Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur 

For its coffee plantations and mountain valleys.

Chikmagalur is a district in the western part of Karnataka. The lushness of the green and the coffee plantations made the Chikmagalur as a favorite place for nature lovers.

History 

Chikkamagaluru is the region where the Hoysala rulers started and spent the early days of their dynasty.

The name Chikmagalur means, ‘Land of the younger daughter’. It is said to have been given as a dowry to the youngest daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakkarepattana.

Coffee plantations are said to be initially started from Chikmagalur. Which is later developed during British rule.

The Journey

We started from Bangalore (245 km). I had my night shift previous day and I was little worried if I could able to drive it off. As I went on, with the journey, the green wilderness that surrounded my way gave me one of the best drives I had in my life.

Every turn and bends are too beautiful. It was constantly drizzling which made the greens look more spectacular. We found many small waterfalls along the way. The roads were not very smooth, a skilled driver would be recommended. For a nature lover and photographer, this is the best image he can hope for.

The first stop we made before reaching our home-stay in Chikmagalur is Chennakesava Temple. It was located on the way to Chikmagalur, in Belur. The temple is a visual treat for spiritual people.

Chennakesava Temple

The temple was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD.

The temple was built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, by the Hoysala Empire King Vishnuvardhana. Chennakesava (meaning "handsome Kesava") is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. These temple complexes have been proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Pillars and Sculptures of the temple are far complex and magnificently sculptured.

It was refreshing and great to stand in such a historical place surrounded with beautiful artistic sculptures. It is a must visit temple. The colors of the temple walls and every stones were quiet colorful.

After spending some good amount of time, we started off to Chikmagalur. 

As we go higher and higher over the mountains, the climate was truly beautiful and the places were scenic. We took the route of Bangalore – Nelamangala – Hassan – Belur – Chikmagalur. The Hassan highwaywas a good one. But still the roads were slippery due to the constant rainfall. Entire journey we mostly relied on our Google Maps and the localities who were all polite enough to guide us. 

We carried some snacks and tea, made stops and took some amazing pictures. Finally by the evening we reached our home-stay. I could't point out and tell the exact travel hours as we stopped in many places. 
 

The home-stays in Chikmagalur are moderate. It is good for a family of medium budget. We always prefer homestay rather than hotels as we can spend more quality time together by residing under one roof.

Next day morning, we started to Kudremukh. 

Kuduremukha is a mountain range located in Chikkamagaluru district. The name Kuduremukha literally means 'horse-face' (in the Kannada language) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles a horse's face.

The southern and western sides of the park form the steep slope of the Western Ghats ridge line, with the altitude varying from 100 m - 1892 m (peak). The northern, central and the eastern portions of the park constitute a chain of rolling hills with a mosaic of natural grassland and shola forests. Kudremukh receives an average annual rainfall of 7000 mm, largely due to the forest types of mainly evergreen vegetation that can be found here.

It was one of the hardest drives I had. The winds and rain were extreme which made it harder as we climb and to come out of the car. And we finally reached the peak point, we had to park the car by the lower bottom and had to trek to reach the top of the Kudremukh. 

The stairs or the path to reach the peak of Kudremukh is very narrow and slippery (mainly due to the rain pouring at that time). We were able to reach half the distance but unable to move further due to the harsh winds and heavy fog. We returned back to our car (car was literally shaking due to winds, heavy vehicle is advisable).

One place stood out in the entire journey was a bridge that we crossed on top of Kudremukh. The water underneath the bridge was super-massive and the view was amazing. 

Three important rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have their origin here. The whole scenery of grassland interspersed with narrow strips of forests and rivers with mountains in its backdrop provides a fantastic view.

 

And finally we got down from Kudremukh and reached for our homestay. Packed our bags and off to Bangalore. 

It was till the date, one of the short but beautiful weekend trip we had with my friends. We loved every part of our journey. To this date, the songs we heard during the journey, still gives us chills when we hear it now, with nostalgic feelings of Chikmagalur.

Thank you for reading, have a beautiful trip.

- Pradeepa Pandiyan