The Kodachadri hill is a Natural Heritage Site, which is part of the Western Ghats and forms a lovely backdrop to the famous Kollur Mookambika Temple. Famed for its glorious sunrises and sunsets, this hill range is part of the Mookambika Temple Nature Reserve. The peak of Kodachadri (at an altitude of 1343 m above sea level) can be reached by a five-hour trek. Trekking in Kodachadri hill with friends or as a bunch of solo travellers can be an adventurous and spiritual experience. On the western side, the hill descends steeply for about 1220 m, meeting the forests of Udupi district. The trek up to the ancient temple from this point involves a climb of 4 km through thick jungle trails. Kollur is an ideal base from which to explore the hills.The name Kodachadri is derived from Sanskrit language word Kutaja, meaning Jasmine of the Hills.
Things to do at Natural Heritage Site – Kodachadri Hills:
- Visit Ganesha Guha and Sarvanja Peetha on top of the peak, where Saint Adi Shankaracharya is said to have meditated. Ganesha Guha is a mysterious cave enroute to trekker trails and an ancient idol of Lord Ganesha can be found within the cave.
- Trek to Hidlumane waterfalls, 5 kms from Kodachadri. Tucked away within the reserve forest, an adventurous trek to Hidlumane Waterfalls will help you reconnect with the natures abundance.
- Enjoy the trek and sunset. On a clear day you might be able to see Arabian Sea at a distance as well as Kollur town.
- Arasinagundi Falls (6KM from Kollur), Belakallu Theertha, Nagara Fort
How to reach Kodachadri Hills:
To reach Kodachadri one should arrive at Kollur town. Kollur is 130 kms from Mangaluru (nearest airport) and 430 kms from Bengaluru. Several private buses operate all through the day between Mangaluru and Kollur. Byndoor Mookambika Road train station is 20 kms from Kollur.
From Kollur visitors can reach Kodachadri hiring 4×4 jeeps available for rent. The last few kms of the hill roads are notoriously dangerous and unsuitable for normal vehicles. Only well experienced local drivers in their 4×4 jeeps ferry tourists up and down the hill for a nominal fee. Experienced bike riders also manage to ride till top of the hill. It is also possible to reach nearby towns of Nitturu using their own vehicles or public transport and from Nitturu hike up the hill to reach Kodachadri. For safety reasons solo travel is not recommended, hiring a local guide and trekking in groups is advised. Beware of leeches and slippery surfaces during monsoon.
Best time to visit Kodachadri is after the monsoon seasons (October till May).
Places to visit near Kodachadri Hills: Nagara Fort (30 kms), Kollur Mookambika Temple (37 kms), Sigandur Temple (51 kms) and Jog Falls (100 kms) are the nearby attractions that can be visited along with Kodachadri.
Places which can also be covered include cities like Mangalore, Udupi, Maravanthe, Kollur, St’ Mary’s Island.
Places to stay near Kodachadri Hills:
There are no stay options on top of Kodachadri. Jungle Lodges & Resorts runs Anejhari butterfly Camp near Kollur (37 kms from Kodachadri) offering tented cottages. Budget hotels and homestays are available in the nearby town of Kolluru.