Karnataka · Coffee · Peaks
Chikkamagaluru
Chikkamagaluru is the coffee country of Karnataka, where coffee was first grown in India, set among the Baba Budangiri hills. It is about 170 km from Mysuru, about 4 hours by road. Most visitors plan 2–3 days. October to February is the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru, when the hills are clear and forest trails are dry.
Why travellers go
Visitors come for estate stays, mountain drives and Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka.
- Suggested time
- 2–3 days
- State
- Karnataka
- Good for
- Coffee, Peaks
Best-known sights in Chikkamagaluru
- Mullayanagiri peak: The highest peak in Karnataka, at about 1,930 m (6,317 ft), with a small Shiva temple on top, reachable by road. Temple open 7am-7pm. A time-slot booking system for vehicles was announced in 2025; check chikkamagaluru.nic.in before you go.
- Seethalayyanagiri: A smaller hill on the road up to Mullayanagiri, now used as the parking point for vehicles.
- Baba Budangiri: A hill range at about 1,895 m with a shrine revered by both Hindus and Muslims; Baba Budan is believed to have brought coffee to India from Mokha, Yemen.
- Manikyadhara Falls: A waterfall on the Baba Budangiri hills, near Kemmanagundi.
- Jhari Falls (Buttermilk Falls): A waterfall in the Mullayanagiri-Baba Budangiri area, about 1 km from Honnamanahalli Falls.
- Kemmanagundi: A hill station at about 1,430 m, about 53 km from Chikkamagaluru, once the summer retreat of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, with a rose garden run by the Horticulture Department.
- Z Point: A viewpoint about a 45-minute steep walk uphill from the Raj Bhavan at Kemmanagundi, passing Shanthi Falls.
- Hebbe Falls: A waterfall about 168 m high in two stages, about 10 km from Kemmanagundi inside forest. Go by forest department jeep part of the way or trek; tickets and permission at the Kemmanagundi entry point. Best October to February.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary: A tiger reserve of about 892 sq km in Chikkamagaluru district, declared a Project Tiger reserve in 1998.
- Chennakeshava Temple, Belur: A Hoysala temple on the Hassan-Chikkamagaluru route, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas' (2023).
- Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu: A Hoysala Shiva temple about 16 km from Belur, part of the same UNESCO site.
How many days do you need in Chikkamagaluru?
Plans for one, two or three days. A starting point only, not a Travel Trendzz package.
One day
- Seethalayyanagiri (on the way up)
- Mullayanagiri peak
- Baba Budangiri
- Manikyadhara Falls
Two days
- Day 1: Seethalayyanagiri (on the way up), Mullayanagiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Manikyadhara Falls
- Day 2: Kemmanagundi, Z Point, Hebbe Falls
Three days
- Day 1: Seethalayyanagiri (on the way up), Mullayanagiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Manikyadhara Falls
- Day 2: Kemmanagundi, Z Point, Hebbe Falls
- Day 3: Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu
How to reach Chikkamagaluru from Mysuru and Bengaluru
From Mysuru
- By road
- About 170 km, about 4 hours, via Hassan and Belur.
- By train
- No direct train from Mysuru to Chikkamagaluru station. Trains run from Mysuru via Hassan and Arsikere to Kadur or Birur, then about 45-50 minutes by bus or taxi.
- By bus
- Buses run between Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru via Hassan and Belur.
- By air
- No airport in the district. Mangaluru International Airport is about 150-170 km away by road.
From Bengaluru
- By road
- About 240 km, about 5-5.5 hours, via Hassan and Belur, or via Arsikere and Kadur.
- By train
- Yes. A daily unreserved express runs from Yesvantpur (Bengaluru) to Chikkamagaluru. Express trains also reach Kadur in about 3 hours, then about 45 minutes by road.
- By bus
- Regular ordinary and luxury buses run from Bengaluru to Chikkamagaluru.
- By air
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, about 250 km away; Mangaluru airport is closer.
Road times are approximate; check current timings for trains and buses before you travel.
Going by taxi from Mysuru? See the Mysore to Chikmagalur taxi page.
Best time to visit Chikkamagaluru
October to February is the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru, when the hills are clear and forest trails are dry. June to September is the monsoon, when treks such as Hebbe Falls get slippery and unsafe.
| Month | Weather and what to know |
|---|---|
| Jan | Cool and dry, about 15-28°C |
| Feb | Dry and warm, about 16-31°C |
| Mar | Warm and dry, about 18-33°C |
| Apr | Hottest month, some showers, about 20-33°C |
| May | Warm with pre-monsoon showers, about 20-31°C |
| Jun | Monsoon, about 19-27°C Entry to Mullayanagiri can be stopped on red-alert days. |
| Jul | Monsoon, cool, about 19-25°C Forest trails to Hebbe Falls become difficult. |
| Aug | Monsoon, cool, about 19-26°C |
| Sep | Rain easing, about 18-27°C |
| Oct | Post-monsoon showers, about 18-27°C |
| Nov | Mild, about 17-27°C |
| Dec | Cool and dry, about 15-27°C During religious events in the hills, tourist entry to Mullayanagiri and Baba Budangiri may be restricted. |
Tips for visiting Chikkamagaluru
- Book vehicle entry to Mullayanagiri and Baba Budangiri online in advance; a time-slot system with online booking was announced in 2025; check chikkamagaluru.nic.in for the current rules.
- Entry to the hills can be stopped on red-alert days and during temple fairs and religious events.
- Wear shoes with good grip for Hebbe Falls; the route crosses streams and slippery rocks.
- Autos in town do not use meters, so agree on the fare first; hire a taxi for full-day trips such as Kemmanagundi.
- If you come by train, Kadur and Birur stations have more trains than Chikkamagaluru station.
Photos
Travel Trendzz packages that include Chikkamagaluru
Prices are given on request; the team sends a quote for your dates and group.
Choosing between Chikkamagaluru and Coorg? See Coorg vs Chikkamagaluru.
Questions about Chikkamagaluru
What is the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru?
October to February is the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru. The weather is dry and pleasant, about 15-28°C, and forest trails such as the one to Hebbe Falls are safe to walk. The monsoon, June to September, makes trails slippery, and hill roads may close on red-alert days.
How many days are enough for Chikkamagaluru?
Two to three days are enough. Day one covers Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri and Manikyadhara Falls. Day two covers Kemmanagundi, Z Point and Hebbe Falls. With a third day, stop at the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu, which lie on the road between Chikkamagaluru and Hassan.
How far is Chikkamagaluru from Mysuru and Bengaluru?
Chikkamagaluru is about 170 km from Mysuru, about 4 hours by road via Hassan and Belur. From Bengaluru it is about 240 km, about 5-5.5 hours by road. A daily unreserved express runs from Yesvantpur in Bengaluru, but there is no direct train from Mysuru.
Is Chikkamagaluru good for couples and families?
Yes. Couples come for coffee estate stays and mountain drives to Mullayanagiri. Families can drive most of the way up the peak and visit the Kemmanagundi gardens. The Hebbe Falls route and the Z Point walk involve steep or rough stretches, so they suit fitter travellers better.
Does Travel Trendzz have a package for Chikkamagaluru?
Yes. Chikmagalur Hills (2 Nights / 3 Days), Mysore & Chikmagalur Discovery (3 Nights / 4 Days), Coorg & Chikmagalur Nature Trail (4 Nights / 5 Days) are published Travel Trendzz packages.
Places near Chikkamagaluru
Sakleshpur
Coffee estates · 1–2 days
Published packageCoorg
Coffee hills · 2–3 days
Published packageUdupi
Temple town · 1–2 days
All Karnataka destinations · All South India destinations · See all tour packages
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in November 2026. Rules such as entry passes, timings and road closures change, so check before you travel.
- karnatakatourism.org › mullayyanagiri peak
- theweek.in › mes23 ka vehicles tourists
- en.wikipedia.org › Baba Budangiri
- en.wikipedia.org › Kemmanagundi
- karnatakatourism.org › hebbe falls
- en.wikipedia.org › Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- en.wikipedia.org › Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
- chikkamagaluru.nic.in › how to reach
- en.wikipedia.org › Chikmagalur
- en.wikipedia.org › Chikmagalur railway station
- en.wikivoyage.org › Chikmagalur
Plan your Chikkamagaluru trip
Tell the trip planner your dates, group and budget. Nothing is booked until you confirm with the team.
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