Trek through Karnataka's dense rainforests that form part of the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
Kodachadri is nestled amidst the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Shimoga district in Karnataka. The trail has a twist of mythology with tales of an old temple believed to have been built thousands of years ago. It takes you through dense forests, grasslands and remote villages in the Western Ghats, giving you a surreal experience that will leave you in awe of the place. Hidlumane falls add to the magic of this trek and make the difficult climb worth it!
The base village for Kodachadri is Nittur which is 412 kms away from Bangalore. You can carry your own camping equipment or stay at the PWD Guest House. Kodachadri is a two day trek and can be challenging with no prior trekking experience.
This article lays down all the information pertaining to the Kodachadri trek and is your go to guide when planning this trail!
The Kodachadri Trail
You can trek to Kodachadri from three different base villages, Nittur, Vallur and Kattinahole. If you have your own vehicle, you can start your trek from Kattinahole and join the trail at Hidlumane falls. You also have the option of taking a jeep all the way to the top of Kodachadri.
The trail from Vallur takes you through beautiful forest sections but you will miss out on Hidlumane falls on this trail. This trail is easy but comes with its own drawbacks.
In this article, we detail out the route starting from Nittur and ending the trek in Vallur which gives you the best of both worlds by covering the dense forests, glasslands and Hidlumane falls!
Your trail starts from the Marakutuka bus stand. A mud trail to your right will take you into the forest. Continue on this path for 30-40 minutes after which you will arrive at a stream crossing. Crossing this stream is a lot of fun and will bring out the excitement for the adventure ahead of you. Be mindful of the force and depth of water during monsoon.
Once you are on the other side, continue trekking on the mud path as it takes you through the remotest parts of rural Karnataka. There is an element of charm that these standalone houses amidst the hills have. You will see houses surrounded by paddy fields and hills towering around them in the distance. It will almost make you wish you lived there.
As you move forward on this trail, ensure you maintain the trail on your right at any of the diversions. Close to an hour on this trail, you can hear and see the signs that you are entering the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. A sign board mentioning the same along with the singing of a variety of birds welcomes you into the sanctuary.
Continue on the trail into the sanctuary. Around 15 minutes later, you will arrive at a small settlement. The trail goes through the last hut on this path and takes you into the forest behind it. Ask the locals for guidance if you feel lost. You can join the trail here if you are coming from Kattinahole.
The forest trail is filled with leeches. You can carry salt and wear gaiters for protection if you are too bothered by them.
The Hidlumane falls are a combination of waterfalls. You will be trekking through these falls and it is one of the most exciting parts of the Kodachadri trek. The first two waterfalls are fairly simple to climb with the trail getting more difficult ahead of you. It can be difficult to maintain the trail as the rocks are covered in moss during monsoon. Move to the side of the forest while climbing this waterfall section and avoid climbing on the rocks which will be slippery and can cause serious injuries.
Once you reach the main Hidlumane waterfall, turn right into the dense forest and continue on this trail for half an hour and you arrive at a jeep track.
From the jeep track, there are two trails, one heading east and the other heading west. The trail towards east will take you to a sunrise point which is around 20 minutes away. You can explore this if you wish to or directly head west to the PWD Guest House. The Guest House is 1.5 hours away. Enjoy this section as you witness a vast expanse of grassland and lush green hills around you.
Take a break at the base of Kodachadri and have some food to recharge yourselves. You can also request the PWD Guest House to prepare lunch for you prior to your arrival.
From the Guest House, the trail to the top of Kodachadri is clearly laid out. You will see a small checkpost with a wooden gate which you have to cross. Please note that camping is not allowed beyond this point.
The trail gradually ascends all the way to the top. Around 15 minutes into your ascent you will see the path diverting to either side. Take the trail on your right. The trail on the left will take you to another sunrise point.
The trail to the top is a ridge walk with a drop into the valley on your left. This section can be a bit tricky given that it is covered in thick fog at times. Ensure you maintain your path and do not venture to the left.
After trekking for around 20 minutes you will arrive at the top of Kodachadri. A small diversion before the top will take you to a cave and an age-old temple. You can explore these bits if you wish to.
From the top, you get aerial views of Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding hills covered in thick vegetation or grass. It’s a breathtaking sight so take your time to soak it in!
Once you have enjoyed the views to your heart’s content, head back to the Guest House for the night. Get ample rest to recover from your adventure filled day.
The next morning, you can follow the jeep track and go back to Kattinahole or take a jeep back to Nittur. Alternatively, you can trek to the base village of Vallur.
If you wish to take the route to Vallur, wake up early and catch the sunrise from one of the sunrise points.
You will see a narrow trail descending to your left a little ahead of the diversion after PWD Guest House. You can ask someone there for guidance if you have difficulty finding the trail.
This trail takes you through forests and clearings of lush green grasslands. Follow the trail through multiple clearings and dense forest cover. Continue on this trail which takes you further down into thick forest cover. The forest section here is extremely dense and the experience of trekking through it is one of a kind. The dense tree cover forms a canopy over you with very little sunlight coming through. The trail is well demarcated all the way to Vallur.
After 1.5 hours of descending, you reach the end of the forest section and arrive at Vallur. There are a few shops and a small hotel here if you want to have some refreshments. Before you heave a sigh of relief, the adventure is not over yet. There are no vehicles from here to the main road. It is a 5.5 km walk through a muddy and broken road path that will take you to the road head. From here, you can take a bus towards Kollur. You might have to wait for some time before you get a bus.
Highlights: Things to Look Forward to on This Trail
1. Trek through Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
A majority of the Kodachadri trek is through the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary which is rich in flora and fauna. The forest is covered in thick vegetation and trees which are home to a number of birds including the Hornbill!
2. Hidlumane Waterfall
This combination of seven waterfalls cascading over rocks and overgrown roots of trees is a beautiful sight. What’s better? You will be trekking through the waterfall! Exciting and challenging at the same time, this trek through the waterfall remains one of the main highlights of this trek.
3. Spectacular Views of the Sunset
The sunrise points on the trail offer some of the best sunrise views in the Western Ghats. The glow of different colours as the sun pierces through the clouds makes for a captivating sight that will leave you gaping at it for a long time.
Challenges: Things to be Prepared For on This Trail
1. Climbing Up the Hidlumane Falls
It is no child’s play to trek up a waterfall. Climbing up these falls can be even more challenging in the monsoon given the heavy flow of water and the slippery nature of the rocks.
2. Leeches on the Trail
Leeches can be found in abundance in the forest sections on this trail. The climate here is humid and the rainforest-like conditions make it the perfect home for leeches. Carry salt and wear gaiters to protect yourself against them.
3. Long Nature of the Trail
The trail from Nittur to Vallur covers a total distance of 20 kms spread across two days. This is quite a long journey through the hills and is challenging even for trekkers with some prior trekking experience.
Difficulty Level and the Bikat Rating Scale
Kodachadri is a level 2 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.
About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.
According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what to expect on a trek, a trek rated one will be a good place to start.
If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.
A beginner who is sure of their fitness level on the other hand is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.
From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.
Best Time to do the Kodachadri Trek
The best time to do this trek is during the post monsoon and winter months between October to February. The beauty of the forests and grasslands is brought out during the post monsoon months with the lush green colour dominating the scenery. Winter months offer clear views of the surrounding mountains and the valleys below.
The summer months offer a different experience with the shade of brown taking over and extremely hot temperatures making it difficult to do the trek.
This region sees heavy rainfall during the monsoon months which makes the trek even more challenging.
How to Reach the Base
Nittur can be reached by a private vehicle or by public transport.
If you are reaching by public transport, there are regular KSRTC buses that ply from Bangalore to Kollur. You can ask to be dropped off at Nittur or Sigandur bus stops. Even better if they agree to drop you at Marakutuka bus stop. The bus will take 8-9 hours to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kodachadri Trek
1. Is there network connectivity on the trek?
The network connectivity on this trek is very poor and close to none. You might get a patchy network from BSNL but that’s about it.
2. Are there food stalls on the trail?
There are no food sources on the trail. You can request the PWD Guest House to arrange some food for you. It is advisable to carry your own food from Nittur or some protein bars, nuts and ready to make food packets from Bangalore. Fill your bottles in Nittur and you can refill them at Hidlumane Falls or at the PWD Guest House.
3. Do I need a permit for this trek?
Yes, you are required to obtain permissions beforehand for the Kodachadri trek. You can visit this website for permissions:
https://kudremukhanationalpark.in/?page_id=709
Camping is not allowed on the Kodachadri trek.
4. What are the stay options available to me?
You stay at the PWD Guest House by making a reservation prior to your arrival. This can be booked via the Karnataka Tourism Department. Contact: 9480175032.
5. How long does the trek take?
The trek can be covered over 2 days if you are following the route from Nittur to Vallur.
6. Is this trek for beginners?
No, this trek is not for beginners and warrants prior trekking experience. It is a moderate level trek and will test your endurance.
That’s all about the Kodachadri trek! Should you wish to know more or need help planning your weekend adventure to the Western Ghats, please feel free to reach out to our team.
