Travel Guide to Chikmagalur

Large parts of the district are endowed with dense Forests. As many as seven rivers originate in this District: of these the Tunga and the Badhra are the principal rivers. The terrain is beautiful – full with scenic surprises – lofty peaks, hill stations, trekking trails, cascading waterfalls, sacred shrines and slopes that are studded with coffee plantations – the origin of which is believed to belong to the seven seeds of coffee smuggled in by Baba Budan from Yemen in the 1600’s. Chikmagalur is one of India’s principal coffee growing areas. Chikmagalur district 200 Km (124 miles) north of Bangalore, dramatically positioned at the base of a rugged chain of hills, this town rose to prominence as an outpost of the Vijayanagar Empire. Later, in the 17th-18th centuries, it became the head-quarters of a line of local chiefs known as Beads, until it was occupied by haider Ali in 1799 and then by the British. The fort, defined by walls of huge granite blocks, rises striking granite boulders. There are several small temples here, as well as a number of ceremonial gateways erected by the beads. The platforms and pavilions within the compound of the sampige siddeswara Tmple mark the spot where the Beads were crowned. The remains of rubble and mud built granaries and residences, and a large circular well can be seen nearby. Chikmagalur is considered to be the place of origin and the early reign of the Hoysalas – who held sway in the south for more than two centuries – later, the region fell into the hands of Hyder Ali & onto his son Tippu Sultan. After the fall of Tippu in 1799, the entire area was taken over by the British – and the area was known as kadur, later on it was changed to Chikmagalur district. Chikmagalur, literally means the youngest daughter’s town – as it was the dowry for the youngest daughter of Rukamangada, the chief of Sakrepatna. Since inception Chikmagalur Urban Development Authority has allotted 2065 residential sites to the individuals for construction of houses. In addition 23 civic amenity sites have been given for various public uses to various Organizations according to needs of the locality.