Looking to explore something new around Bangalore? If like me, you feel that the same places keep flashing up as options around Bangalore, then check out the Kodachadri hills.
Roughly 9 hours away from Bengaluru, Kodachadri is the 13th highest peak in Karnataka at 1400 meters above the sea level.
One of the coolest things about the trek is that you can see the sunset in the Arabian Sea from the peak of the hill.
Whether you enjoy trekking or not, the Kodachadri hills will leave you astounded with the biodiversity it has to offer.
The flora and fauna, the jungle canopies, the waterfalls, the breathtaking views and the landscapes on offer are stunning and not polluted.
Besides, it is only 2 hours away from the western coast of India – giving you a plethora of options to explore beyond just the mountains.
Kodachadri
Due to the presence of other popular destinations in and around Bangalore – the Kodachadri region is often overlooked. As a result, human presence is slightly reduced when compared to other tourist destinations.
Expect a quiet, peaceful, hygienic and basic homestay experience for your trip.
Check out Wanderophile, a company that conducts regular trekking trips in and around Karnataka. I recommend them highly.
Snake 🐍 lovers will have a wonderful time as Shimoga district is one of the most densely populated snake regions in the country.
What to expect?
If you plan on a trek then, the trek is medium hard due to its length, slippery patches and steep hikes. You can pick from a lot of different routes to summit.
The length could vary anywhere between 2-14 kilometres, depending on your group.
Landscapes range from – farmlands, jungles, waterfalls, mountains and streams.
Besides the obvious mentioned above, my favourite part was the tight regulation in place by the forest guards to ensure the health of our forests.
They would check and count every group for the number of plastic items while going up for the trek and upon your return.
Due to this, the whole place was pristine and devoid of any human footprint.
On the way back, you can ride in one of the local jeeps. A 45 minute ride which is bumpy and rough on the body as the roads are in extremely poor condition.
Best time to visit
October – January as summer can be scorching hot. While most guides and companies say that they love the trek during the rains, I have my reservations.
Getting there
Closest airport is Bajpe (Mangalore) located about 3 hours or 120 kilometers from Mangalore.
While Bangalore to Kollur is about 430 kilometres approx. 9 hours drive in a bus or a car.
What to carry
I cannot emphasise enough as to how important it is to travel with the right equipment. It elevates the whole experience to another level. So here is the list:
- Backpack
- Swim trunks
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellant
- Torch
- Personal medication
- Trekking shoes
- Flip flops
- Towel
- Undergarments
- Food bars
- Nuts (dry fruits)
- Spoon/fork
- Plate
- Hand sanitiser
- Swiss knife (optional)
In a nutshell
Kodachadri trek is one of the finest treks that I have come across in my lifetime.
Although, I haven’t trekked as much in my life, basis my experiences in India and abroad I can evaluate this.
In case you are looking for ideas on where to travel and how to get the most out of your travels, reach out.
Finally, do share your experiences with me here so that it helps me learn and broaden my horizon.
