The name Chikamagalur comes from the Kannada word Cikkamagala, which translates into “younger daughter’s town”. As legend will have it, Chikamagalur was given as dowry to the youngest daughter of King Rukmangada, a local king famous for his bravery and his personality. Today, the hilly haven of Chikamagalur is a nature-lover’s paradise. Surrounded by the many peaks of the Mullayangiri range, the idyllic town is as famous for its hospitality as it is for the coffee it produces. Situated at an altitude of 3400 meters, its location is ideal for growing coffee, something which the locals are deeply into here. Take a walk through the many plantations here and you can literally smell the coffee when the breeze is favourable, or visit the many scenic and romantic locations with your significant other.
In recent years, Chikamagalur has also arrived on the trekking scene, with a large number of adventure-seeking people visiting this location for its trekking trails such as the Mullayangiri trek (highest peak in Karnataka), the Kemmanagundi trek, and the world-famous Baba Budangiri trek.
By Air: The closest airport is the Mangalore airport, at a distance of 113 km. You can take a flight from most places in India to Mangalore and then hire a prepaid taxi to get to Chikmagalur.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kadur, which is is 40 km away from Chikmagalur.
By Road: There are many private and Government buses that ply from Bangalore to Chikmagalur. Driving down from Bangalore is also an option with the road distance being around 250 kms.