In and Around Chikmagalur

History

By any yardstick, Chikmagalur is steeped in history and culture. Legend has it that this town, 250 km from Bangalore, was once the dowry of the younger daughter of Rukmangada - the legendary chieftain of Sakrepatna - and hence the name. Interestingly, Hiremagaluru - ‘the town of the elder daughter’ - is about 5 km away. Chikmagalur was the birthplace of the Hoysala dynasty, and of Indian coffee!

The hills on which the saint Baba Budan first planted the seven beans he brought back from the seaport of Mocha, Yemen in 1670 AD, now bear his name - Baba Budan Giri Hills. Chikmagalur’s hill stations, rivers, waterfalls, ancient temples and wildlife sanctuaries underscore its reputation as a tourist paradise. The mighty Tunga and Bhadra rivers have their sources here, and Chikmagalur is also the site of the highest peak in Karnataka - Mullayanagiri.

Places of Interest

Shravanabelagola

Built in the 10th century is the largest monolithic statue in the world and it is carved out of single block of granite. Standing majestically on a hill, 17 m (55 ft) high and visible from a distance of 30 km is Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali, a Jain saint. The base of the statue has inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi dating from 981 A.D.

Located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and 158 km from Bangalore, it is one of the most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India. On August 5, 2007, the statue was voted by Indians as the first  of Seven Wonders of India.

Belur & Halebidu (A deemed UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The twin temple towns of Belur and Halebidu paint a majestic picture of Hindu temple art at its glorious best In the 16th century, Belur and Halebidu were at the heart of the throbbing Hoysala Empire. The most outstanding temple in Belur is the Chennakeshava, a monumental edifice that took 103 years to complete, because of the intricate details and the myriads of friezes and sculptures that embellish the temple walls.

The Shiva Temple of Hoysaleshwara, is unique for its two shrines in the Linga form and gigantic figures of Nandi (sacred bull). This temple is twice the size of Belur's Chennakeshava Temple. Ketumalla the chief of staff of Hoysala kingdom, built this temple during 1121 A.D. and attributed to his king, Vishnuvardhana and queen, Shantala Devi. It took 105 years to complete.

Kemmangundi

55 km north of Chikmagalur and at a height of 1,434 meters, Kemmangundi has thick forests to explore, peaks to scale and a salubrious climate through the year. Around Kemmangundi are a couple of notable waterfalls - Kallathigiri Falls (Also known as Kalahasti falls) and the Hebbe Falls.

Mullayanagiri Peak

16 km from Chikmagalur, this peak is a part of the Baba Budan Giri range. Towering 1930 meters above sea level, it is Karnataka’s tallest peak. Mullayanagiri is a great trekking site and affords spectacular sunset views. The small hillock in the temple compound at the top is actually the highest point in Karnataka!

Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy Dargah

Nestled in the Baba Budangiri range are laterite caves, where Dattatreya Swami and Hazrat Dada Hayat Mir Khalander Imam, venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike, are believed to have resided.

Sringeri

This historical temple lies 90 km west of Chikmagalur, on the banks of the river Tunga. Most famous among the numerous temples that dot the landscape, is the Vidyashankara Temple (the Hoysalas began its construction and the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire completed it). One of the amazing features of this temple is the set of 12 zodiac pillars, so constructed to have the rays of the sun fall on the pillar corresponding to the month!

Sringeri is also where the Vedic Peetha was established by Sri Adi Shankara, exponent of the Advaita philosophy, in the 9th century A.D.

The other famous temple towns around Chikmagalur are Horanadu, Amruthapura and Belavadi, home to many beautiful temples, and sites of historical and cultural interest.

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

This 495 sq.km wildlife sanctuary and Project Tiger reserve is a veritable treasure trove of flora and fauna endemic and unique to the Malabar and Sahyadri range. Also, the huge reservoir here is the main water supply to several districts in the rain shadow regions of south Karnataka.