KUDUREMUKHA

Kuduremukha is a mountain range and name of a peak located in Chikkamagaluru district, in Karnataka, India. It is also the name of a small hill station cum mining town situated near the mountain, about 48 kilometres from Karkala and around 20 kilometres from Kalasa. The name Kuduremukha literally means 'horse-face' (in the Kannada language) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles a horse's face. It was also referred to as 'Samseparvata', historically since it was approached from Samse village. Kuduremukh is Karnataka's 3rd highest peak after Mullayangiri and Baba Budangiri. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport at Mangalore which is at distance of 99 kilometres.

Known for its bio-diversity and mineral wealth, Kudremukh is located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. In Kannada, Kudremukh means ‘horse’s face’ and the place gets its name from a peak that resembles the face of a horse. The beautiful landscapes of Kurdremukh are a big crowd puller.

There are dense forests around the town and wildlife spotting is popular, even though the forest cover makes it difficult to spot animals easily. You need to go deep in the jungle to catch a glimpse of the wildlife. Three vital rivers — Bhadra, Nethravati and Tunga — originate from the region.

Trekking along the well-established trails lead to the point of origin of these rivers. The trekking trails through dense forests and tropical riverbeds with varying degrees of difficulty attract those seeking an adrenaline rush. You can see rare orchids and enjoy the fresh mountain air as you explore the grassland. The Kudremukh range of mountains was declared a national park in 1987. You need to have prior permission and a licensed guide to trek the summit.

The Kudremukh National Park is the second largest protected region in the Western Ghats that is spread over an area spanning 600 sq km. The region is home to langurs, macaques, barking deer, malabar giant squirrels and chitals. Leopards, tigers, jackals and wild dogs have also been spotted here. The best time to visit Kudremukh is between October and February. The region in and around Kudremukh receives about 7,000 mm of rainfall per year.

With five sacred ponds located near the town — Amba Teertha, Naga Teertha, Vasishtha Teertha, Rudra Teertha and Varaha Teertha — Kudremukh is also a popular pilgrimage. Hanuman Gundi is a famous waterfall the checkout here.

Trekking in Kudremukh

Trekking to the Kudremukh peak is permitted from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm (as per forest rules). The Lakya Dam there is drained most of the time and is not a very interesting place to visit. Hanuman Gundi Waterfalls, on the other hand, is a good place to visit; however, entry is allowed only from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please note that if you are found wandering in the forest near the peak in the late hours without a guide or a local accompanying you, forest officers have the authority to detain you.
The locals of Kudremukh can be approached for any help and they are also very hospitable. Littering is prohibited everywhere in the Kudremukh area and in the mountains. If you are found littering while trekking you could be penalized. There are about 13 trekking routes in Kudremukh ranging from easy to tough. The well-known ones are:
1.     Samse - Kudremukh - Samse. The duration of this trek is around 4 days and 3 nights and it covers a total distance of about 40 km.
2.     Navoor - Hevala - Kudremukh - Navoor. The duration of this trek is around 5 days and 4 nights and it covers a total distance of about 60 km.
3.     Navoor - Kudremukh - Samse. The duration of this trek is around 5 days and 4 nights and it covers a total distance of about 50 km.
4.     Horanaadu - Sringeri. The duration of this trek is around 3 days and 2 nights and it covers a total distance of about 30 km.

5.     The Nature Camp in Kudremukh is one of the many beautiful places to stay.




Hanumana Gundi Waterfalls

Located 32 km (20 mi) from Kalasa, the waterfall spills onto natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet (30 m). Getting to the falls involves some trekking. The best time to visit the falls is between October and May.


STAY IN KUDREMUKH
At Kudremukh, the government provides shelter which includes tents and cottages. It is advisable to reserve well in advance before visiting the town. In recent times, some people have opened home stays and guest houses.
FOOD FACILITY IN KUDREMUKH
It is best to carry meals while visiting Kudremukh since there are no restaurants except a few streets stalls that sell snacks and refreshments.
Distance from Bangalore to Kudremukh
The distance between Bangalore and Kudremukh is 331.1 km and it can be covered in 6 to 8 hours depending on the route taken and the flow of traffic. There are 3 routes that one can choose from to reach Kudremukh from Bangalore. The shortest route includes driving through NH 48. You have to take Rajbhavan Road and Chowdaiah Road/Sankeys Road to CV Raman Road in Kodandarampura. Then drive from NH 48 to Doddamandiganahalli. Follow Belur Road to NH234. Follow NH234 to SH 66 in Attigere. Take SH 106 and SH 66 to your destination in Kuduremukh. An alternate route goes via NH 4. The longest route includes driving through NH4 and SH 65.

You might also like to visit Hoggenakal Falls just 180km from Bengaluru



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Location: Kuduremukha, Karnataka, India

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