Kudremukh Tourist guide - Horse Face Hill Destination in India

Kudremukh Tourist guide: Overview

A popular hill station among the Bangalore crowd, Kudremukh is actually a hill range in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. It is the largest reserve of a tropical wet evergreen forest in Karnataka.  The broad hills are chained to one another with deep valleys and steep precipices. As yet undiscovered by tourists, Kudremukh is a secluded hill station which retains much of its pristine and natural beauty.

There are many caves and mountain treks still left unexplored in the hill station of Kudremukh. It is trekkers delight to trace out new paths to reach the summit.

What is unique about Kudremukh and why?

Kemmanagundi is the gateway to the famous Mullayanagiri trek which is the highest peak in Karnataka with an altitude of 6330 feet above the sea level. It attracts adventure-loving hikers in huge numbers for exploring its unchartered territory.

The word “Kudremukh” means “horse face” and the side of the mountain resembles the shape of a horse face, hence the name. The peak is also mentioned in the historical pages as ‘Samseparvata” as it is close to Samse (Village). With the promise of a picturesque view of a mountain in the shape of a horse face, Kudremukh is famous for its biodiversity and scenic beauty.

Hotels in Kudremukh

Standard Hotel: Hotel Rest Inn – TA Rank (3.0) – Certificate of Excellence

Deluxe Hotel: Mountain Valley Homestay - TA Rank (4.0) – Certificate of Excellence

Luxury Hotel: The Serai Chickmagalur - TA Rank (4.5) – Certificate of Excellence

Kudremukh Famous For

Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) is a government run company which was mining iron ore from the Kudremukh hills. KIOCL conducted its operations on an area of 4,604.55 ha for over 20 years. The ore is pelletised in the pelletisation plant. The pellets are shipped to countries like China, Iran, Japan, and Taiwan. The pellet plant with a capacity of 3 million tons per annum was commissioned at Mangalore in 1987. The Kudremukh mine is one of the largest iron ore mines in the world. The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. in Mangalore

The administrative activities of KIOCL are carried out from Bangalore. The mining takes place at western ghats at Kudremukh. The mined ore is transported through water pipelines running through the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada up to the plant in Panambur, adjacent to the premises of New Mangalore Port in Mangalore. The ore is pelletised in the pelletisation plant. The pellets are shipped to countries like China, Iran, Japan, and Taiwan, Later on the capacity was increased to 4 million tons per year.

Best time to visit Kudremukh National Park

1. The forests are lush green between October and May.

2. To watch the wildlife the ideal time is between December and February.

Accommodation

You can get good accommodation Forest Rest Houses inside the park. Accommodations are also available at Kalasa, Sringeri and Karkala.

Distance from Kudremukh National Park

1. Bangalore: 360 km

2. Mangalore: 130 km

3. Chikmagalur: 95 km

4. Sringeri: 20 km

5. Kalasa: 20 km

6. Karkala: 50 km

7. Mudigere: 75 km

Bangalore to Kudremukh bus fare

Kudremukh is situated at a distance of 350 km from Bangalore. A mountain peak that looks like the face of a horse, Kudremukh is connected to Bangalore by air, road and rail. Kudremukh is well connected by both state-run and private buses from various cities and towns. KSRTC runs buses to this region from all major cities. The nearest major town is Kalasa. Nightly buses depart from Bangalore to Kalasa, from where you can take a local transport to get to Kudremukh. There is no direct bus connectivity from Mangalore to Kalasa

How to Reach Kudermukh

By Flight:  Best to visit through convenient way. The nearest airport is at Mangalore, which is 130 km away. Bangalore International Airport, 350 km from the Kudremukh is well connected with all major airports in the country.

By Train: The nearest train station is at Mangalore, 130 km from Kudremukh.

By Road: Kudremukh is well-connected by a network of roads to Mangalore, Chikmagalur and Sringeri.

Best time to visit Kudermukh

Summers in the region start in March and last till May. It is the best time to visit Kudremukh for those having passion for trekking. One can also spot various animals as well during this season. The average temperature ranges around 32 degrees Celsius and at times also reaches up to 37 degrees Celsius.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kudremukh

There aren't too many options for food and cuisine in the area. However one can find a few resorts, restaurants and local dhabas serving some delicious South-Indian food.

Chandan Hotel: It is good place to stay as well as have your meals. You get all kinds of South Indian as well as North Indian preparations here.

Silent Valley Restaurants: The food at the Silent Valley Restaurant is absolutely delicious. The prompt and courteous service of the staff sure makes dining here a pleasant experience.

Shopping in Kudremukh

Shopping in Kudremukh is all about buying freshly made coffee powder and tea leaves. You can even buy the best quality spices at a reasonable price. Visit the local shops to buy the same.

Festivals and Events in Kudremukh

The most important festival of Kudremukh is the Karavali Festival that is held in the month of February. During the festival, various dance forms are performed by the locals such as the demon worship, demon dance and Nagamandala. Navratri festival that falls in the month of December is also celebrated here with great enthusiasm.