Chikkamagaluru travel guide
Coffee estates, green hills, and trekking trails.
Chikkamagaluru is a picturesque hill station known for its coffee estates, lush green hills, and trekking trails. It is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
Best time to visit Chikkamagaluru
Go Nov–Mar for dry, cool weather and clear views. Jul–Aug is wet and misty, with leeches and possible slides on ghat roads; Sep–Oct is green with full waterfalls.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | best | 15–28 °C | 0 mm | medium | Cool, dry and clear; cold mornings on the peaks |
| February | best | 16–30 °C | 5 mm | medium | Dry and pleasant; clear views from the peaks |
| March | best | 18–33 °C | 25 mm | medium | Warm and mostly dry; coffee blossom can follow the first showers |
| April | good | 20–33 °C | 60 mm | medium | Warm days and hazier views; pre-monsoon showers start |
| May | good | 20–31 °C | 120 mm | high | Warm and showery; school-holiday crowds at the peaks |
| June | good | 19–27 °C | 120 mm | low | Monsoon arrives; misty and green, with frequent showers |
| July | mixed | 19–25 °C | 130 mm | low | Wettest stretch; mist, leeches on trails, slides possible on ghat roads |
| August | mixed | 19–26 °C | 130 mm | low | Rain and cloud most days; waterfalls full, but views and treks suffer |
| September | good | 18–27 °C | 110 mm | low | Rain easing; green hills and full waterfalls |
| October | good | 18–27 °C | 160 mm | medium | Thundery showers early on; clearer by month end |
| November | best | 17–27 °C | 70 mm | medium | Rain ends; clear, mild days and cool nights |
| December | best | 15–27 °C | 10 mm | high | Dry and cool; busiest over Christmas and New Year |
How many days to spend in Chikkamagaluru
Two days cover Mullayanagiri, Baba Budan Giri, Manikya Dhara Falls and Jhari Waterfall; a third adds Kemmangundi with Hebbe Falls.
How to reach Chikkamagaluru
- By air: Mangaluru (IXE) — 150 km by road. More flights from Bengaluru (BLR), a longer drive
- By train: Chikkamagaluru (CMGR) — 3 km by road
- By road: From Bengaluru — 250 km
Getting around
Sights lie 10 to 26 km from town in the Baba Budan Giri hills and around Kemmangundi, so a hired car or taxi for the day is the practical way to see them.
Things to do in Chikkamagaluru
- Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary — Wild reserve (6 h · Paid entry)
- Agumbe Sunset View Point — Sunset view (1 h · Free entry)
- Thousand Pillar Temple — Jain temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Kemmangundi — Hill station (5 h)
- z point — Trek point (3 h)
- Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Polali — Ancient temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Mangalore - Villupuram Road — Scenic ghat
- Koodlutheertha Falls — Hidden falls (2.5 h · ₹100)
- Manikya Dhara Falls — Sacred falls (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Shri Chaturmukha Jaina Basadi — Jain basadi (1 h · Free entry)
- Devaramane hills — Trek hills (4 h)
- Kyatanamakki hills Station — Sunset hills (2 h)
- Amruthapura — Hoysala temple
- Ballalarayana Durga Fort — Hill fort (4 h)
- Jhari Waterfall — Majestic falls (2 h · Free entry)
- Bahubali Tirth Kshetra — Monolithic statue (1 h · Free entry)
- Sri Krishna Rajendra Botanical Park, Kemmangundi — Rose garden (1 h · Paid entry)
- Shravanbela Gola (Rural) — Jain pilgrimage (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Hirekolale Lake — Scenic lake (1 h · Free entry)
- Shanti Falls — Peaceful falls (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kallathigiri Shri Veerabhadreshwara Temple — Waterfall temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kadambi Falls — Forest falls (2 h)
- Shri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthana Dakshinamnaya Shri Sharada Peeta — Sacred temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Honnamana Kere — Sacred lake (1 h · Free entry)
- Jomlu Falls Road — Forest falls
- Kote Betta Peak — Third peak (3 h)
- Seethanadi Nature Camp — Eco stay (5 h · Paid entry)
- Harangi Dam — Scenic dam (1.5 h · ₹10)
- Hanging Bridge — Hanging bridge (30 min · Free entry)
- Baba Budan giri — Sacred hill range with caves and coffee origins. (4 h · Free entry)
- Mullayanagiri — Highest peak in Karnataka, trekker's paradise. (4 h · Free entry)
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary — Rich biodiversity and tiger reserve near Chikkamagaluru. (5 h · Paid entry)
- Kudure mukha National Park — Trekking trails and evergreen forests with wildlife. (7 h · Paid entry)
- Hebbe Waterfalls — Scenic multi-stage waterfall inside a coffee estate. (3 h · Paid entry)
- Shri Sharada Peeta Shringeri — Important Advaita matha founded by Adi Shankaracharya. (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Adishakthyathmaka Sri Annapoorneshwari Temple, Shri Kshetra, Horanadu. — Temple offering free meals to all visitors. (2 h · Free entry)
- Shivamogga Zoo & Safari — Goa sanctuary (3 h · Paid entry)
- Kallathigiri Falls — Waterfall with shrine at the base of hill. (2 h)
- Coffee Plantation — Scenic estates offering tours and fresh brews. (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Belavadi — Home to ancient Veeranarayana Temple with Hoysala architecture. (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Abbi Waterfall — Spectacular waterfall amidst Coorg's coffee and spice plantations. (1 h · ₹10)
Food to try in Chikkamagaluru
- Ragi mudde with a pulses curry — Finger-millet balls eaten in Chikkamagaluru with a curry of pulses
- Estate coffee — The area is known as the Coffee Belt of the South; try a cup or buy beans from an estate
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Chikkamagaluru?
Go Nov–Mar for dry, cool weather and clear views. Jul–Aug is wet and misty, with leeches and possible slides on ghat roads; Sep–Oct is green with full waterfalls.
How many days are enough for Chikkamagaluru?
2–3 days. Two days cover Mullayanagiri, Baba Budan Giri, Manikya Dhara Falls and Jhari Waterfall; a third adds Kemmangundi with Hebbe Falls.
How do I reach Chikkamagaluru?
By air: Mangaluru (IXE) — 150 km by road. More flights from Bengaluru (BLR), a longer drive. By train: Chikkamagaluru (CMGR) — 3 km by road. By road: From Bengaluru — 250 km.
What are the top things to do in Chikkamagaluru?
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Agumbe Sunset View Point, Thousand Pillar Temple, Kemmangundi, z point, Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Polali.
Plan your Chikkamagaluru trip
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.