How To Reach Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur is a charming little town located in the lush Malenadu region, on the foothills of the Mullayanagari hill. The Mullayanagari which is a branch of the Chandra Drona Ranges of the Western Ghats, is the highest peak in Karnataka and one of the most beautiful  and verdant regions of the state, which is also considered tourist trendy and suitable for even weekend getaways. Chikmagalur town is about 3,580 ft above mean sea level.

The easiest way to travel to Chikmagalur would be by train.

The nearest airport is the Bajpe Airport at Mangalore. Mangalore serves flights from cities like Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mumbai and Hyderabad. From Mangalore airport you can hire a one way cab to Chikmagalur. You could also hire a car pool, if on a budget trip. Otherwise you can hop into a KSRTC bus from Mangalore to Chikmagalur. Mangalore airport is about 157 km from Chikmagalur. 

Chikmagalur does not have a railway station. You could deboard at towns like Birur (49 km) or Kadur (41 km). These are the closest railway stations to Chikmagalur. There are quite a number of trains from Bengaluru that halt at either of these stations. Jan Shatabdhi stops at Birur, while the Intercity halts at Kadur. From the rail station you can get a private or KSRTC bus or a cab to Chikmagalur. You could get taxis outside the stations that could take you to Chikmagalur. You can plan for a day train, so that you reach Chikmagalur before nightfall.

There are private and government run KSRTC buses that can take you to Chikmagalur from major cities like Mangalore, Bengaluru or Mysore. Tourists also prefer to drive to Chikmagalur from Bengaluru, for there are three routes to choose from, each one offering a drive via beautiful ghat roads, lakes and monuments that are bound to keep you spellbound. Bengaluru is about 240 km from Chikmagalur, while Mysore is 178 km away.

Chikmagalur’s hilly terrain finds public buses to be the most common and easiest mode of transport. You can rely on buses to take you around the town or to nearby tourist places. You could also make use of auto rickshaws or tourist taxis. There are jeeps that can be used to visit the plantations. If you’re staying in a resort, they could arrange for a cab for your tour around town.