Chikkamagaluru, Hill station city in Karnataka, India
Chikkamagaluru is a city in Karnataka, India, sitting at roughly 1,036 meters (3,400 feet) above sea level within the Western Ghats mountain range. Green hills and rainforest cover much of the surrounding land, shaping the layout of streets and neighborhoods that climb across different elevations.
A saint named Baba Budan brought coffee seeds from Arabia to these hills in the 17th century, establishing coffee growing in India. The plantations grew over the centuries and changed the land around the city in ways still visible today.
The region maintains strong connections to coffee production, with numerous estates spread across the hills producing high-grade Indian coffee beans.
National Highway 173 connects the city to Mangalore on the coast, while State Highway 57 leads to Mysore and Shimoga. Buses and cars use these roads regularly, though the drive passes through hilly terrain with tight curves and changing weather conditions.
The highest point in Karnataka, Mullayanagiri peak, rises north of the city to 1,925 meters (6,316 feet). Hikers reach the summit along a narrow trail often wrapped in mist, offering wide views over the surrounding mountains.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.