Tourism :
The Fabulous CHIKKAMAGALURU
                  If you are planning to go for an outing with friends or family, you will be appreciated by your companions in selecting Chikkamagaluru. No doubt in that. Chikkamagaluru is the place where coffee was first cultivated in India. As one of the district in Karnataka State, the word Chikkamagaluru literally means “The town of the younger daughter” in the native Kannada language. The town is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna and hence the name. As one can guess, there is indeed a town called Hiremagaluru which means “the town of the elder daughter” which is about five Kilometer from Chikkamagaluru city.
Chikkamagaluru
                 The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Hill stations like Kemmanagundi and Kudremukh and waterfalls like Manikyadhara and Kallathigiri are giving Chikkamagaluru the status of tourist’s paradise. Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary are really interesting to the wildlife enthusiasts.
                Coffee was introduced into India through the Chikkamagaluru district when the first coffee crop was grown in the Baba Budan Giri Hills during 1670 AD. According to the article Origins of Coffee, the saint Baba Budan on his pilgrimage to Mecca travelled through the seaport of Mocha, Yemen where he discovered coffee. To introduce its taste to India, he wrapped seven coffee beans around his belly and got them out of Arabia. On his return home, he planted the beans in the hills of Chikkamagaluru, which are now named Baba Budan Hills in his honour.
             Kemmangundi: A scenic hill station on the Baba Budan Giri range of hills named Kemmanagundi, 55 km north from Chikkamagaluru town, is really an amusing spot to the tourists. Kemmangundi is also known as K.R. Hills after the Wodeyar King, Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who had made it his favourite summer camp. Kemmangundi, at a height of 1,434 meters, is surrounded by thick forests and a salubrious climate through out the year. It is surrounded by the Baba Budan Giri range and blessed with silver cascades of mountain streams and lush vegetation. It’s beautifully laid out ornamental gardens and enchanting mountain and valley views are a treat to the eye. Spectacular sunsets are a must see from various locations in the district, even from the Raj Bhavan. For the adventurous, Kemmangundi offers many peaks to scale and intricate jungle paths to explore. There is a place called Z-point at about 10 minutes walk from this main place which gives a nice aerial view of the Shola grass lands of the Western Ghats.     Just 10 km away from Kemmangundi is Kallahathigiri falls, also known as Kalahasti falls. Water cascades down from the top of the Chandra Drona hill from a height of 122 meters amidst fascinating scenery. There is an old Veerabhadra temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, constructed in a gap between rocks. This temple can be approached after crossing the waterfall. Hebbe Falls, a beautiful waterfall is also over 10 km away from the famous hill station, Kemmangundi. Here water streams down from a height of 168 meters in two stages to form Dodda Hebbe (Big Falls) and Chikka Hebbe (Small Falls). Shanti Falls, a fabulous waterfall is on the way to Z-Point in Kemmangundi.
Kudremukh and Kudremukh National Park: 95 km southwest of Chikkamagaluru town is Kudremukh range (in Kannada Kudure = horse and mukha = face), so named because of the unique shape of the Kudremukh peak. Overlooking the Arabian sea, the broad hills are chained to one another with deep valley & steep precipices. Kadambi Falls is a waterfall located in the Kudremukh National Park.
Mullayanagiri: Mullayanagiri is part of the Baba Budan Giri Hill Ranges here. It stands 1930 meters tall and is the tallest peak in Karnataka. Its height is famous mostly for watching sunsets from. It is 16 km from Chikkamagaluru town. Driving to Mullayanagiri is worth taking a risk. On the way is Sitalayanagiri where the water in the Shiva temple neither increases nor decreases. The road to Mullayanagiri is very narrow with a views from steep cliffs. Driving to the peak is not possible and includes a trek up the hill from the half way point. There is a small temple on top of the hill. From the topmost point of the hill the Arabian sea is visible on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.
Chikkamagaluru2
Chikkamagaluru3

Datta peeta (Baba Budan Giri): To the north of Chikkamagaluru town is the Baba Budan Giri Range or Chandra Drona Parvatha as it was known in the ancient times, which has one of the highest mountain peaks between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. The peak takes its name from the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who resided here more than 150 years ago. Manikyadhara Falls is a waterfall near the Baba Budan Giri Dattatreya Peetha where water spills down like small pearls giving the visitors a memorable shower bath. Hanumana Gundi Falls has water falling on to Natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet. There is no doubt that the visitors will be fall in love with such a scene.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary: Occupying 495 km² of wildlife sanctuary and Project tiger reserve, this region is an important watershed of the Tungabhadra river. The huge reservoir here is the main water supply to several districts in the rain shadow regions of south Karnataka. The forests here are rich in Bamboo and birds species unique to both the Malabar and Sahyadri ranges.
Kudremukh National Park: The Kudremukh National Park is the largest declared Wildlife Protected Area (600 km²) of a tropical wet evergreen type of forest in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is one of the twenty-five hot spots identified for bio-diversity conservation in the world.

Vidyashankara Temple originally constructed by the Hoysalas and later completed by the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire in Sringeri, Annapoorneshwari Temple, which has been renovated recently and now called Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shri Annapoorneshwari Temple in Horanadu, Kalaseshwara temple in dedicated to Ishwara in Kalasa, Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy Darga situated on the Baba Budan Giri, Amritheshwara temple at Amruthapura, ornate temple of Veeranarayana and temple of 'Udbhava Ganapathi' in Belavadi are the main famous temples which attract many of pilgrims. Some of the temples are providing free boarding and lodging to the pilgrims.

  
 
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