Have you ever noticed that whenever we ask somebody about their dream travel destination we usually get to hear places like Switzerland, Paris, Italy, London, New York, etc.? For any individual, Indian places are rarely dream destinations, except for a few charming tourist places like Jammu & Kashmir, Shimla, Manali, Ladakh, Goa, etc.
If you peep into my friend’s slam book that I filled when I was 9, you would notice that my dream place was also Switzerland. Why is it that only foreign places attract us? Aren’t their plenty of pretty places in India?
In search of the answer, I started my research on places that one could visit in India. And guess what? I found places within India that are mesmerizing in terms of scenic beauty, serenity, landscape, etc.
Today, I am going to share one of my experiences with one such place in India where I recently travelled during New Years. The name of the place is Chikmagalur, here you will find all the places to visit in Chikmagalur.
Chikmagalur is a small hill station in Karnataka. Its name is derived from the Kannada word ‘Chikkmagala’ which translates to ‘younger daughter’s town”. It is 150 km from Mangalore, which is approximately 4 hours drive. Thus, the travelling isn’t cumbersome, it gives the feel of a soothing long drive, which gets you closer to your environment. The weather in Chikmagalur is always pleasant however the best time to visit is from September to May.
According to me, whenever you travel to a particular destination, you must keep the map of that place handy. It helps in exploring the place extensively.
Our stay was planned for three days in which we visited lots of temples, falls, and peaceful destinations. We explored almost all the tourist destinations that were inscribed on the map. After exploring the entire town, I can vouch for a few places that should be there on the ‘must-visit places’ in Chikmagalur.
Places to Visit in Chikmagalur
Mullayanagiri: Karnataka's Highest Peak
It is the highest peak in Karnataka. An early morning visit is the best for a perfect view of the mountains. There is a small temple of Lord Shiva at the highest point. This is the best place for people who love trekking. The cold breeze running through our body with a breathtaking view of the mountains gives that immense peace that we crave for in our busy scheduled life.
Kemmangundi and Hebbe Falls
It is a beautiful destination for exploring. Several stairs lead us to the top of the hill. Once we are uphill, we have further gone down the hill for the view of the Hebbe Falls. The journey of uphill to downhill and vice versa sounds like a good morning walk right? It surely would be. I was gasping for breath once I was finished with this adventure. However, this adventure would be worthwhile. Such freshness in the air can’t be felt in cities we live in.
Hirekolale Lake: The Man-Made Lake
It is a man-made lake amidst the hills and coffee plantations of Chikmagalur. It is the perfect spot for a picnic. There are comparatively very few tourists in this destination. This makes the place even more serene and calm. The best time to visit the lake is when the sun is setting beautifully between the surrounding hills.
Sri Veera Narayana Temple: Hoysala Style of Architecture
It is a classic example of Hoysala style of architecture. The timing of the temple is from 8 AM to 7:30 PM. The carvings of the stone are intricate. Since the temple is made of stone so it never gets heated up even in the summers. The coolness of the stone relaxes the feet of all the tiredness experienced during the day. The three shrines of the temple are dedicated to Lord Veernarayna, Gopalkrishna, and Yoga Narasimha.
Baba Budangiri - Chandra Drona Parvatha
Budangiri is also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha. It has several mountain rises. It is the best location for sightseeing. The esthetic beauty of this place will attract you towards itself. The beauty of this place lies in its caves where there is a holy place. That holy place consists of a temple as well as a mosque, co-existing together. Moreover, there could be no tension felt whatsoever because of this. In fact, everybody lived in peace. This was an eye-opener of how we can be a united nation.
Tea Plantation
It is a very common beverage amongst the Indians. Most of the tea plantations happen in the Northeastern part of India. However, the view of a tea plantation in a hill station is worth watching. The intricate way in which mountains are shaped to make space for tea plantation makes it even more beautiful. Anyone who loves photography, this is the perfect place to be in.
Chennakesava Temple: Town of Belur
The town of Belur is known for its architectural experience. This temple is situated in this town. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The architecture and the minute cravings are something worth experiencing. Such architecture can’t be seen in the modern era. Each carving is done with such detailing that it is almost impossible to miss admiring the beauty of it.
Halli Berri Coffee & Cottages
Amidst the Kambihalli Coffee Estate, there is a beautiful café called ‘Halli Berri Coffee & Cottages’. Till now, I have been talking about destinations that should be on the ‘to-do’ list when you are visiting Chikmagalur and didn’t mention any places to eat. However, if we are visiting a town where coffee is grown extensively then it becomes mandatory to have coffee in such a place and that too directly from the coffee estate. This experience you will get in this café. It’s a small café but very beautifully made. Apart from coffee, there are good snacks items that you can try. They even sell a few items including coffee of their estate. I personally loved the organic coffee scrub that they were selling. It’s worth investing in.
There are several other places to visit. However, these were the places that were on the top of my list. There is one more beautiful experience I would love to share. During our three days visit, there was one day when we wanted to do adventure. Thus, we booked a cottage between the forests through ‘Airbnb’. We thought there would many cottages in a huge property. However, when we reached the destination, there were only 2 cottages in the mountains uphill with forest all around. Initially, it looked scary but early morning when we woke up and witnessed the sunrise, it was worth the wait. That experience was once in a lifetime opportunity. If you ever visit Chikmagalur, please experience this feeling. It’s wonderful.
That was my advent of Chikmagalur. Through this article, I have tried to highlight how many beautiful places are in India. We just need to explore and find out the hidden beauties. I will keep exploring and I hope I have encouraged you to do the same. I would not stop until I have explored each and every beauty of our beautiful country.
About the Writer:
A finance-enthusiast by day, dreamer and writer by night. Reading fiction while sipping chai is like a cherry on top of her everyday cake. She has always been an avid follower of critically acclaimed movies and loves grooving to some music. Stock markets can keep her awake all night and writing can give her peace as nothing else can. One thing she is waiting for since her childhood has been her ticket to Hogwarts.
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