, go for Sakleshpur railway trek or Kumara Parvatha trek or even Agumbe Ghat or Narasimha Parvatha trek
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What all adventure activities can be done in Chikmagalur?
There are various tourist attractions in Chikmagalur and lots of adventure activities to do like trekking, camping and many others.
- Treks: There are numerous treks to do in Chikmagalur. Namely, Kudremukh, Mullayanagiri or You can trek to Kudremukh, Mullayanagiri, Kemmangundi trek, go for Sakleshpur railway trek or Kumara Parvatha trek or even Agumbe Ghat or Narasimha Parvatha trek
- You can even go camping in Chikmagalur. Chikmagalur is the best destination for camping in South India. One can camp at Ballalarayana Durga, even at the Hebbe Falls as the dense forests leading to it make it a good spot for camping.
- Lastly, river rafting is on offer too in Chikmagalur. White Water Rafting on River Bhadra in Chikmagalur. Bhadra river passes through one of the eighth most dense forests in the world and located within 30 kms from the Kudremukh national park.The white water rafting experience at Chikmagalur is a pure adrenaline rush with level III rapids over a time of two hours.
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Which places are best for trekking in Chikmagalur?
Following are the best places for trekking in Chikmagalur:
- Mullayanagiri trek
- Kemmangundi trek
- Sakleshpur railway trek
- Kumara Parvatha trek
- Kudremukh trek
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Which are some of the affordable resorts to stay in Chikmagalur?
With its scenic beauty and vast greenery, Chikmagalur attracts a lot of tourist around the world. Chikmagalur is a wonderful region arranged on the western piece of Karnataka. It is for the most part prevalent for its espresso ranches and a lovely atmosphere. Here are some of the popular resorts in Chikmagalur.
- The Serai Resort
- Winter Greens Resort
- Eagle Eye resort
- Jenukallu Resort
- Tusk and Dawn
- River Tern Lodge
- Kalgreen Valley Resort
- Silent Valley Resort
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Which are must visit waterfalls in Chikmagalur?
There are plenty of waterfalls in Chikmagalur. Namely:
- Shankar Falls
- Kallathigiri Falls
- Hebbe Waterfalls
- Shanti Falls
- Kalhatti Falls
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Where can we go for wildlife safari in Chikmagalur?
Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary is the nearest from Chikmagalur. Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary s the other name for Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.This Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Western Ghats, spread in a sprawling 492 kms is the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Which temples are famous in Chikmagalur?
Famous temples for sightseeing in Chikmagalur are as follows:
- Sringeri Sharada Peetha
- Sharadamba Temple
- Amruteshwar Temple
- Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple
- Annapurneshwari Temple
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How is Mullayanagiri trek? Can anyone do it?
Mullayanagiri trek is the highest trek in Karnataka, sitting at 6,330 feet in the Chikmagalur taluk. The trek and the jungle trails will encourage you to bond with fellow trekkers which is perfect for team building and camaraderie. This is a moderate level trek as one has to trek via knife edges. This is also the highest peak of Karnataka.
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Can we go for Kemmangundi trek? Is it a difficult trek?
Kemmanagundi Trek which is ringed by the Baba Budan Giri Range and enveloped by true Chikkamagalur-style Western Ghats beauty is a good trek. This 12 hours long trek covering a distance of 20 km will take you through a landscape stroked with lofty hills, innumerable streams and brooks, extensive coffee estates, waterfalls and ornamental gardens tucked amidst lush green forests. This is a moderately difficult trek.
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What all things couples can do in Chikmagalur?
Chikmagalur is a picturesque destination for couples. The beautiful scenery is bound to make you feel loved. There are a number of things you can do with your partner when in Chikmagalur.
Read below:
- If you guys love adventure, then you can go river rafting together. It’s fun yet challenging.
- You can also plan a stay at the nature homestay in Chikmagalur and breathe in the natural surroundings.
- Or another beautiful lodge in Chikmagalur is the River Tern Lodge where you can book a stay for two and have a lovely time.
- There are a lot of treks to do in this hill station. Some easy and some moderately difficult but they do promise some fun and challenge.
If you as a couple, like to do something similar then you could opt for this as well.
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Are there any waterfalls in Chikmagalur?
There are plenty of waterfalls in Chikmagalur. Namely:
- Shankar Falls
- Kallathigiri Falls
- Hebbe Waterfalls
- Shanti Falls
- Kalhatti Falls
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What all things can be done in Chikmagalur other then Camping and trekking?
Following are the things you can choose from if not trekking or camping in Chikmagalur.
- One can visit temples
- Spend a day sightseeing the serene waterfalls
- Stay at coffee plantations
- Stay at beautiful homestays that are spread across the hill station.

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Chikmagalur Top Attractions
Places To Visit In Chikmagalur
Situated on the serene river banks of Tunga, Sringeri Sharada Peetha is one of the important Advaita mathas in the city of Chikmagalur. It was established by Adi Shankaracharya and draws tourists from all over the world. There is a famous legend that when Adi Shankaracharya was wandering around the banks of river Tunga, he came across an interesting sight where he saw a cobra spreading its hood to offer protection to a pregnant frog against the sunlight.He was overwhelmed at the kindness of the cobra towards his natural enemy and built the temple on this unique land. Sringeri Sharada Peetha is celebrated because of the picturesque town of Sringeri that boasts of many legends and historic temples. Also known as Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada peetam, this place is one of the most popular Chikmagalur tourist attractions for pilgrims. • Location: Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Chickmagalur • Best Time to visit: It can be visited throughout the year • Entry fee: Free• Timings: It is open in the morning from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and in the evening from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm• Distance from Chikmagalur Bus Stand: It is located at a distance of 87 kilometres from the bus stand in Chikmagalur.

Famous as one of the most sacred places to visit in Chikmagalur, Sharadamba Temple is a renowned Hindu Temple built in the 8th century. It was constructed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya and dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. This ancient temple once had the original idol of the presiding deity made of sandalwood but it was later replaced with a golden idol. Built in the Dravidian style, Sharadamba Temple epitomises the nuances of the flourishing culture and history of the region.This temple is located on the river Tunga and considered a must visit for the followers of Shankaracharya. There are also other four temples located around the mutt which are known as Kala bhairava temple, Durga temple, Anjaneya temple and Kali temple. Sharadamba Temple attracts the maximum number of visitors during the Navaratri Festival which is celebrated with great fervor by the devotees. • Location: Sri Sharadamba Temple, Harihara Street, Singeri, Chikkamagaluru• Best Time to visit: The most ideal time to visit this temple is during the Navratra festival. • Entry fee: Free• Timings: It can be visited all days of the week from 5:30 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 9:15 pm• Distance from Chikmagalur Bus Stand: It is located at an approximate distance of 90 kilometre from the Chikmagalur Bus Stand




















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