4 Amazing Trekking Trails in Chikmagalur

by Rajashekar Reddy C. Digital Marketer

Resting at the foothills of the Mullayanagiri range, Chikmagalur is one of the fabulous hill stations located in Karnataka. Popularly known as ‘The Coffee Land of Karnataka’, Chikmagalur is famous for its serene environment, lush green forests, coffee plantations, glittering lakes and tall mountains. Being a hill station, Chikmagalur has some interesting trekking trails and these are the popular places to experience Chikmagalur Tourism. Serpentine paths, steep inclines, grassy patches, ridge walks, pleasant weather and mesmerizing views make trekking to these peaks unforgettable. Mullayanagiri Trek, Baba Budangiri Trek, Kudremukh Trek and Kemmangundi Trek are the important trekking places include in all Chikmagalur Tour Packages.

Here is the list of top four trekking spots in Chikmagalur.

Mullayanagiri Trek

Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka, is located in the Chandra Dhrona Hill Ranges of the Western Ghats in Chikmagalur district. Situated at an altitude of 1950 m, it is regarded as the highest peak between Himalayas and Nilgiris. The trekking trails on the Mullayangiri Hills will take you through some of the most rustic and lovely pathways.Named after Mullappa Swami Temple at the summit, Mullayanagiri is regarded as one of the best trekking spots in Karnataka and among the top tourist places in Chikmagalur.

Being the highest peak in Karnataka, Mullayanagiri offers some very interesting trails. The trek route to the peak begins from Sarpadaari, which is well-connected by road with Chikmagalur. This is a 3 km long trek which is moderate and takes about 1.5 hours to reach the peak. The peak is adorned with verdant grassland, rugged rocks, and a good trek path. The views from the top of Mullayanagiri are breathtaking. It is the must include trek in all Chikmagalur Packages.

Bababudangiri Trek

Baba Budangiri, also known as Dattagiri & Chandra Drona Parvatha, is a mountain peak in the Baba Budan range of Chikmagalur district. Situated at an altitude of 1895 m, this is one of the highest mountain peaks in Karnataka and among the places to experience Chikmagalur Tourism. Named after the Muslim saint Baba Budan Ji, Baba Budangiri is famous for its distinct forest range and trekking.

Mullayanagiri – Baba Budangiri trek is one of the best trekking trails in Chikmagalur. The Mullayanagiri – Baba Budangiri trail starts just behind the Shiva temple. The total trek distance from Mullayanagiri peak to the Baba Budangiri is around 9 km and it takes around 5 hours. After 3 km from the Mullayanagiri, one should cross the Attigundi road at the forest department office. After crossing the forest department office, the Mullayanagiri trek is mostly along the ridge. Adventure seekers can also hike through the forest to visit the historic shrine of Deviramma Betta.

Kudremukh Trek

Kudremukh is a mountain peak lies in the Kudremukh National Park. Located at an altitude of 1,894 m, Kudremukh is the 3rd highest peak of Western Ghats after Mullayanagiri and Baba Budangiri. The rolling hills, natural grasslands and Shola woodland make this is one of the beautiful trekking places in Karnataka and among the top places to visit in Chikmagalur.

Permission from the forest department at Kudremukh town is necessary to do this trek. Camping is not allowed in the national park so that the trek should be finished in a single day. There are several routes to trek Kudremukh peak but the Samse – Mullodi route is quite famous. The peak is situated at a distance of about 10 km from Mullodi village. It is the moderate trek and it takes about 5 hours to trek one way.Besides fascinating terrains and trails, the peak also offers panoramic views of coffee plantations, scenic landscapes, picturesque meadows and much more.

Kemmangundi Trek

Kemmanagundi is a beautiful and picturesque hill station in Chikmagalur district. Situated at an altitude of 1434 m, it is known for its pleasant climate, lush vegetation, green valleys, and coffee estates and amazing sunset views. Popularly known as KR Hills, Kemmanagundi is a part of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It has several trekking options that include Hebbe Falls, Shanti Falls and Z-Point.

Located 8 km from Kemmangundi, Hebbe Falls is one of the famous waterfalls in Chikmagalur and also one of the top trekking trails in Chikmagalur. It is surrounded by astonishing greenery, dense forests, rich flora and fauna.The trekking trail is a jeep track that is muddy and strewn with fallen leaves. The initial stretch of the 4 km trail is slippery, especially in the monsoon and the last 2 km trail is little steep. It is a full day trekking trail.

Another popular trekking trail in Kemmangundi is the Z Point. Z Point is a beautiful spot with deep valleys all around and offers breathtaking vistas of the Western Ghats. This is a wonderful trekking spot and also one of the best places to visit in Kemmanagundi. The 3 km trekking trail to Z Point starts from Kemmanagundi Raj Bhavan which lasts for about an hour and is one of the best short treks in Karnataka. Shanti Waterfalls is situated enroute to the Z Point. It is relatively easy till Shanti Hills and gets little tough afterwards. The later part of the trek runs through narrow path with deep gorges and steep hills. Z point is also the starting point of Kemmangundi – Baba Budangiri trekking trail.