Like many, I’d heard that Coorg getting referred as “Scotland of India.”
Coorg, the crown jewel of Karnataka and everyone loves it. It’s that shiny Instagram-ready hill station of India adorned with misty hills, sprawling coffee estates, and waterfalls.
Whenever the question of weekend getaway from Bangalore is raised, the first answer recommended by most people is Coorg.
But instead of selecting the ever-popular Coorg getaway, I decided to go to Chikkamagalur.
Chikkamagalur is the silent underdog of coffee regions—less hype, fewer hashtags, better stories.
Table of Contents
Logistics from Bengaluru
Distance from Bengaluru – Approximately 250 km
Expected Travel Time – 4 to 5 hours ( if you manage to get out of Bengaluru traffic 😂)
Mode of Transport from Bengaluru-
1) Bus is best & economical if you are a solo traveler or you can even hire a good bike from Bengaluru itself. One way Bus ticket can cost around Rs 500 to Rs 1000 depending upon whether its seater or sleeper. Scooter can be rented in Bengaluru for approximately Rs 350 to Rs 500 per day while motorbikes can be rented for Rs 1000 per day.
2) For those who are in group, rented cab or self drive cars would be the best option.
Mode of Transport to get around in Chikkamagalur if you have reached by bus – Rented Scooter/Bike are readily available in Chikkamagalur.
One thousand year old surprise on the way to Chikkamagalur
On the way to Chikkamagalur, there’s more than coffee-scented air and winding hills. You might just run into a thousand-year-old surprise.
The Hoysala temples scattered along the route are living museums of stone, each one whispering tales of kings, artisans, and devotion.
Places like Halebidu and Belur showcase the unmatched artistry of the Hoysala dynasty, with intricately carved pillars, star-shaped platforms, and sculptures so detailed they feel alive.
Stepping into these temples is like stepping into another era. The symmetry of the architecture, the storytelling etched in stone, and the serene atmosphere make you linger longer than planned. What’s most striking is how these monuments blend seamlessly with the countryside. Ancient grandeur is surrounded by green fields and quiet villages.
When I went to Hoysala temple, the first thing which captured my mind was it’s thousand year old beautifully sculpted Gatekeeper.
Hands down! It was the most beautiful sculpture which I ever saw. It was broken but seemed to be alive and I decided to write a poem on this thousand year old Gatekeeper.
The Guardian of Hoysala – My watch never ends!
A journey to Chikkamagalur is often about coffee and hills, but pausing for these timeless wonders adds soul to the trip. After all, some detours are worth a thousand years.
Stay Options available in Chikkamagalur
If coffee had a kingdom, Chikkamagaluru would be its royal palace—and the stays here are as delightful as the first sip of filter kaapi.
From homestays tucked into misty hills to luxury resorts you’re spoiled for choice.
Homestays are the crowd favorite. Think “grandma’s house,” but with Wi-Fi and better views. You’ll be fed enough neer dosas to start questioning your waistband, and the hosts treat you like long-lost cousins who finally remembered to visit.
For the “I came here to Instagram, not to struggle” tribe, there are boutique resorts. Infinity pools staring into coffee plantations, breakfast served with the precision of a barista championship, and rooms that make you wonder if you should start living there permanently (until you see the bill).
Budget traveler? Fear not. Chikkamagaluru has guesthouses and hostels where the tariff is friendlier than your college roommate.
Sure, the décor might scream “retro,” but who cares when the hills outside look straight out of a Windows wallpaper?
In short: whether you’re a broke backpacker or a spa enthusiast, Chikkamagaluru has a pillow with your name on it—coffee included, of course.
The Beautiful Cozy Cafe which outsmarted your Camera : Cafe Tatva
If you think heaven smells like filter coffee, then welcome to Chikkamagalur!
It’s the place where even the air seems slightly caffeinated. And tucked among its emerald-green estates is Café Tatva, quite possibly the most beautiful spot you’ll ever sip an overpriced cappuccino and still feel it was worth it.
Picture this: Café Tatva perched with panoramic views of rolling plantations, its wooden interiors blending so effortlessly with glass walls that you wonder if nature itself signed the design contract. You settle in, and suddenly you’re not just having coffee but you’re starring in a cinematic slow-travel documentary, waiting for a drone to capture your latte art from above.
The menu? Oh, it’s basically a fan letter to coffee. And if you’re one of those rare unicorns who doesn’t like coffee (scandalous, but we’ll allow it), there’s hot chocolate, teas, and snacks that disappear off your plate faster than you can pretend you’re sharing.
But what truly makes Café Tatva magical is its backdrop. You sip, and the mist rolls in like it’s auditioning for a Bollywood romance scene.
By the time you leave, you’ll have Googled “How to quit job and open a café in Chikkamagalur” at least once. Don’t worry, you’re not the first, and definitely not the last.
That’s the Café Tatva effect: it doesn’t just serve coffee; it brews nostalgia, wanderlust, and just a tiny pinch of delusion that life’s biggest problems can be solved with one more espresso.
So, if you’re hunting for the most beautiful café in Chikkamagalur, skip the suspense and head to Café Tatva.
Just don’t be surprised if you fall in love with this Cafe.
The mesmerizing esmerizing Jhari Waterfall
If there’s one thing Chikkamagalur does better than coffee (and that’s saying a lot), it’s waterfalls.
Chikkamagalur is literally a waterfall heaven. Many waterfalls adorn this place. You are literally spoilt for a choice. I chose to visit Jhari Waterfall.
Reaching it is half the adventure. The road leading to Jhari politely stops midway, and from there you either hire a sturdy jeep or risk testing your car’s insurance policy.
Pro tip: take the jeep. The bumpy ride is less “commute” and more “roller coaster engineered by nature.” Jeep ride costs Rs 800 for 6 people for two way ticket.
After the jeep leaves at the stop, you have to walk around 500 metres to reach the Jhari Waterfall.
When you finally arrive, Jhari greets you with a curtain of water plunging dramatically from a height of about 100 feet.
Stand under it, and congratulations as you’ve just signed up for the most intense spa treatment of your life. Forget aromatherapy; this is aqua-therapy.
But here’s the charm: as you’re shivering, squealing, and trying to hold your balance, you realize this is exactly why you came. The cool mist, the echo of water hitting rocks, and the endless greenery wrapping around you like nature’s oversized quilt and suddenly, the chaos of city life feels like a bad dream.
Of course, your friends will be too busy taking “candid” pictures of you screaming under the falls to notice your enlightenment. And by the time you’re dry, you’ll already be plotting your return trip, because no shower at home, no matter how fancy, ever feels this dramatic.
Shola Grasslands, Chikkamagalur: Nature’s Green Carpet (With a Queue)
On paper, the Shola Grasslands sound like a dream: rolling green hills, mist that drapes itself like chiffon, and silence so soothing it could double as therapy. In reality? Well, let’s just say the grasslands might need a signboard that reads, “Welcome to the Waiting Room of Nature.”
The Baba Budangiri and Mullayanagiri meadows themselves are gorgeous—soft, bouncy, and dramatic enough to make you feel like the hero of a nature documentary. The problem? Everyone else in Karnataka had the same idea on the same weekend.
You imagine walking in solitude, only to find yourself in what looks suspiciously like a trekking version of a crowded metro. Someone’s clicking endless selfies, another is yelling on the phone, and there’s always that one overexcited uncle talking loudly.
Climbing up, you’ll find the views genuinely breathtaking. By the time you reach the top, you’re rewarded with panoramas so lovely they almost make you forget the line of tourists already forming behind you to take the same photo.
Would I call it beautiful? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Only if you enjoy background noise with your greenery. The Shola Grasslands are best admired in photos, postcards, or the quiet corners of your imagination. If peace and solitude are what you’re after, you’re better off sipping estate coffee in a café or exploring less-popular trails where the loudest sound is your own wheezing.
So yes, the Baba Budangiri and Mullayanagiri grasslands are gorgeous, but like a blockbuster movie on opening night, they’re best appreciated when the crowds have left.
What to Smuggle Home (Legally) from Chikkamagalur
Oh, that’s a fun one! Chikkamagalur isn’t just about sipping coffee and pretending you’re in a travel ad—it’s also about going home with goodies that make your friends jealous (and slightly suspicious of how much you spent). Here are some souvenirs worth stuffing into your bag:
- Coffee, obviously ☕
This is the birthplace of coffee in India. You can grab plantation-fresh beans or powder—filter coffee blends, Arabica, Robusta, even special estate brews. Buy enough to convince yourself you’ll start making pour-overs at home… then give up and stick to instant. - Spices 🌿
Pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg—straight from the plantations. These aren’t the dusty jars from your supermarket; these spices smell so strong they’ll bully your kitchen into smelling like a five-star restaurant. - Lemon Pepper Pickle – Zesty and fiery, like bottled sunshine with a kick.
- Fresh Pepper Pickle – Bold enough to wake your tastebuds at 7 a.m.
- Gongura Pickle – Tangy, spicy, and addictive; a true South Indian classic.
- Podi Masala & Puliyogre Mix
- Because life is too short for bland rice. One sprinkle of podi or a spoon of puliyogre mix, and suddenly lunch feels like a festival.
Pack wisely because you don’t want to explain to airport security why your bag smells like coffee, chocolate, and a spice bazaar all at once.
Conclusion: Why “Selective Travel” Matters
In a world that says “Go where everyone goes,” I found deep joy in doing the opposite. Chikkamagalur wasn’t my Plan B—it was a richer, more soulful Plan A.
I returned home with:
A camera full of emerald hills and secret falls.
A jar of filter coffee , some fresh spices and offcourse tasty pickles and sense of calm that stayed long after the trip ended.
If you’re being pulled toward Coorg, follow that call.
But if you’re whispering “What else?” , Chikkamagalur is your answer.
Drop the travel headline, pack spare socks, and go to a homestay with a veranda with steaming coffee and views that speak without shouting.
Thank you for reading my journey. May your own travel tale be guided by curiosity, not convention.
May you always find stories in hidden valleys, one waterfall and one cup of coffee at a time.
