Time for your Weekend Trip

With holidays getting shorter and the city becoming more claustrophobic, weekend getaways seem to have replaced our long outings. Fortunately, a number of hill stations and beaches such as, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Karwar, etc, are located close to Bangalore making them popular getaways. But not many people new to Bangalore know that Chikmangalur situated just 250 kms from the city is a scenic, cosy, and hilly town, ideal for a weekend holiday sans the chaos surrounding big hill stations.

Chikmagalur isn't just a hilly town; in fact, has a few places of historic and environmental interest. Those interested in trekking too would love the opportunities offered by the mountainous terrain in this sleepy town. Chikmagalur is home to the highest peak in Karnataka, the Mullayyanagiri peak which is part of the Baba Budanagiri range. Legends and history have contributed their share to this range.

The Baba Budangiri range was earlier known as Chandradrona Parvatha. It was renamed as Baba Budanagiri in 1600 AD after the Sufi saint Bababudan who sowed the first coffee seeds in Chik­magalur. The saint who was on a pilgrimage to Mecca, visited Yamen where he was swept off by the magic of coffee. He hid seven coffee seeds in his robe which he planted on the mountain slopes of Chikmagalur.

The Mullayyanagiri hill situated on this range is the highest peak in Karnataka and third highest in South India. Located at 1923 metres above the sea level, the trek up there can be quite exhilarating. There is a small Shiva temple located at the highest point of the hill with around 480 steps leading to it. The temple is around 1000 years old and worshipped by the local people. Only during Ganesha festival that puja is done and prasada is distributed. The stretch leading up the Mullayyana giri hills is full of Kurinji flowers which are known to bloom only once in 12 years.

The other fascinating aspect of Chikmagalur is its coffee. Famous worldwide for its coffee, Chikmagalur's coffee estates make for an interesting visit. There are two kinds of coffees- Arabica and Robusta and Chikmagalur produces a majority share of Arabica coffees. There are coffee estates in the area and a guided tour to any one of the estates can be arranged. There is also a coffee museum for interested visitors. While these activities can keep you quite busy for a weekend trip, those wanting a longer holiday need not strike this misty town off their holiday list.

If you set camp in Chikmagalur, there are a number of places around that can be visited. For those interested in architecture, there are a number of temples built during the Hoysala dynasty. The Angadi temple, Amriteshwara temple located at Amruthapura, the Kalaseshwars temple located at Kalasa are a few of the many temples around Chikmangalur. Those interested in wildlife and nature can head towards Muthodi, Kudremukh National park, and medicinal forests located at Kemmangundi. Among other animals, leopards and tigers too have been spotted in this area.

There are a number of accommo­dations available in Chikmagalur based on one's budget and information is available with the Karnataka Department of Tourism. So the next time you find yourself aching for some rejuvenation, there Chikmangalur waiting for a quick and refreshing outing.