Apart
from world famous Carnatic Music, Karnataka is also a favourite destination
for adventure lovers, who flock the state to enjoy trekking. An enchanting
land, Karnataka abounds in pristine natural beauty, rich flora and flora and
a number of thrilling trek routes. Nandi Hills (1,468 mts), Biligirirangana
Hills, Kudremukh, Kemman Gundi and Mercara are the popular hills which offer
a number of trails ranging from easier to moderate level with some steep
climbs.
If you really love trekking amidst the natural environs, then just plan a
trip to Karnataka where over 200 trails in the Western Ghats are waiting to
provide you fun of the lifetime.
Popular Treks
Kanoor Fort Trek (Duration - 3 Days).
Route Covers : Hosagadde -
Shaale Mane - Doctor Mane - Gerusoppa.
Day 1 : Hosagadde - Shaale Mane : A moderate level trek,
Hosagadde - Shaale Mane trail starts from a small shop situated on the
opposite side of the road. Start your trek from this shop, keep the left and
head towards north-west. After 20 minutes walk, you get a bridge, cross that
bridge and continue on the track for an hour until you see a temporary
bridge. The path divides here.
Take the right path and continue to the north. You will come across a
number of wooden as well as temporary bridges, streams and bamboo thickets.
En-route, you see Malnad House, Dabbe Gowdru’s House, Dabbe Falls and
finally you will reach Shaale Mane, the village school. You may pitch up
your camp on the school premises or sleep in the verandah. Drinking water is
also available on the premises.
Day 2 : Shaale Mane - Doctor
Mane : Take the jeep track in front of school heading southwards, after
a short duration the track divides, take the left. As the jeep track ends at
a house, take the footpath heading south-west. Further cross the fields, dam
and continue south-west, following the electric poles. Once the path
descends, you can see the road, take the right to head towards Kunoor. After
5 kms, your walk ends at a permanent bridge.
Walk 8 kms north to reach Kunoor Fort. Spend a few hours exploring the
fort, then head downwards. You will cross a log bridge, the first house you
see on your right is the old Doctor’s House. Stay in the verandah of
the house, but food is not provided here, so carry your own food and water.
Day 3 : Doctor Mane - Gerusoppa : Start your walk from
Doctor Mane, after about 1.5 hrs the path leads you out of the forest and
divides into three, take the path in the centre going north-west. After 200
mts, you will cross a wooden gate, head to the left of the house, the path
takes you close to a stream. Cross this stream, the track continues, skirts
on the left of fields and meets another path. Take right and ascend
north-west on a fairly well-defined jeep track. Next, you will cross a
couple of streams and the path finally ends on the banks of River
Sharavathy. You can hire a boat and get across the river to the town of
Gerusoppa, from where you can catch a bus to Sagara.
Kodachadri Trek (Duration - 2 Days).
Route Covers : Kollur -
Kodachadri Hills - Kollur.
Day
1 : Kollur - Kodachadri Hills : From Kollur, catch a bus to Kodachadri
Hills. Leave the bus 12 km later at Karakatta Gate. Pass through the
Karakatta Gate and walk on the level jeep track. After an hour walk, you
will reach Santosh Hotel on your left. Take tea and some refreshments, you
may also take a dip into gently flowing icy cold water stream.
Next, walk towards the foothills of Kodachadri, ten minutes from the tea
shop, you will see three paths leading upwards. Take the middle one, this is
the toughest portion of the hike as it is steep for the most part. After 1.5
hrs, the hill breaks into level ground, where a small temple stands, rest a
while and then resume your climb.
From the hill, observe the wonderful sights of the green vistas and meadows
on the surrounding hills and valleys and Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.
During the monsoon season and post monsoon, you can see the beautiful
Agastya Teertha Waterfall on the left face of the hill. After 2 - 3 hrs
walk, you will reach Kodachadri, which has a PWD bungalow and few small
houses with rooms on rent. You can stay in rooms or pitch your own tents on
the grounds around.
Day 2 : Kodachadri - Kollur :
This day, walk down the same way which is easier and takes around 4 hrs.
Don’t take the slope towards Kundapur unless you have undergone a
rock-climbing course because the route has steep faces. Reach the bottom,
from where you can catch a bus heading towards Kundapur or Shimoga.
Baba Budanagiri Hills Trek (Duration - 4 to 5 Days).
Route Covers : Chikamagalur -
Mullaiyanagri - Baba Budanagiri - Kemmannagundi - Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Day 1 : Chikamagalur - Mullaiyanagiri : Take any bus from
the Chikamagalur bus stand towards Kemmannagundi, just 6 kms down the road,
get off at the arch ‘Sarpanadari.’ You can also begin your trek
from Chikamagalur on the road leading to Kemmannagundi, after 3 km, the road
begins to twist and ascend. Another 3 km, takes you to the ‘Sarpanadari.’
You get a signboard that indicates the trail leading to the Mullaiyanagiri
Peak (1,925 m). Follow the direction to reach Mullaiyanagiri peak, which is
capped by a Shiva Temple. Climb the steps to see the deity, camp here in
tent, in the caves or in the courtyard of the temple.
Day 2 : Mullaiyanagiri - Baba Budanagiri : Mullaiyanagiri
- Baba Budanagiri trek ranges from easy to some steep climbs. The Bada
Bundanagiri Dargah is 18 kms north-east of Mullaiyanagiri. To reach the
dargah, descend around 1,000 mts to the north-east of the Mullaiyanagiri
Peak and then walk to the junction of two trails that runs almost parallel
to each other. There are signboards pointing north-east to Baba Budanagiri
dargah. You can camp anywhere near the dargah or stay overnight in a big
hall in the dargah complex.
Day 3 : Baba Budanagiri - Kemmannagundi : Kemmannagundi is
just 14 kms away from the dargah, first go anti-clockwise around the shrine
and head towards south-west. The trail takes you through lush coffee estates
and scrub forest and then up north-west to Kemmannagundi Hill Station (1,434
mts). You can camp or stay in any of the lodges on the main road.
Day 4 : Kemmannagundi - Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary : From
Kemmannagundi a number of trails head north-west to Z Point. To the left of
Z point, you will see a path. Walk along this steep and narrow path, after 5
km you will come across Hebbe Waterfalls (160 mts). Continue walking past
Hebbe and climb another 2 km, you will see the Kalhatty Falls (122 mts).
Refresh yourself in the cool water and head for 1.5 hrs walk, parallel to
the state road that takes you to the Muthodi and the Bhadra Wildlife
Sanctuary. Stay overnight in camps at the Muthodi Nature Camp. Join a safari
to the wildlife sanctuary the next morning and take a bus or taxi to return
back to your home.
Other Popular Treks
Coorg Plantation Trek (Duration - 2 to 10 Days).
Route Covers : Mojo -
Galibeedu Ridge - Golden Mist - Kaloor Ridge - Kotebetta - Golden Mist -
Talacauvery - Brahmagiri Peak - Talacauvery - Kakkabe - Malma -
Thadiyendamol - Honey Valley and Beyond.
The Talathmane Circuit Trek (Duration - 5 Days).
Route Covers : Talathmane -
Devastur - Mukkodlu - Kaloor - Vanachulu - Talathmane.
Brahmagiri Trek (Duration - 3 to 4 Days).
Route Covers : Irpu -
Narimalbetta - Hanumanbetta - Pakshipathalam - Thirnunelly.
Essential Gears Required
For trekking in Karnataka, you need to carry essential gears like a
back-pack bag, extra clothes, extra food, drinking water bottles, tents,
sleeping bag, comfortable pair of shoes, first aid kit, torch and trek route
maps. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corportation and a number of
private agencies offer training courses and also provide essential
equipments to trekkers.
Karnataka Climate
Karnataka has three main types of climates - the tropical monsoon climate
covers the entire coastal belt and adjoining areas, the southern half of the
state experience seasonally dry tropical savana climate and the northern
half experience hot, semi-arid tropical steepe climate. Winter season starts
from January and ends in February, summer arrives in March and remains till
May, the post-monsoon season is between October to December. The period
between July to August is somewhat comfortable due to low temperature but
the humidity remains very high. October to February is the best time to
undertake trekking in Karnataka.
