Best places to visit in Chikmagalur, Chikmagalur

Best places to visit in Chikmagalur

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Synopsis

Mountains, vast stretches of greens and stunning natural beauty--if these are the things that make you happy as a traveller then there are very few places that can be better than Chikmagalur. Thanks to its location at the foothills of the Mullayanagiri range in Karnataka, there are a lot of places to visit in Chikmagalur that can make any nature loving traveller happy. While on one hand is the favourable climate of the region which makes it a suitable place to visit during any time of the year, on the other are the vast expanses of stunning greenery that makes it a place so beautiful that a traveller would want to spend days there. Besides, the other thing that makes Chikmagalur a popular destination among travellers not only from other Indian states but different parts of the world as well is the presence of some of the most beautiful coffee plantations. After all, the quaint town of Chikmagalur is considered to be the home to the finest quality of coffee in the country. It all began way back in the 17th century when a 17th century Sufi pilgrim, Baba Budan Giri, tucked away seven seeds of coffee in his belt, while returning from Mecca. According to legends, he is the one who took advantage of the fertile hills of Chikmagalur and planted those seeds and thus turned the quaint hill town into one of the most rampant coffee cultivating spots in India. So, if you are someone whose life depends on coffee, Chikmagalur will prove to be no less than a heaven for you.

One thing that makes this place such a huge tourist attraction is the fact that the places to visit in Chikmagalur and the places to visit near Chikmagalur are in plenty. And the best thing about all of these places to visit in Chikmagalur is the fact that they have different characteristics of their own to make a traveller happy. While on one hand are acres of coffee plantation where a traveller can not only witness the coffee plucking process but can also taste the fine beverage, on the other hand are the various spots on the hills that are surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty and offer stunning views of the lush green hills of the region. Adding to the natural richness of all these places are the various waterfalls spread across the region. For travellers who enjoy nature walks or trekking, Chikmagalur would prove to be an amazing destination to explore.

Chikmagalur is not only about coffee plantations, hills and natural beauty. It is also home to some of the finest temples of the state that showcase the socio-cultural richness of the place and religious beliefs of the local population. Apart from the strong religious aspect, something that makes these temples great tourist attractions and those worth checking out for travellers are the architectural finesse with which they were built once. Also, some of these temples are ancient and were once built by some of the most important saints this country has seen. Besides, a lot of them were built under the order and conception of erstwhile rulers of the region, like Hoysala dynasty for instance. A fine example of ancient temples in Chikmagalur is the Horanadu Temple, which is said to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya. One needs to queue up in long, sinuous but fast moving line with visitors to get a quick glimpse of the Goddess Annapoorneshwari adorned in gold. The temple lies on the famous Karnataka pilgrimage circuit of Kukke Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, Udupi Krishna Temple, Kollooru Mookambika and Kalaseshwara Temple in Kalasa.