The district · Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru

ಚಿಕ್ಕಮಗಳೂರು

Town, Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri and the coffee hills above the cloud line.

Waterfalls · 3Temples · 5Lakes · 2Peaks & viewpoints · 4Wildlife & forests · 1Coffee country & ghats · 2Viewpoints · 1

18 places in this companion, descriptions from district tourism, temple and forest pages already on the public web. Not a complete gazetteer.

This taluk

Places on the map.

The district overview hid every pin. Here the listed sights sit on Chikkamagaluru’s OSM polygon. Click a marker to jump to its notes below.

Back to nine taluks

Visitor notes

Every listed place in Chikkamagaluru.

Hours, approach and “why people stop” come from public pages, the district, Karnataka Forest Department, mathas, not from a booking desk. Confirm before you go.

Coffee country & ghats · Chikkamagaluru

Coffee Museum, Chikkamagaluru

The bean's journey, from Baba Budan to your cup

The indoor half of coffee country: how the crop is explained in town. Weekend lists put it on day two because it is close and does not need a jeep.

Confirm in town before you go, A museum on the bean in this district. Opening hours belong to the museum / Coffee Board notices, not to a tour brochure.

The Coffee Museum in Chikkamagaluru town, on the bean’s journey in this district. Opening hours belong to the museum / Coffee Board notices, confirm in town.

All year

Coffee country & ghats · Chikkamagaluru

Shade-grown coffee country

ಕಾಫಿ ಮಲೆನಾಡು

Chikkamagaluru’s identity is coffee. Traditional estates grow arabica and robusta under a canopy of silver oak, rosewood and native trees, often with pepper vines. This is a working agricultural landscape, not a park.

Estate walks, if offered, are private hospitality, this companion does not list or book stays. Look, do not trespass, and buy coffee from places that name the estate.

District profile

Lakes · Chikkamagaluru

Galikere

A small hill tarn on the Baba Budangiri ridge, the windy lake, and usually empty.

A small tarn on the Baba Budangiri ridge, often windy and empty. Daylight, layers, and the same ridge-road cautions as the rest of Chandra Drona.

October – February

District tourism

Lakes · Chikkamagaluru

Hirekolale Lake

ಹಿರೇಕೊಳಲೆ

Hirekolale Lake is a scenic lake amidst the hills and valleys of Chikkamagaluru, about 10 km from the city. Surrounded by lush greenery, it is a known spot for picnics, nature walks and boating.

Nine kilometres from town, with Mullayanagiri on the skyline. Visitor sites list it for sunrise and sunset because it is close, level, and quiet after the hairpins.

Open lakeshore; best at dusk, An irrigation and town-supply tank, not a ticketed park. Stay off the bund if it is wet. No boating desk is run from this page.

A gentle stop rather than a trek. There is no swimming guidance published here; banks can be muddy after rain. Best route: Local roads from Chikkamagaluru city.

All year (best in winter)

Peaks & viewpoints · Chikkamagaluru

Baba Budangiri / Datta Peetha

ಬಾಬಾ ಬುಡನ್ ಗಿರಿ

Shri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah (Baba Budangiri / Datta Peetha), about 33 km from Chikkamagaluru, is a revered pilgrimage and trekking site in the Western Ghats. The brochure notes its spiritual significance, scenic landscapes and unique blend of traditions — a sacred shrine of Guru Dattatreya revered by both Hindu and Muslim communities. Nearest attractions: Mullayanagiri, Manikyadhara Falls, Jhari Falls.

Chandra Drona, the hill the Coffee Board names for Baba Budan’s seven Mocha seeds, and a shared shrine to Datta Peetha. Tripadvisor and 2-day loops put it with Mullayanagiri because the same range holds both.

Daylight on the ridge, The cave shrine’s crowd rules and inner hours change with festivals. Use the ridge in daylight. Do not treat a blog’s sunrise slot as a published gate time.

The district site describes the range north of Chikkamagaluru town. Access, shrine timings and any crowd-management rules change; confirm with official notices rather than travel blogs.

September – February · 1,895 m

Peaks & viewpoints · Chikkamagaluru

Deviramma Betta

ದೇವಿರಮ್ಮ ಬೆಟ್ಟ

Deviramma Hilltop is a sacred hill destination about 25 km from Chikkamagaluru, combining spirituality and a moderate trek. The summit rewards panoramic Western Ghats views and is a noted Deepavali pilgrimage. Nearest attractions: Deviramma Temple, Mullayanagiri.

Tripadvisor nearby-things lists name Deviramma with the same range as Mullayanagiri. A local deity hill, not a second high-point trophy.

Daylight on the ridge, A pointed peak near Baba Budangiri, with an easier shrine at Bindiga noted by the district. Festival days crowd.

The hill temple’s opening is described on the district site as limited (historically around Deepavali). Treat festival dates and access points as changeable and confirm officially. Best route: Moderate trekking trail to the hilltop shrine / summit.

October – February

Peaks & viewpoints · Chikkamagaluru

Mullayanagiri

ಮುಳ್ಳಯ್ಯನಗಿರಿ

Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in Karnataka at 1,930 metres above sea level, about 20 km from Chikkamagaluru. Surrounded by mist-covered hills and coffee plantations, it is one of the district’s most visited viewpoints for sunrise and sunset. Mullappa Swamy Temple stands at the summit. Nearest attractions: Shri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah, Jhari Falls, Seethalayanagiri.

Karnataka’s high point at 1,930 m, about 20 km from town on the Baba Budan / Chandra Drona range. The Department of Tourism brochure notes Mullappa Swamy Temple at the summit, scenic mountain roads, and sunrise/sunset views. The last stretch is typically walked.

Daylight, No municipal opening hours are published. The district notes a narrow hill road and a final walk to the summit temple. After dark the hairpins are unlit and often in cloud.

The approach road is narrow with steep drops. Driving all the way to the temple is not always possible; the last stretch is typically walked. Road conditions, weather and any temporary closures should be checked locally before you go. Best route: Scenic mountain roads toward the ridge; last stretch often walked to the summit temple.

September – February · 1,930 m

Peaks & viewpoints · Chikkamagaluru

Seethalayyanagiri

The green shoulder below Mullayanagiri, with a Shiva shrine and a view over both valleys.

Travel guides and 2-day blogs name it as the greener step under Karnataka’s high point, a stop, not a second summit day.

Daylight; same hill road as the high peak, A Shiva shrine and a view over both valleys. Often walked on the way back from Mullayanagiri. Road and weather still decide.

A Shiva shrine on the green shoulder below Mullayanagiri. The last stretch is walked. Confirm the road and weather before you start, this page does not run a gate.

October – February

District tourism

Temples · Chikkamagaluru

Deviramma Temple, Mallenahalli

ದೇವಿರಮ್ಮ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ, ಮಲ್ಲೇನಹಳ್ಳಿ

Shri Kshetra Bindiga Deviramma Temple sits in the Western Ghats hills near the Mullayanagiri country, about 20 km from Chikkamagaluru. Dedicated to Goddess Deviramma, it is renowned for its hill setting and an annual Deepavali festival that draws thousands of devotees, with panoramic views of surrounding hills and valleys.

The everyday Deviramma temple people actually stop at, not the Deepavali climb on the hill above.

Temple daylight, The foothill shrine of Goddess Deviramma on Bindiga estate road at Mallenahalli, north of Chikkamagaluru town. Living temple rules apply. The peak shrine is described locally as festival-time only.

The Mallenahalli temple is the everyday access. The peak temple is described locally as festival-time only. Dress, photography and festival dates follow the shrine, not this page. Confirm access on the district tourism note before you go. Best route: Scenic route toward the Bindiga / Mallenahalli Deviramma shrine. Nearest attractions: Deviramma Hill, Mullayanagiri.

October – February

Temples · Chikkamagaluru

Kodandarama Temple, Hiremagalur

Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple at Hiremagalur, about 3 km from Chikkamagaluru, is among Karnataka’s most revered Rama temples. Life-sized idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are sculpted from a single stone, with Sita standing to Rama’s right in the divine Kalyana Kolam. The shrine shows Hoysala style with Dravidian influences — ornate pillars, gopurams and stone carving. Nearest attractions: Hiremagalur Temple Complex, Mullayanagiri, Mahatma Gandhi Park.

Hiremagalur’s Kodandarama shrine, about 3 km from town: life-sized Rama, Sita and Lakshmana from a single stone, with Sita to Rama’s right in Kalyana Kolam — a brochure highlight of Hoysala–Dravidian craft close to headquarters.

Temple hours as posted locally, At Hiremagalur, just south of Chikkamagaluru town. Inner-sanctum and dress rules are the temple’s.

The Kodandarama temple at Hiremagalur, just south of town. Dress and inner-sanctum rules are the temple’s. No fee is quoted here.

All year

Temples · Chikkamagaluru

Marle Twin Temples

ಮರ್ಳೆ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳು

Marle Twin Temples, about 12 km from Chikkamagaluru, are hidden Hoysala gems: Shri Chennakeshava Temple and Siddeshwara Temple, built around 1150 CE and dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. Intricate stone carving makes them an excellent example of medieval Karnataka architecture. Nearest attractions: Belur, Halebeedu, Veeranarayana Temple.

Heritage temples — follow on-site ASI / temple guidance.

All year

Temples · Chikkamagaluru

Sri Markandeshwara Temple, Khandya

ಖಂಡ್ಯ ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಶ್ವರ

Sri Markandeshwara Temple at Khandya, about 44 km from Chikkamagaluru, is a revered Shiva temple of Post-Vijayanagara architecture in scenic hill surroundings. It is associated with Sage Mallikarjuna and local legends, with intricate granite carvings and sculptures — a historic cultural landmark of the region.

Living temple — dress and conduct follow temple custom.

All year

Temples · Chikkamagaluru

Veeranarayana Temple, Belavadi

ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ ವೀರನಾರಾಯಣ

Veeranarayana Temple in historic Belavadi, about 29 km from Chikkamagaluru, is one of the finest Hoysala temples of the 13th century, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It houses shrines of Veeranarayana, Yoga Narasimha and Venugopala, with exquisite stone carvings and sculpted pillars. Nearest attractions: Halebidu, Belur, Marle Twin Temples.

A three-shrine Hoysala house of stone east of town. Tripadvisor and heritage loops name it; BanBanjara’s 2-day list does too.

Temple daylight; inner rules are theirs, The Veeranarayana temple is a living shrine. Photography and dress follow the temple, not a tourism card.

Pairs well with a Halebidu / Belur heritage day, which lies just outside this district. Check daylight hours; village temples may close for puja.

All year

Viewpoints · Chikkamagaluru

Kavikal Gandi Viewpoint

The horseshoe gorge on the Mullayanagiri–Baba Budangiri road, fifty steps up, and the whole range in front of you.

A horseshoe notch on the Mullayanagiri–Baba Budangiri road, often a short stop for the view. Park only where it is safe; the hairpins are narrow.

October – February

District tourism

Waterfalls · Chikkamagaluru

Jhari Falls (Buttermilk Falls)

ಝರಿ ಜಲಪಾತ

Jhari Falls at Attigundi is about 24 km from Chikkamagaluru. A short trek from Attigundi leads to this scenic waterfall in dense forest — a refreshing stop on the high-ridge side of the district.

A white fall off granite, close to the high-ridge road, so it shows up on almost every 2-day sketch and on Tripadvisor’s waterfall list. Not a swimming-pool notice, seasonal water only.

Daylight; fullest after monsoon, A short walk from a jeep/estate track off the Mullayanagiri–Baba Budangiri side. Rocks are wet. Summer often reduces the sheet to a trickle.

The last stretch is often a jeep track rather than a regular car road. Conditions after monsoon can be difficult. Do not assume year-round access. Best route: NH173 to Attigundi; short trek from Attigundi to the falls.

July – January

Waterfalls · Chikkamagaluru

Manikyadhara Falls

ಮಾಣಿಕ್ಯಧಾರಾ

Manikyadhara Falls sits near the Shri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah ridge. The tourism brochure notes its lush setting, picnic and nature-walk appeal, and a belief in the healing quality of the clear water. A nearby Lord Shiva shrine also draws pilgrims.

A short cascade used as a pilgrimage stop on the same ridge as Baba Budan. Commonly bundled with the cave shrine on day-one hill loops.

Often described as daylight, about 06:00–18:00, On the Baba Budangiri slopes. Visitor blogs copy a 6-to-6 window, treat it as a daylight hint, not a municipal board. Confirm locally.

Combine only if the ridge road is open and the fall is flowing. Rocks are slippery; there is no substitute for local, current advice. Best route: Short trek or scenic drive through the Western Ghats near Shri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah.

July – February

Waterfalls · Chikkamagaluru

Ukkada Falls

ಉಕ್ಕಡ ಜಲಪಾತ

Ukkada Falls, about 40 km from Chikkamagaluru city, is described by the tourism brochure as a well-kept secret and a sanctuary for peace. The cascade falls gently into a serene pool. Visitors enjoy about a 2 km forest trek with many bird species along winding paths and quiet landscapes.

Forest paths can be slippery after rain. Go in daylight; ask locally for the current trailhead. Best route: Take SH57 to reach Ukkada.

July – January

Wildlife & forests · Chikkamagaluru

Bhadra Tiger Reserve

ಭದ್ರಾ ವನ್ಯಜೀವಿ ಅಭಯಾರಣ್ಯ

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhadra Tiger Reserve) takes its name from the Bhadra River, which originates near the Kudremukh hills. The Department of Tourism brochure records an area of 492.46 sq km comprising 15 state forests. It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur, deer and many birds, with dense forest, rolling hills and the scenic river. Popular for wildlife safaris and birdwatching. Nearest attractions include Muthodi Wildlife Range, Lakkavalli Dam, Bhadra Reservoir and Kudremukh.

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary covers 492.46 sq km across 15 state forests (tourism brochure). Named for the Bhadra River from the Kudremukh hills — tigers, elephants, gaur and birds. Safari only through official forest channels.

Safari slots as the forest department notifies, Muthodi and other ranges are notified forest. Jeep timings and any fees belong to the department counter, not this page.

Safari slots and fees are forest-department matters. Book only through official channels such as https://tickets.bhadratigerreserve.in — this companion does not sell tickets. Nearest attractions: Muthodi Wildlife Range, Lakkavalli Dam, Bhadra Reservoir, Kudremukh.

October – February