Chikmagaluru
Sightseeing &
Waterfalls
Chikmagalur sits in the Baba Budangiri range of the Western Ghats, and the same hills feed over a dozen waterfalls across the district — from roadside cascades you can see without leaving your car to forest falls requiring a jeep and a short trek.
Beyond the waterfalls, the district also holds Karnataka's highest peaks, a former Mysore royal hill retreat, a working dam with water sports, and some genuinely old temples.
This guide covers both — the waterfalls worth planning around, and everything else worth seeing between them — along with the practical details (access, fees, timing, safety) that most lists skip.
Quick answer: Chikmagalur has around 13–15 named waterfalls of real tourist interest, spread across three geographic clusters: the Kemmangundi–Hebbe side, the Baba Budangiri–Mullayanagiri side, and the Kudremukh National Park side. Trying to do all of them in one trip isn't realistic — pick a cluster and pair it with the sightseeing nearby.
Primary Sights & Destinations
Explore the six most prominent, highly sought-after waterfalls and landmarks in the region:
Hebbe Falls
Chikmagalur's tallest waterfall, dropping 168m in two stages through a private coffee estate near Kemmangundi. Reachable via Forest Department jeeps.
Jhari Falls
Also known as Buttermilk or Dabdabe Falls. Located ~24km from town toward Baba Budangiri. Reachable via shared local jeeps over muddy dirt tracks.
Manikyadhara Falls
A highly accessible 30-foot roadside cascade in the Baba Budangiri hills holding cultural and medicinal significance for visiting pilgrims.
Hanuman Gundi
Sits inside protected Kudremukh National Park territory. Rises 22 meters with a clean, shallow base pool considered safe for wading.
Mullayanagiri Peak
Karnataka’s highest summit (1,930 m). Offers 360-degree panoramic views of shola grasslands, coffee plantations, and mist-laden valley ridges.
Kemmangundi
Developed as a scenic summer retreat for the Mysore royal family. Features Z Point, beautifully curated rose gardens, and sunset viewpoints.
Beyond Waterfalls: What Else to See
Chikmagalur is not only a waterfall district — most multi-day itineraries mix waterfalls with these regional landmarks:
- Mullayanagiri & Baba Budangiri: Karnataka's highest and second-highest peaks respectively, both trekkable and covered on our dedicated guides. Baba Budangiri also holds the Dattatreya Peetha shrine.
- Kemmangundi: A hill station originally developed as a summer retreat for the Mysore royals. Includes Z Point (sunrise/sunset views via a 3 km walk), a rose garden, and several viewpoint clearings.
- Yagachi Dam: Located near Belur, this gravity dam has a dedicated water sports centre offering kayaking, jet skiing, speed boat rides, banana boat rides, and bumper boats.
- Man-Made Lakes: Hirekolale Lake and Ayyanakere Lake offer scenic vistas for photography, with Hirekolale offering views towards the Mullayanagiri hills.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary: A Project Tiger reserve offering jungle safaris and white-water rafting (level 3–4 rapids) on the Bhadra River.
- Coffee Culture tours: As the birthplace of Indian coffee, Chikmagalur offers several guided estate walking tours and a dedicated Coffee Museum in town.
- Historical Temples & Pilgrimages: Sringeri Sharada Peetha (8th-century monastery), Kalaseshwara Swami Temple in Kalasa, and Annapoorneshwari Temple in Horanadu. The famous Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu are technically in neighboring Hassan but sit directly on the route in.
Best Time to Visit
Each season offers a distinct experience with clear trade-offs:
June to September (Monsoon)
Waterfalls like Hebbe and Jhari roar with massive volumes. However, forest jeep roads get muddy, leeches are common, and trails can get slippery. Heavy rains may suspend Hebbe forest jeeps entirely.
October to February
Water flow remains highly active through November, forest pathways are dry and safe, and the climate is ideal for coffee-estate walks. Recommended for first-time travelers.
March to May (Summer)
Waterfall volume reduces significantly. This window is better suited to coffee-estate stays, viewpoint photographic journeys, and high-altitude peaks than waterfall tracking.
Practical Reality-Checks & Packing Guide
These are the details most generalized travel blogs skip: carry cash, pack steel dabbas, and prepare for no signal.
Reality Checklist
- No storage locker facilities: There are no cloakrooms at Sarpadari, Sarpadari parking, or trailhead forest offices. Pack light.
- Spotty Mobile Coverage: Signals vanish inside the deep forest valleys and only register sporadically on peak summits.
- Kalasa is the Cash Hub: ATMs and UPI terminals are unavailable past Kalasa town. Keep physical cash in hand.
- No Changing Rooms: Except for Sirimane Falls, changing booths are nonexistent. Wear fast-drying athletic layers.
Essential Gear
- At least 2 litres of water per person (no trail water)
- Trekking shoes with strong, deeply patterned rubber grips
- Leech-proof socks (June to October) or salt pouches
- Steel lunch box / dabba (plastic wraps are banned)
- Light, pocketable raincoat or travel poncho
- Original government-issued photo ID card
Suggested Groupings
- 1-Day Loop: Baba Budangiri-Mullayanagiri side (Manikyadhara, Honnammana Halla, shrine peaks)
- 2-Day Loop: Day 1 on Kemmangundi side (Hebbe Falls, Z Point, Shanti Falls); Day 2 on Baba Budangiri side.
- 3-Day Loop: Add Hoysala temples of Belur-Halebidu or the Kudremukh National Park forest falls.
Chikmagalur Sightseeing Packages by TheBTC
Experience Chikmagalur's coffee plantations, majestic peaks, and hidden cascades with our curated weekend trips from Bangalore:
Highland Weekend Getaway
- Duration: 2 Days / 1 Night from Bangalore (weekend batches)
- Transportation: Round-trip private bus from Bangalore
- Homestay: Cozy shared coffee estate homestay near Mudigere
- Sightseeing: Guided Hebbe Falls jeep transfer & Z Point trek included
- Permits: All forest entry, guide fees, and parking charges managed
*Excludes personal gear. Stays booked inside traditional coffee estates.