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Spend long weekend in the mountains | Say hello to winters!
Coffee estates spread across the peaks of the Western Ghats and their slopes covered in every shade of green till your vision goes. This is Chikmagalur, the green town of Karnataka.
Nature has lavishly chosen the best of its features to decorate the valleys of Chikmagalur, making it every traveller’s priority down South. Waterfalls, leafy meadows, wonderful plants and flowers, some of the highest peaks in the state, and a plethora of wildlife specific to this region, all find a home in this rustic town.
Situated at the foothill of Karanataka’s tallest mountain, Mullayanagiri, Chikmagalur offers a splendid valley view, which is astonishingly green most of the year. The many waterfalls in and around the town also add to its natural beauty, keeping the town pleasant throughout the year.
You can indulge in many leisurely walks around the greenery, or go for the full-day trek up the second-highest hill of Karnataka, with the Kudremukh trek.
Coffee lovers, you are forever indebted to Chikmagalur, for it is here that Indian coffee was first cultivated and prepared! And now, there’s a coffee museum here, which talks about the entire journey of coffee from being a seed to a plant and finally being a sip on your lips!
For admirers of history and architecture, there are some temples around Chikmagalur where you can make a stop. The finest is the Hoysala temples on the way from Bangalore to Chikmagalur. They were built between the 11th & 13th centuries.
Chikmagalur grows two kinds of coffees, Arabica and Robusta, which are entirely different in flavours. Arabica has a mild taste to it, like the one that foreigners usually prefer. Robusta, on the other hand, as the name suggests, is strong and has an aftertaste of peanuts. Remember to try them both!
The coveted Neelakurinji flowers bloom in this valley only once in 12 years and are a sight that everyone feels lucky to come across. The last sighting only happened recently in July 2018 and the next opportunity for you to grab lies in 2030!