Agumbe, Mountain village in Shimoga District, India
Agumbe is a mountain village in Shimoga District, part of the Western Ghats range, sitting around 650 meters above sea level in a zone of dense tropical rainforest. The settlement occupies one of the wettest areas in India, which explains the thick greenery all around.
A temple from the 14th century stands in the village and shows the building style of the Hoysala period, with a staircase of over 100 steps. The region later became a research site for tropical rainforests, documenting plants and animal species for decades.
Local residents maintain traditional agricultural practices, cultivating rice and areca nuts while preserving the surrounding rainforest ecosystem.
The area is accessible via winding roads that can become slippery during heavy rain, so hiking shoes with good grip are advisable. The place works well as a starting point for forest walks, where you may encounter wet paths and slippery rocks.
From certain spots you can watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea in the evening, even though the ocean lies more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) away. The rainforest research station has a small museum displaying snakes and other reptiles from the region.
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