Karnataka’s Kudremukh National Park, a perfect destination for nature lovers and trekkers

Calling Kudremukh National Park heaven on earth won’t be a farfetched statement. Sprawling over 600 sq km, this national park in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district is home to a wide range of wild species. The park is renowned for the big cats, who have made it their home in recent times.

The park is also popular among ardent trekkers as Kudremukh is also the second-highest peak in Karnataka (1894 m). The path takes trekkers through green Shola forests and wide yellow grasslands. Kudremukh is a Kannada word, meaning horse-faced mountain and that is how the region got its name as it looks exactly like a horse face.
The trek is quite challenging and is not recommended for beginners, kids or elderly people. The topography keeps changing and requires strength to cross streams and steep ascents. Spotting deer, wild boars and sambars is common here and, if you get lucky, you might just come across a pack of bison too!

The park also features Tunga and Bhadra rivers, an image of varaha, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu inside a cave at Gangamoola, and the Kadambi waterfalls. Interested people can also enjoy river rafting in Kudremukh.

To undertake this 9.5 km (one way) Kudremukh National Park trek, you would require around 8-9 hours and it is necessary to seek permission from the office of the Range Forest Officer.
Best time to visit


Though the Kudremukh National Park enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year, the period between October and May is considered the best for visiting the place. During monsoons (June to September), the place receives heavy showers but the climate remains extremely balmy. Summers (March to May) are considered the best time for those interested in trekking.