Chikkamagaluru, a slice of paradise in the state of Karnataka, India. Be it coffee, beautiful mountains, western ghats, lush greenery, wildlife, exotic flora & fauna, pilgrim spots & historical temples, and whatnot. Chikkamagaluru has all of it and beyond!!
If you’re planning and thinking about places to visit in Karnataka, make sure to add Chikkamagaluru first on your list!
Interesting Fact
The Largest exporter of coffee in the country is Namma Chikkamagaluru. Only true Kannadiga would know this!!!
Chikkamagaluru History
The name literally means the ‘The town of Youngest Daughter’. Have you ever wondered? How it got its name? This place was gifted to the younger daughter Rukmangada, d/o chief of sakrepatna (as a part of dowry). Interesting!!! Right?
Chikkamagaluru owns the title “The Coffee Land of India”, as it has the history of best coffee plantations, and the first-ever coffee plantations in India were cultivated here. If one has to talk about this place, then it starts from coffee and ends with coffee.
No trip to Chikkamagaluru is ever complete without tasting the coffee from this beautiful land. The freshly brewed hot piping coffee is a great contrast to the weather conditions that are attached to this place. Monsoons and Chikkamagaluru Coffee is the match that is made in heaven.
Why Coffee Land?
To all the coffee lovers, never miss a chance to visit the place from where your favorite beverage is originated. India stands in 7th position of coffee production worldwide and is equally famous as Brazilian coffee. While Assam is famous for tea plantations in India, Chikkamagaluru is famous for its coffee plantations.
This land is known for India’s best coffee, especially called ‘Filter Coffee’. Coffee production is cultivated throughout the Malnad region in Chikkamagaluru as the red soil mixed black soil, the land, the weather, the temperature everything suits the coffee plantations.
The land has more iron content in its soil and is best suitable. Most of the residents of this district own a coffee estate and have taken coffee cultivation and trading as their life occupation. Chikkamagaluru contributes nearly 70% – 75% of India’s Coffee production.
People also run homestays, resorts, restaurants amidst coffee plantations to attract people to their business at the same time it offers an exciting stay at such beautiful coffee estates around the western ghats.
Let’s Peek Into Coffee Plantations
Chikkamagaluru is in a dominant position in coffee production ever since the coffee plantations started in India. The first-ever coffee plant was cultivated here in the Baba Budan Giri range, sometime during the 16th century (approximately 1670 A.D.) by a saint named Baba Budan.
It is said that he had traveled to Mecca on a pilgrimage while coming back he had brought the coffee beans and planted it here, and thus this is when it all began. There’s an exclusive book called ‘The Origins Of Coffee’ to know the in-depth history and other details about coffee and its cultivation in India.
Experience The Coffee
World of Coffee Experience Cafe
This coffee experience cafe in Chikkamagaluru lets visitors experience the whole brewing process from the very first step till the end. There’s also a 3D movie experience at this cafe, in which the history and information about coffee are depicted.
Address – MG Rd, Sankara Pura, mishanagara, Chikmagalur, Karnataka 577101
Timings – 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM from Monday to Sunday
Coffee Museum
The Coffee museum located at Chikkamagaluru is run by The Coffee Board of India is another exciting experience for coffee lovers.
The whole coffee encyclopedia lies here in the museum which gives an enthralling ride to the people who are interested to know about the coffee in depth. It is open from 10 am to 6 pm but is closed on weekends. One could plan to visit the museum accordingly, on their trip to Chikkamagaluru.
Timings – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday
Note – Closed on Saturday and Sunday!
Panduranga Coffee 1938
Welcome to the 81-year-old coffee house. The secret behind this place’s taste is simple. The source of their coffee beans is through their coffee plantation in Chikkamagaluru.
Address – P.B, No.150, MG Rd, Chikmagalur, Karnataka 577101
Timings – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday to Sunday
Chikkamagaluru Places
Chikkamagaluru also has the crown of having Karnataka’s highest peak and Western Ghats highest mountain range ‘Mullayyanagiri’. In short, this place has everything at the best to offer you. If you’re out there in Bengaluru, this surely must be your weekend road trip spot or perfect for family getaways.
In addition to being famous for its coffee, this beauty is also widely known for its scenic landscapes and enormous wildlife at the very prominent Western Ghats. Chikkamagaluru’s monsoon beauty is something which one shouldn’t miss and is a must-visit at least once in a lifetime.
The best time to visit the Chikkamagaluru is between August to February. Chikkamagaluru during monsoons is beyond spectacular. Thus this is the best time to witness the breathtaking Western Ghats. Also, the lands will be always slippery due to heavy rains, the place is always covered with fog and clouds and so one has to be very careful while traveling around here with all the precautions taken.
Mullayyanagiri
As said earlier, Mullayanagiri is the highest peak of Karnataka that which is located in the Chikkamagaluru district. This hill range has the most amazing scenic landscapes. To all the trek lovers this is your spot.
Baba Budan Giri
Baba Budan Giri comes under the same mountain range as Mullayyanagiri to the north of Western Ghats. It is a pilgrim spot for both Muslims and Hindus as both the religion has their deities/saint’s shrines here. While Muslims worship Baba Budan’s shrine, Hindus worship for Dattatreya diety of their religion.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhadra Wildlife Forest Reserve which also falls under this district is famous for tigers, lions, elephants, leopards, and various snakes which are exclusively found in the Western Ghats.
Kudremukha National Park
Kudremukha, which is recognized as one of the Top Heritage Sites by UNESCO is meant for trekking and road trips. This is one of the most popular tourist spots for nature lovers.
Shringeri Mutt
Shringeri, also known as Sharada peetha is a holy place for all the Hindus as it was established by their spiritual guru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Sharadambe, Chandramauleshwara, and Torana Ganapati are the main deities that are worshipped here. The Tungabhadra river flows across the peetha making the temple premises more beautiful.
A small Tip before you pack the bags :
While one could visit all the listed places above, never miss a chance to drive through coffee plantations in the ghats. The lush green coffee plantations are seen till the horizon, everywhere around the place.
On the whole, Chikkamagaluru is one of the must-visit in the state of Karnataka. It has pretty much everything that an Indian road trip lover would like. Alongside taking back enough memories, take back loads and loads of freshly brewed coffee powder from the land so that you would not miss Chikkamagaluru Coffee after you get back to your daily life.