Karnataka Tours and Travel

Karnataka's trekking trails are mostly located in the Western Ghats - North and South Canara, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Coorg. Walk down the untrodden paths to have a date with the nature. Here is a great opportunity to discover nature's intoxicating beauty. Experience a whole world of excitement called Trekking. So, slip into your sneakers and get ready for some non-stop excitement. The hills are all waiting patiently, to be conquered.

Kuduremukha
Kudremukha is the most beautiful and the second highest peak in the Western Ghats and in Karnataka as well. Standing proudly amidst thick forests, Kudremukha is a trekker's paradise. The Kudremukh or Horse Face Range gets its name from the unique shape of its peak. The broad hills 95 km southwest of Chikmagalur town overlook the Arabian Sea, and are chained to one another with deep valleys and steep precipices. Kudramukha peak is inside the Kudremukha National Park. So, no one is allowed to camp inside the National Park and will have to follow the guidelines of the authorities. Samse is a few kilometers from Kudremukh town, from where the trek starts. In about 4-5 hrs average walking time, one reaches lobo mane, an old house. From lobo mane, another path goes up to the summit, which would take 3-4 hours to reach. The route passes through some lovely shoal (montane) forests near the top. About 1/2 an hour below the summit, the route passes near an abandoned church and a small waterfall. One should take the time to explore the church and also to watch out for the amazing birdlife there.

Another route is to start from Kaikamba. Kaikamba is a place between beltangadi and navoor. This route converges with the other at Lobo house 1700 mts from sea level, presumably built by Tipu Sultan near Navoor. Another place of interest nearby is Jamalabad fort or Jamalghad kote.

Location : Chikamagalur district, Karnataka From Bangalore: 300+ kms Nearest Town : Kudremukh Nearest Medical Help : Kudremukh Colony Nearest Hotel : Samse

Kodachari
Kodachari peak is situated in Shimoga district. The peak presents a not to be missed lifetime opportunity in the evening as the sun sets in the west. You can also have a golden glimpse of the Arabian Sea for a moment. The altitude of 1343 m above sea level can be reached by a five-hour trek. At the peak it is believed that 'Shankaracharya' did meditation. And to substantiate the same you will find a 'Sarvajna Peetha' at the top. En route to the peak you will also find a moderate sized waterfall deep inside the evergreen forest of Kodachadri, which is called 'Agastya Teertha'. The famous temple town of Kollur is 12 km away. The Kodachari hills are a part of one of the largest forest areas in Karnataka and part of this region forms the Mookambika Nature Reserve. Kollur is an ideal base from which to explore the hills. The Mookambika Nature Camp is 4 km south of Kollur. The best time to visit Kodachari is October to March.

To reach Kodachari one may catch a bus from Bangalore to Kollur (South Kanara Dist.) From Kollur one has to travel for around 45 minutes towards Nagara in Shimoga district. Reaching there, you'll find a mud road where you can find a sign indicating the way towards Kodachaadri. On the way you will find a small tea shop (Kaka Angadi) after one hour walk. There you will also find a small stream nearby for the early morning business. From here it is roughly 5 hours of trek to the peak. Just half-an-hour before the peak you will find a temple, which is an ideal place for camping. There is also a travellers bungalow nearby. From the temple a slight deviation would lead to 'Agastya Teertha'. The route will take you inside dense forest it is advisable to take help from locals and not to venture at night.

Location : Hosa Nagar Taluq, Shimoga district, West Karnataka. Nearest Town : Kollur (20kms) Nearest Medical Help : Kollur Nearest Hotel : Kollur From Bangalore : 300+ kms

Agumbe (Narasimha Parvata)
Narasimha Parvata is inside the Kudremukha National park. You can reach there after an overnight bus journey to Sringeri from Bangalore. Reaching Sringeri, you will have to travel for half an hour in a local bus to go to a place called Kigga. From Kigga there are two ways - .towards Sirimane waterfalls and towards Narasimha Parvata (the peak). It will take you 4-5 hrs from Kigga to the peak. After Kigga, the water point is just before the summit of the peak.

Agumbe peak is situated at an altitude of 826 m in Shimoga district. Standing from there you can enjoy spectacular sunsets, sparkling streams, verdant village vistas and an unspoilt rustic ambience. From the peak if you see in the north west direction you will find a tower of certain relay station of Aagumbe, your destination. If you see to a little right to that you will find a bald patch of significant area between the forest, this place is the paddy fields of the Mallandoor village. There is a big valley between Narasimha Parvata and Mallandoor. The best time to visit Agumbe is winter to early summer.

Location : Narasimha parvata, Aagumbe, Shimoga district, North West Karnataka Nearest Town : 16+ kms (Sringeri) Nearest Medical Help : Kigga, Sringer Nearest Hotel : Sringeri From Bangalore : 350+ kms

Location : South Kanara district, West Karnataka Nearest Town : Subramanya (15+kms) Nearest Medical Help : Subramanya, Somwar Pet Nearest Hotel : Subramanya, Somwar Pet From Bangalore : 300+ kms

Tadiyandamol
Tadiyendamol, the tallest peak in Kodagu, is another trekker's paradise. From the peak you can view the distant Arabian Sea and the spellbinding beauty of Kodagu all around.The best time to visit Tadiyendamol is early winter. "Highest Point" as called in Kodava language, this peak is the highest one in the Madikeri district. It is situated near Vir Raj Pet, about a 30kms away, on the way to Napoklu, Bhagamandala. This peak is just adjacent to the Makutta forest. On the way, you also get an old palace called 'Nalku Naadu Aramane'. To reach Tadiyendamol peak, you have to get down at the Aramane stop which is before a place called Kakkabbe (if you are coming from Vir raj pet). From that place the peak is around 6 kms away. There is a road which will take you to the top if the peak. There is a stream at the foothill of the peak, which is good for camping. There is a path just adjacent to the path which takes you to the peak.

Location : Narasimha parvata, Aagumbe, Shimoga district, North West Karnataka Nearest Town : 16+kms (Sringeri) Nearest Medical Help : Kigga, Sringer Nearest Hotel : Sringeri From Bangalore : 350+ kms

Angling
The Mahseer, Asia's premier sporting fish and the price catch for all committed anglers, is the pride and joy of the Cauvery. Here, intrepid anglers wait day and night in anticipation of their catch. At the Cauvery Fishing Camp run by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, avid fishing enthusiast and nature lovers can soak in the tranquil environs and also grab a whiff of adventure. Besides the thrill of fishing, there are other activities like trekking, river rafting, coracle riding and amateur fishing.