About 28 km North of Chikmagalur town lies Bababudangiri, the highest hill range in Karnataka. The hills owe their name to a Muslim saint from Yemen, Baba Budan. Legend has it that he reared the first coffee plants of India from dry seeds he carried with him. The saint’s love for coffee has not been in vain – today, coffee plantations spread across the crescent hill range like they couldn’t belong elsewhere. The loftiest point on these ranges is Mullaiyanagiri, an excellent trekking destination.
Belavadi, 29 km South East of Chikmagalur town, is a slice of India’s mythological history. It is said that in another ‘yuga’, the Pandavas of the Mahabharata stayed in the village. Here, they encountered the vicious man-eater Bakasura, who was subsequently killed by the mighty Bhima. The Veeranarayana temple here dated to be from the early 11th century, with its square garbhagriha, sukanasi, navaranga and mukhamantapa, is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture.
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A centre of Devi worship, Horanadu is situated amidst a series of hillocks, a spot of breathtaking natural beauty. The recently renovated Annapurneshvari temple is the main attraction here. Pilgrims visiting the temple are provided with free boarding and lodging. Horanadu is 68 km northwest of Mudigere town.
The Kudremukh (Horse Face) range gets its name from the unique shape of its peak. The broad hills 95km south-west of Chikmagalur town overlook the Arabian Sea and are chained to one another by deep valleys and steep precipices. As yet 'undiscovered' by tourists, Kudremukh is a trekker's paradise. Let the wonderland of lush green forests interspersed with rivers, grassy slopes, captivating cascades, rare orchids, caves, ruins and traces of old civilisations amaze you as you trek your way through it. The best time to visit is after the monsoon when everything is lush green and the rivers, streams and waterfalls are at their best.
Ganga Moola is a scenic place located in the Bhagawathi forest where the three rivers Tunga, Bhadra and Netravati originate. A shrine of Goddess Bhagavathi and a 1.8m high Varaha image inside a cave are the chief attractions here.
