CHIKMAGALUR HILL STATION
AT
KARNATAKA
Chikkamagaluru (also known as Chikmagalur) is a town located
in the Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in the
foothills of Mullayanagiri range,Chikkamgaluru is famous for its serene
environment, lush green forests and tall mountains. Chikkamagaluru is also
famous for coffee and is known as the 'coffee land' of Karnataka. It is one of
the largest producers of coffee in India. National Highway 173 (India) passes
through the city.
Chikmagalur is growing as the new
tourist hub of Karnataka. Due to its vicinity to the state capital Bangalore
and some other cities like Hassan, Shimoga, Chitradurga and Mangalore and its
cool climate, tourists flock into the city during weekends to visit various
places throughout the district.
Coffee plantations extending up to the horizon, natural beauty and
a pleasant climate have made the hill station a favorite with
tourists. Chikmagalur literally means, ‘Land of the younger daughter’.
It is
said that the land was presented as dowry to the younger daughter of
Rukmangada, chief of Sakrepatna. The land given to the Rukmangada’s elder
daughter is known as Hiremagulur. The general belief is that coffee was first
cultivated in India in Chikmagalur.
According to folklore,
the Muslim saint Babu Budan brought coffee seeds from Yemen in 1670 and started
cultivating coffee. The British played a big role in the growth of coffee in
Chikmagalur. The Central Coffee Research Institution (CCRI) is also located
here.
Hundreds of thousands of
tourists visit Chikmagalur attracted by its wildlife, trekking and
pilgrimage sites.
Kemmanagundi, a hill
station surrounded by lush green forests of Baba Budan Giri hills and Kudremukh, situated on the Kuduremukha mountain
range, attract a lot of trekkers.
The hill stations are blessed with lush green
vegetation and waterfalls which enhance the beauty of the valleys. Tunga and
Bhadra rivers originate in the district. Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in
Karnataka, is located in the Baba Budan Giri Range in Chikmagalur.
At 6,330 ft, it is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the
Nilgiris.
The Bhadra
Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh
National Park are
famous for their wildlife and birds. Sringeri, the first maĊ£ha or monastery established by
saint-philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, is also located in Chikmagalur on the
banks of the river Tunga.
Besides Sringeri, Shankracharya also established
monasteries at Dwarka,
Joshimath and Puri. The Kodanda Ramaswamy temple built in Hoysala style
of architecture is another highlight of the district. Baba Budangiri shrine is
a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Muslims.
By Air
The
nearest airport is at Mangalore, about 160 km from Chikmagalur. The airport is
well connected to flights from Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian
cities. One can get pre-paid taxi from the airport for Chikmagalur.
By Train
Gudur railway station, about 40 km from Chikmagalur,
is the nearest railhead. Trains from Mumbai, Goa, Kolhapur, Mysore and Hubli
halt at Kudur. Taxis are available to reach Chikmagalur.
By Road
Chikmagalur is well connected to other major cities
of Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mangalore, Hubli and Hassan. You can opt for
state-run buses or private luxury buses to reach Chikmagalur.
