Top 5 Treks to Do in Karnataka

8/10/2019 Top 5 Treks to Do in Karnataka

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Top 5 Treks to do in Karnataka this Monsoon

Authored by: www.adventureclicknblog.com

SUMMARYList of 5 treks to go for in Karnataka. You can go for them through out the year but we suggest go during

Monsoon.

Safety Tips

1. Beware of insects, snakes, letches and etc;

2. Wear a water proof shoe;

3. Raincoat or Poncho is a must;

Return to base before sunset;

Things to Carry

1. Day Pack (Ruck sack)

2. Trekking (Hiking) boots with anklets

3. Raincoat or Poncho

4. Water Bottle

5. Torch (Flash) light and Batteries

6. Toiletries


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7. Light weight wind sheeter / Jacket / Pullover

8. Slippers or Sandals

The Western Ghats a.k.a. the Sahyadri range are a mountain range that runs almost parallel

to the western coast of Indian peninsula. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of

the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots". A total of thirty nine properties including

national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests were designated as world heritage

sites - twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra. The

Sahyadris come alive in the Monsoon season which starts roughly around end of June every

year & ends around end of August. Here are the 5 treks adventure travelers should not

miss in Karnataka during Monsoon.

Trekking at gumbe

Duration 1 to 2 Days

Difficulty 2/5

Trek starting point: Malandur

Trek ending point: Same as starting point

Peak height: approx 1200 mts / 4000 ft

Trek distance: Around 20 Km round trip

Time to trek: 4-5 Hours (one side)

Camping: You need to arrange all by yourself


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The trek starts from a village called Malandur, 6kms from Agumbe. The standard route is

Malandur- Barkana Falls Narasimha Parvatha Kigga. Most part of the trek to Barkana

falls is through dense jungle and no trails! Yes, there is no trail for most part and if you

dont have a guide, you are bound to get lost. The hike to Barkana Falls is not too steep,

very gradual climb and some downhill too. The forest cover is so thick that sun was havingno effect on you and it would be a leech fest it would be during monsoon in there. The

falls, similar to Bandajje, plunges down a huge rock face in the middle of the mountain.

There is a small opening at the top which give the view of the surrounding mountains. In

Agumbe, like Uttara Kannada, the mountains are small and are completely covered by

forests; you hardly see grasslands except in the higher mountains. The climb gets really

steep now and again there is no path for another 3kms till you reach the grasslands. The

same thick forests all over, very different from what you see in other mountains like

Kumara Parvatha or Kudremukh but very dense. There is no water point after the falls so

you need to carry till you reach the camp. After spending some time at the peak you cango down to a small shed below the peak on the Kigga side, the place where you can camp

for the night. It doesnt take more than hour and a half to reach Kigga. You will take only 2

hours to reach back to base at the bottom. Permission for trekking must be obtained from

the Forest Department. You have to contact the DFO of the Shimoga Division or the Range

Forest Officer of Megaravalli. Get hold of a local guide who will help you with the routes

because the jungle is very dense.

Trekking at Kodachadri


Difficulty 2/5

Trek starting point: Kolluru


Peak height: 1343 Mts



Camping: Allowed but you need permission from forest officer. PWD guest house is

also there.


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Kodachadri is a mountain peak with dense forests (altitude - 1343 metres above sea level)

in the Western Ghats in South India (Shimoga Dist., Karnataka State). It is declared as

natural heritage site by Government Karnataka. Situated in the middle of the Mookambika

National Park and considered as a biodiversity hotspot, it is home to several endemic and

endangered species of flora and fauna. Kollur, which is located near Kodachadri, is an ideal

spot from where you can reach the hill. You can reach Kollur from Bangalore or from

Shimoga. From Kollur, trekkers can travel to Nagodi village, which is at the base of the

peak. An alternate route is to travel overnight to Nittur. The trek is a 12-km route from

Nittur from Kodachadri gate. The trek takes 8-10 hours to complete and should be

undertaken only by experienced trekkers with fitness levels at their peak. The best time to

undertake this trek during the October-February time period. It is believed that Adi

Shankaracharya meditated on Kodachadri peak. To commemorate this, the Sarvagna Peeth

is located at the site. The Kodachadri trek is possibly the toughest of popular treks in

Karnataka but the view from the peak makes the effort worthwhile. A cover of verdant

jungle stretches in all directions, and on a clear day, one can catch a glimpse of the azure

Arabian Sea from the top. The view of the sunset and sunrise from the peak is

breathtaking.

Trekking at Kumara Parvatha


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Difficulty 2/5

Trek starting point: Kukke Subramanya Route

Trek ending point: Kukke Subramanya Route



Time to trek 8-10 Hours

Camping: Allowed but you need permission from forest officer.

Kumara Parvata has an altitude of around 4000 feet and it is a part of the Western Ghats.

The region lies 18 kilometers away from the famous temple. The area teems with snakes,

especially King Cobras. There are some unique features about this peak and it is

particularly of religious interest to Hindus. Kumara Parvata lies adjacent to the Coorg

district, so you can try and reach the peak from the other side. In this case, your trek will

start from Bidalli in the Coorg district or from Subramanya in the South Canara district. The

trekking route from Subramanya has a length of about 18 kilometers, and this trail will

take you through dense forests that are infested with leeches and snakes. After 12

kilometers, youll reach a lookout point on a small plateau and this is the spot where youcan find ruins that date back by almost 500 years. This area is called Mantapa by the

locals and you can camp here if you want to. Most people take up this round trip in two

days. This way, you can reach the summit of Kumara Parvata in just three hours from the

Mantapa and take your time to appreciate the panoramic view. Youll need to register with

the Forest Department officials before you start your trek as this is mandatory. Carrying


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first aid, water and food supplies can be an advantage here. The only option that youll

have for getting food is at Bhattare Mane, which is the last rest stop. You can spot lookout

points along the way that offer beautiful views in every direction that you can possibly turn.

Trekking at Tadiyandamol


Difficulty 2/5

Trek starting point: 2 Km from Kakabe


Peak height : 1740 mts

Trek distance : Around 10 Km round trip

Time to trek : 6 - 8 hours

Camping site : At the foothills of the peak

At a distance of 43 Kms from Madikeri, Tadiyandamol Peak (about 8 Kms trek from

Nalknad Palace Estates) near Kakkabe is the tallest peak in Kodagu. Tadiyandamol peak lies

at an altitude of 5730 feets and it is the second highest peak in Karnataka after

Mullayangiri in the Baba Budan Range. Derived from Malayalam, Tadiyandamol means 'I am

the tallest'. The trek from Nalknad Palace is moderate and takes around 2.5 hours one way.

There is another trek route from Honey Valley which takes around 3.5 hours (one way) andpasses through thick rainforest & more scenic terrain. Trekking the Tadiyandamol Peak

usually starts in the morning and can come back by evening. Mainly there are two trek

routes i.e. Aramane / Palace route (8 Km Trek) and Honey Vally route (6 Km Trek). You

have only two options for camping here. One at the foothills of the peak that is near to the

big rock. This is best place for camp. You will get water near by. Big rock gives you

protection from water. Ground is flatter for camping. you will get wood for campfire. The


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second one is at the peak. Only 4-6 tents will accommodate at the peak. So if you are

trekking in long weekend then better reach early to the peak. But there is no water at the

peak. so you need to carry. Normally high wind will be there at the peak so just check wind

in weather forecast.

Trekking at Kudremukh


Difficulty 3/5

Trek starting point: Mullodi 6 kms uphill from Balegal(Balegallu), on Kalasa to

Kuduremukh Road





Camping: Not Allowed.

The hill station got its name from the Kannada phrase Kudareya Mukha as the hill

resembles a horses face. All over the area, you can view the thick shoal forest andgrassland; this tropical evergreen mountain is the largest one in Karnataka. The mountain

range overlooks the Arabian Sea. To reach Mullodi from Balegal you have two options 1)

Hire privite jeep from Balegal bus stop 2) Start your trek from Balegal itself. But first one is

recommended because trek length becomes (18+6) 24KMS which is difficult task for one

day. Trek difficulty level from "Mullodi" to Lobo's house trek is easy. From Lobo's house to

"Ontimara" difficulty level is Moderate. There are couple of small stretch in which trail


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becomes steep. From Ontimara till end of Zig-Zag route trek is bit difficult. From "Zig-Zag

trail" end till peak it is again moderate in difficulty level. Overall difficulty level is

moderate. The Bhadra Wildlife sanctuary and the Kudremukh National Park fall under the

Global Tiger Conservation Priority center, where population of tigers is rapidly increasing.

A visit to the National Park gives insight on the life and challenges encountered inprotecting tigers. Kudremukh is a trekkers delight; this area is interspersed by rivers

Tunga, Bhadra, and Netravati.

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Top 5 Treks to Do in Karnataka