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Getting to Chikkamagaluru

Most people drive. The roads from Bengaluru and Mysuru are easy; the one from the coast is beautiful and slow. There is no airport — the nearest railhead is Kadur, about an hour out.

By road

  • From Bengaluru

    245 kmabout 4.5 hours

    via NH75 via Hassan

    The straightforward one — four-lane most of the way. Leaving before 6am clears the city and puts you on the estate roads by mid-morning.

    Directions in Google Maps

  • From Mysuru

    170 kmabout 3.5 hours

    via HD Kote

    Quieter than the Bengaluru road and prettier for the last hour, through plantation country rather than highway.

    Directions in Google Maps

  • From Mangaluru

    160 kmabout 4 hours

    via the Charmadi or Shiradi ghat

    The ghat section is the reason this takes longer than the distance suggests: tight hairpins, frequent lorries, and fog or landslide closures in the monsoon. Drive it in daylight, and check the road is open before you set off between June and September.

    Directions in Google Maps

Tolls and fuel stops change often enough that we do not print them here — your maps app will price the tolls on the day. In the monsoon, check the ghat roads are open before you leave.

By bus and train

KSRTC buses

Karnataka State Road Transport runs services to Chikkamagaluru from Bengaluru and Mysuru, including overnight sleepers. The bus stand is in the middle of town, a short auto ride from most stays.

Fares and departure times come straight from KSRTC — we do not copy them here, because a timetable is only useful if it is today's.

Check times and book on ksrtc.in

Train to Kadur

The nearest railway station is Kadur, roughly an hour from Chikkamagaluru town by road. Take a taxi or a local bus onward — arrange the taxi before you arrive if your train gets in late.

Schedules and tickets on IRCTCTaxi operators for the Kadur run

By air

There is no commercial airport in the district. Fly into Mangaluru (about 4 hours by road) or Bengaluru (about 4.5 hours), and drive or take a bus from there.

A government-approved airstrip for the district has been discussed for some years. We will update this page if and when it carries scheduled flights.

Getting around once you are here

Public transport between villages is thin and the good roads are the small ones. Most visitors hire a cab for the day or rent two wheels.

  • Taxis and jeep hire

    Full-day district hire, airport runs, and jeeps for the forest gates and the rougher estate tracks.

    Local operators

  • Bike and car rental

    Scooters and motorcycles from shops in town, and self-drive cars. Bring your licence — and expect to leave a deposit.

    Rental shops

Self-drive circuits

Three loops that work as a day out from town.

  • Coffee Estate Loop

    80 km

    A half-day out through working plantation country, close enough to town to start late.

    Chikkamagaluru town → Attigundi → Baba Budangiri → Manikyadhara Falls

    Open the route

  • Malnad Highway

    120 km

    The long one, north-west into Koppa and Sringeri. Give it a full day.

    Chikkamagaluru → Balehonnur → Sringeri → Koppa

    Open the route

  • Waterfall Circuit

    60 km

    Best after the rains, when the falls are actually running. Some approaches need a jeep.

    Kemmanagundi → Hebbe Falls → Kallathigiri Falls

    Open the route

Parking, fuel and EV charging

We are still mapping parking at the main viewpoints, petrol pumps on the tourist routes, and the district's growing set of EV chargers. Until then, your maps app is more current than we would be.

Open Chikkamagaluru in Google Maps