The monsoon magician of karnataka called Kudremukha

The mountains of western ghats have always been a fascination since I was a kid and that fascination has ever since become better and bigger over the years. I’ve been travelling and trekking around this one special mountain which is close to my heart a majestic mountain range which hides among the clouds the Kudremukha.

The name kudremukha comes from the kannada word ‘Kudre’ which translates as Horse and ‘Mukha’ which translates as Face.
An aerial view of the peak as shown the image below gives a better understanding on why its been named as a ‘Horseface mountain’.

“Apt as it’s called the Horsefaced mountain”
Image courtesy – Google Earth

1) Visit the Kudremukh National Park

Kudremukh national park is a wide spread national park which is spread over 600+ Sq km which consists of variety of fauna and flora. The biodiversity of Kudremukha National Park makes it a crucial area for conservation efforts. The park is part of the Western Ghats, which is recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots,Conservation efforts focus on protecting the park’s habitats from threats like deforestation, poaching, and human encroachment. Flora consists of Evergreen forests,Shola Grasslands and Riparian forests with many rare species like Arisaema amplexicaule(Cobra Lily sp),Arnott’s Vernonia,Cyathea hodgsonii,Trichophorum alatum. Fauna consists of Tiger,Leopard,Gaur,Smabhar deer,Dholes,Reptiles,Amphibians and in recent years there is significant increase in the elephant numbers due to the conservation effort while historically the elephants have been transient with few herds recorded right now there are over 100-150 elephants as recently seen. Well if you get on a safari you might be lucky enough to see these forest dwellers.

How to do the safari in the NP? Safari can be done through in 2 ways one is through the website of kudremukh national park website and one more through the Jungle lodges resorts which is been run by the Government of Karnataka and Karnataka Forest department. Safari timings : 6:00AM/4:00pm Safari Starting point : Bhagavathi Nature Camp Number of hours: 2 hours Click here for the link – Safari / JLR

2) Treks in Kudremukha

There are around more than 10+ treks marked paths and numerous unknown paths which leads to various amount of beautiful views, but here are some of the most famous treks in the region.

Kudremukha peak : Trek distance – Approx 21-22 km Trek start point: Mullodi village
How to reach from public transport – From banglore take an overnight bus to Kalasa via KSRTC/Durgamaba/Sugama and Hire a jeep which would cost you around 2500 for single trip or 5000 for a round trip for Mullodi Village. Trek cost – 675 + Guide Fees 1000 shared by group of ten

“The best valley view in kudremukha”
Image Courtesy – Rohan Aradhya

Netravathi peak : Trek distance – Approx 12 km Trek start point – Samse village
How to reach from public transport – From banglore take an overnight bus to Kalasa/Samse via KSRTC/Durgamaba/Sugama and Hire a jeep just like kudremukh peak which would cost 2000-2500 round trip for samse village. Trek cost – 500 + Guide Fees 1000 shared by group of ten

“A peek from the peak”
Image courtesy – Rohan Aradhya

Kodachadri peak : Trek distance – 13.5 km one way and return from jeep Trek start point – Kattinhole Forest check point
How to reach from public transport – From banglore take an overnight bus to Kollur via KSRTC/Durgamaba/Sugama and hire a jeep from kollur which is around 35Kms or any local buses like Vishal/KKB which would typically be available on hourly basis ( check at local bus stop for exact time as it changes over season/time) Trek cost – 550 + Guide Fees 1000 shared by group of ten

“Kodachadri in all it’s winter Glory”
Image courtesy- Rohan Aradhya

Kurinjal peak : Trek distance – 14 km Trek start point – Bhagvathi Nature Camp
How to reach from public transport – From banglore take bus to kalasa and then take a local car/jeep which would be 11 kms via kudremukh-karkala road from Kalasa. Trek cost – 500 + Guide Fees 1000 shared by group of ten

Bandajae falls via Ballarayana Durga : Trek distance – 20-21 km Trek start point – Durgadahalli Village
How to reach from public transport – From banglore take bus to Kalasa or Mudigere and take a taxi/local bus to Sunkasale village and then take a pickup taxi (carries 15 to 20 people) or take a jeep (carries 6-8) to the village of Durgadahalli. Trek cost – As of now there is no trek fees but you might have to pay forest department an entry fee of 250 for doing this trek.

“A window through the clouds”

Image Courtesy -Rohan Aradhya

3) Coffee and tea plantations:
Some of the famed coffee and tea estate around the Kudremukha forest range

1. Kalasa Coffee Estate: Located in Kalasa, this estate offers guided tours of its lush coffee plantations and tasting sessions of freshly brewed coffee.
2. Shantigram Coffee Estate : Situated within the Kalasa region, it features serene coffee gardens and educational tours on traditional coffee cultivation.
3. Horanadu Tea Estate : Near Horanadu, about 40 km from Kudremukh, it offers picturesque tea gardens and a tranquil environment.
4. Kudremukh Tea Estate : Located within Kudremukh, this estate provides scenic views and a chance to explore tea cultivation in the area.
5. Nadikal Coffee Estate : Approximately 25 km from Kalasa, in the Chikkamagalur district.
6. Samse Tea Estate : Right at the start of samse village has the scenic tea estate which has been an integral part of many kannada and other regional movies.

4) List of Waterfalls inside the national park

• Hanumanagundi

• Kadambi

• Elaneer

• Kodige

• Kudlu theertha

• Bandajae

• Koosali **

• Didupe**

• Ermayi**

• BeelekalTheertha**

• Arsinagundi**

Please note – will create another blog separately for all the famous waterfalls and offbeat places ** 

5) Viewpoints around Kudremkha region

• Rani Jhari Viewpoint: Nestled in the mountain ridges of Ballalarayana Durga Fort rani jhari view point is must visit place for your visit to Kudremukha region
LOCAL LEGEND – It states that Rani, which means “Queen of this Region” – Rani Padmini devi nearly fell into the hands of her adversaries which are said to have belonged to the court of Tippu Sultan. To avoid being taken prisoner, she decided to sacrifice herself rather than subject herself to their torment. Jhari, meaning “fell into” or “slipped into” into the depths of the forest, to honor her sacrifice this was given the name Rani Jhari
How to reach : About 8 km from Sunkasaale town a drive through the mist filled coffee estate and a short hike or stroll of 100–150 meters will take you to a breathtaking viewpoint that will captivate the eyes of all. Permit and Jeep cost : 1000-1500 Round trip depending on season

• Baamikonda Viewpoint : Baamikonda Viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the untouched beauty of the Western Ghats. It’s a tranquil spot surrounded by dense forests, providing a panoramic vista of rolling hills and lush greenery. he trek to this viewpoint is a peaceful adventure, filled with the sounds of nature and the charm of an undiscovered landscape. Also famous for it’s heart shaped paddyfield which is been cultivated by a resort owned by ‘Shola heights’ it’s been a star attraction in recent years.
How to reach: Take a local bus to balgal(ask for bus towards karkala and getoff at Balgal Village) from Kalasa and hire a jeep to Baamikonda viewpoint
Permit and Jeep cost : 1000-1500 Round trip depending on season

• Maidadi Viewpoint : Maidadi or ‘Kanive’ point which translates  to valley or a gorge  in the local language has  an ascent which is an adventure in itself, typically involving a hike through dense forests and grassy meadows that are interspersed with streams and waterfalls. The trail is flanked by rich biodiversity, including a variety of endemic plant species, which makes it a treat for nature lovers and trekkers alike.
Also maidadi village it’s home to Malekudiyas a regional tribe which have residing here from hundreds of years.
How to reach: Reach kalasa in a overnight bus from banglore and then take a shared jeep or any local bus which goes towards Kelagur request the bus driver to stop post Maransinge  and hire a jeep from there till the parking area and around 2-3 kms of trekking would take you to the viewpoint

6) Click here for link for Offbeat places in kudremukha