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Karnataka Travel

A Perfect 5 Days Sakleshpur-Chikmagalur Itinerary

Sakleshpur is a beautiful place in Karnataka, rich in coffee and cardamom plantations. Tucked in the foothills of Mullyangiri range, lies the charming city of Chikmagalur. The land of coffee as it is often called, attracts thousands of tourists every year for it’s beautiful green and serene landscapes.

I have combined both Sakleshpur and Chikmagalur that is why I decided to go on a 5 Days trip but you could just go for a weekend getaway to either of these places.

ITINERARY

    Arrival at Sakleshpur

Start off your journey to Sakleshpur and arrive by afternoon. Check in to your hotel and have a delicious meal.

Hotel to stay

  • Rosetta by Ferns – Situated in close proximity to the commercial district and tourist attractions, this resort is the perfect choice for visiting all the places. 

We stayed in this beautiful luxurious property for a day. Nestled in a 100-acre coffee plantation, Rosetta by Ferns Sakleshpur is a home away from home. Property is still developing and lots of new additions will be coming soon.

This place is fantastic amidst greenery and they have spacious rooms to sit out with the view of coffee plantations and birds chirping.

Not to forget the excellent food that the restaurant offers, a perfect blend of food from various cuisines and top notch quality. All their staff members are extremely polite, courteous and helpful. We had an amazing stay here.

Places to Visit

First location – Manjarabad Fort

At a distance of 6 km from Sakleshpur Bus Stand, Manjarabad Fort is an ancient fort situated in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the historical forts in Karnataka and among the best places to visit in Sakleshpur.

The fort has been constructed atop a hill, which is about 988 m above the ground-level. The fort can be accessed by taking a left turn on the National Highway 48. This fort was built by Tipu Sultan in 1792.

This star shaped fort has an octagonal layout with eight walls. The external walls of the fort have been built with granite stones and lime mortar while the interior buildings, which accommodate army barracks, armoury, stores and others, have been built with fired bricks. 

Time required : 30 mins – 1 hour
Cost : Free
Timings : 8AM – 6PM

Second location – Hemavathi Dam

At a distance of 27 km from Hassan and 63 km from Sakleshpur, Hemavathi Dam is an earthen dam situated at Gorur in Hassan district of Karnataka. Also known as Gorur Dam, it is one of the popular picnic spots in Hassan.

Built in 1979, the reservoir has been providing water for drinking and irrigation purposes for the people of Hassan district. Hemavati Dam is very vast and covers a catchment area of 2,810 sq. km. This dam is 4,692 m long and 58.5 m high. The gross storage capacity of this dam is 1,050.63 mcm. The reservoir has six large radial spillway gates.

Hemavati dam presents a beautiful look to the visitors, especially during rainy season, when the spillway gates are opened to release the flooding waters that gush out like froth. A garden covered with a green lawn right next to the dam enhances the beauty of the atmosphere as well as the location. 

Time required : 30 mins
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM to 6PM

Third location – Shettihalli Rosary Church

At a distance of 16 km from Gorur Dam, 25 km from Hassan and 45 km from Sakleshpur, Shettihalli Rosary Church is an ancient church situated at Shettihalli village in Hassan district of Karnataka. Built in the 1860s by the French missionaries in India, the church is a magnificent structure of Gothic Architecture.

It has become a famous tourist spot where people are excited to see the half submerged church during monsoon. It is also known as The Submerged Church and The Floating Church. It’s a 1 hour drive from Sakleshpur to this mysteriously haunting church.

Time required : 30 mins
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM to 6PM

After you finish exploring all the places enjoy your dinner at your hotel and rest for the day.

    Sakleshpur Sight Seeing

Wake up peacefully and start your adventure. It’s going to be a long day as you will be visiting all the places in Sakleshpur that you missed visiting the previous day.

Places to Visit

First location – Sakleshwara Swamy Temple

At a distance of 1.5 km from Sakleshpur Bus Stand, Sakleshwara Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Sakleshpura town in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka.

Situated on the banks of River Hemavathi, Sakleshwara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries, Sakleshwara Temple is a great remnant of the time when the Hoysala Empire was at its peak in South India. It is a beautiful temple that stands as a testimony to the excellent craftsmanship of Hoysala architecture. The temple is famous for Ratha yatra that takes place every year in the month of February 

Time required : 30 mins
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

Second location – Magajahalli Falls

At a distance of 5 km from Hanbal and 21 km from Sakleshpur, Magajahalli Falls is a beautiful waterfall situated at Magajahalli Village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the picturesque waterfalls in Sakleshpur.

Also known as Hanbal Falls and Abbi Gundi Falls, the waterfall falling from a height of about 20 feet. Visitors can even get into the waters and enjoy themselves but need to be more cautious about the slippery rocks. 

Time required : 1 hour
Cost : Free
Timings : 7AM – 5:30PM

Third location – Kukke Subramanya Temple

Kukke Subramanya is a Hindu temple located in the village Subramanya, of Kadaba taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India. In this temple Kartikeya is worshipped as Subramanya, lord of all serpents.

It is most famous for the Sarpa Samskara Pooja performed to get rid of Kala Sarpa Dosha. Also, the main idol of the temple shows Lord Subramanya standing above the Serpents, Vasuki and Shesha.

Time required : 30 mins
Cost : Free
Timings 5AM – 1:30PM
                  3:30PM – 9:30PM

Fourth location –  Bisle Ghat View Point

At a distance of 20 km from Kukke Subrahmanya and 55 km from Sakleshpur, Bisle Ghat is a ghat situated between Kukke Subrahmanya and Sakleshpura in Karnataka. If you want to witness great view, it’s better to visit early in the morning.

It is popular as a view point to get the beautiful and astonishing views of three mountain ranges including Kumara Parvatha, Pushpagiri and Dodda Betta. The highlight of this point is that the view has a valley, with Giri River separating the beauty point and these mountain ranges.

Time required : 30 mins
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6:30PM

    Belur, Halebidu and Belavadi

Wake up peacefully and have a delicious breakfast and head to your next location.

First location – Sri Chennakesava Temple, Belur

At a distance of 0.5 km from Belur Bus Station, Sri Chennakesava Temple is an ancient temple situated at Belur, Karnataka. The temple is listed as a UNESCO World heritage Site and is one of the must-visit places as part of Belur.

It took 103 years to finish this temple located on the banks of Yagachi river. Chennakeshava is avatar of Lord Vishnu. Each pillar inside the sanctum are carved with different patterns, one of the pillar demonstrating all avatars of Vishnu.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings 9AM – 6PM

Second location – Halebidu

At a distance of 17 km from Belur, 32 km from Hassan, 34 km from Chikmagalur, 148 km from Mysore, & 211 km from Bangalore, Halebidu is located in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It is one of the most popular locations.

This is another 12th century temple built by Hoysala kings dedicated to Lord Shiva. Halebidu was former capital of the Hoysala Empire. It has two Nandi shrines outside each facing the respective Shivlinga inside. Numerous smaller friezes narrate Hindu texts such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings 9AM – 6PM

Third location – Belavadi

At a distance of 12 km from Halebidu, 27 km from Belur, 64 km from Chikmagalur, and 82 km from Kemmangundi, Belavadi is a village situated in the Chikmagalur district. Belavadi is famous for Sri Veera Narayana Temple built in Hoysala architectural style. The place is described as Ekachakranagara of Mahabharata and is said to be the place where Pandava prince Bheema killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people.

The entrance to the temple is majestic and has two carved elephants on either side of the gateway. The older shrine is in the center, while the two other shrines face each other across a long Mandapa. The Ranga mandapa of Veera Narayana shrine has beautiful bell-shaped pillars and a well-decorated roof. The outer walls of the temple have beautifully carved pilasters with decorative towers on top. The main shrine has an 8 feet tall image of Veera Narayana with four hands which is considered one of the best examples of Hoysala art.

Time required : 1 hour
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

Finish visiting all these places and head to Chikmagalur. Head to your hotel and rest for the day. Enjoy a delicious meal in World of Chikmagalur cafe.

Hotel to stay

  • Serai Resorts – It’s a beautiful resort in coffee plantation which has many amenities like, you have villas available with private pool and Jacuzzi. The location is nice and serene. It’s a complete luxury and relaxed treat.
    The Serai resort is located 7 km from the heart of Chikmagalur town on Kadur Mangalore road. The serai resort is amidst 70 acres of coffee plantation.
    The restaurant serves delicious food and the ambience of the place is really soothing.
    This place is on the expensive side, there is another alternative too which is budget friendly.
  • Hotel Aadrika – Located exactly opposite the bus stand, this hotel has spacious rooms with good amenities, the rooms are very clean and well maintained. There is ample parking area and an outdoor badminton court. Food is delicious and the staff are very friendly.

   Chikmagalur Sight Seeing

Wake up peacefully and have a delicious breakfast and head to a day filled with nature and waterfalls.

First location – Mullayanagiri Peak

With a height of 1,925 metres, Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in Karnataka and also the highest peak in the Krishna River basin. Once there was a saint named Tapasvi Mullapa Swamy. Locals of the regions in and around the Mullayanagiri believe that he used to meditate at the top summit of this Mullayanagiri hill. In this manner, the mountain got its current identity. 

There are two ways to reach this point, one by trek and the other by road. The trekking route that takes you to the topmost summit of Mullayanagiri has no source of food or water so make sure to carry some snacks. The Lord Shiva temple at the topmost summit has got a few small shops where you can get some good local food to eat. I don’t remember exactly but as far as I know the last entry time to enter the check point to see all these places is by 3/4 PM. So make sure you start early in the morning so that you can cover many places.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

Second location – Baba Budangiri

Karnataka’s second highest peak at 1895 m is the Baba Budangiri which makes for an excellent 10 km trek from Mullayanagiri for adventure enthusiasts. You can even travel by road to this place but the roads are not so great, so make sure you be careful while driving.

Bonus Tip : While travelling from Mullayanagiri to Baba Budangiri, we got lost and took a wrong turn. This way we reached a beautiful spot with great view from all sides. Sometimes the road less taken can give you something you have been looking for unexpectedly. 

The Baba Budangiri Range (of which Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri and Kemmanagundi are a part of) has been named after a Muslim saint, who took residence in the hills.

The cascading Manikya Dhara Waterfalls is located right next to Baba Budangiri which adds an extra sparkle to the entire view.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings 6AM – 6PM

Third location – Jhari Waterfalls

This place is completely optional, the time we travelled there wasn’t enough water to witness the waterfall at it’s best so we skipped this location. But if you are someone who is interested to visit this place then it’s located at a distance of 30 kms from Baba Budangiri. The road is not so great so drive carefully.

Time required : 1 hour
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

Fourth location – Kemmanagundi

At 1434 m, Kemmanagundi is a beautiful extension into the Baba Bundangiri Range with beautiful waterfalls, lush green forests and zigzag pathways to the peak. This place is also known as the KR Hills, named after Mysore’s King Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV.

This place is located at a distance of 79 kms from Baba Budangiri and has many popular places to visit at a nearby distance.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

For trek lovers, The view from Z Point is highly recommended to witness the two waterfalls—Hebbe and Kalhatti. This trekking spot is located 5km from Kemmanagundi and is considered as a great point to witness the sunrise and sunsets.
Z Point offers some breathtaking view of the Kemmanagundi hills. The trek for Z Point starts near Kemmanagundi and runs through the thickest forests.

Fifth location – Hebbe Falls

This place is located at a distance of about 10 kms from Kemmanagundi. With coffee estates surrounding the Hebbe Falls, the journey to the Falls will leave you in awe. The mild gust of coffee and dense forests around will make you feel like a little butterfly wandering around the beautiful falls.

The road trip to Hebbe Falls covers a few small ponds on the way which are beautiful. There is a temple of Chowdeshwari Maha Shakthi Devathe where you can spot some locals offering prayers and taking a dip in the nearby pond. 

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

Sixth location – Kalhatti Falls

This place is completely optional too, according to the time you have left and the energy left you could give this place or visit or miss it. As you have already witnessed the other waterfalls, you could take a call whether you would want to visit this place or not.

This place is located at a distance of 10 kms from Kemmanagundi. There is a temple you could visit in this place walking 30-40 steps down from parking area.

Time required : 1-2 hours
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

If you want to witness a beautiful sunset, then visit the waterfalls first and then reach Kemmangundi to witness the sunset. If you want to give sunset a miss due to the weather condition then you can follow the order mentioned above.

Finish visiting all these places and get back to you hotel and have a wholesome delicious meal as you wouldn’t have had proper food the whole day. Rest for the day and gear up for the next day.

  Chikmagalur City Sight Seeing

Wake up peacefully and have a delicious breakfast and head to a relaxed and chilled day of sight seeing.

First location – Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

Located at a distance of 38 km from Chikmagalur town. This place has a large number of tiger populations and was declared in 1998 as the 25th Project Tiger of India. The hill range and greenery surrounding it from all sides makes this place look absolutely stunning. 

Spread over the area of 490 sq km, it is a wildlife paradise for enthusiasts. This place is a home to diverse varieties of flora and fauna. You can spot some of the endangered species over here like Malabar giant squirrel and orangutan.

Time required : 2-3 hours
Cost : Free
Timings : 6–8:30 AM3:30–6 PM

Second location – Hirekolale Lake

At a distance of 10 km from Chikmagalur & 50 km from Kemmanagundi is this beautiful manmade lake situated in Chikmagalur. It is one of the well-known tourist places in Chikmagalur.

Surrounded by high mountains, this beautiful lake is awe-striking for every spectator. The lake offers the most mesmerizing views of the landscape with scenic views and is a treat to photography lovers. This location is a very famous spot for pre-wedding shoots and couple shoots. You could stay for the sunset here and enjoy the view.

Time required : 1 hour
Cost : Free
Timings : 6AM – 6PM

With this the trip comes to an end!!

Overview

  • Day 1:  Arrive at Sakleshpur, Visit Manjarabad Fort, Hemavathi Dam and Shettihalli Rosary Church
  • Day 2:  Visit Sakleshwara Swamy Temple, Magajahalli Falls, Kukke Subramanya Temple and Bisle Ghat View Point
  • Day 3 : Visit Belur, Halebidu, Belavadi and arrive to Chikmagalur
  • Day 4 : Visit Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri, Jhari Waterfalls (optional), Kemmanagundi, Hebbe Falls, Kalhatti Falls (optional)
  • Day 5 : Visit Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Hirekolale Lake

Overall, I loved visiting this place. I’d highly recommend this trip for everyone out there.
Hope you found this guide helpful. Let me know about your experiences in the comment section below!

If this itinerary appeals to you, feel free to contact Flip To Trip (Our Travel Company) to create a personalised travel experience just for you.

Link to the website : https://www.fliptotrip.com

Akhila Maram

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