Kemmannagundi

State : Karnataka
Distance : 295 km NW of Bangalore
Journey : by road 6 hrs, by rail 3 hrs + road 1 ¼ hrs
Location : this hill station gazes gown on the rich, coffee-covered slopes of Malnad
Route : NH4 to Nelamangala; NH48 to Hassan via Kunigal; state road to Kemmannagundi via Chikmagalur and the Baba Budanagiri hills

They way to Kemmannagundi is planted with enough compling road signs to waylay innocent tourist into some other seemingly more tempting holiday. But if you stick firmly to your path, skirting the tangential charms of Halebid and Belur, the Chikmagalur coffee estates and the distant road to Kudremukh, you’ll reach a hill that was once preferred by a monarch.

Kemmannagundi is actually a single, secluded hill that’s been successfully posing as a hill station ever since King Krishna Rajendra
Wodeyar IV made it his summer haven in 1932 from the mercurial British, who kept giving and snatching Mysore from his family.

Kemmannagundi’s compact charms-views waterfalls, gardens, all in a day’s work-make it one of the most fun-filled short holidays from Bangalore. Despite the fact that it has few amenities, and food that break the dam on hostel memories, every Saturday morning nuclear families and those loose electrons called college student burst upon this royal getaway that still carries the grand title of Krishna Rajendra Hill Station.

Things to see and do

The 58 km ride from Chikmagalur to Kemmannagundi is like watching a nature programme on a shaky TV screen. Views of sprawling coffee estates shaded with sliver oaks stream through a car window as you bounce along on potholes. This last leg of the journey will really make you appreciate the first sight of the Horticulture Department Guest House. Its thick with flowers that invite you to put you feet up and unwind in the garden over a cup of tea. And if you feel like just lolling you can easily leave all the sightseeing for the next day because a day is all that’s needed to deservingly put on your been there done that T-shirt in Kemmannagundi

Still the 4,705 ft high Krishna Rajendra Hill manages to provide its visitors almost everything a full-fledged hill station does. There’s the Rock Garden within the guest house premises maintained by the Horticulture Department. The Kallahati Falls( 10 km ). Also know as Kallahati Falls, descend from a height of 122 m and are quite Pretty. It’s a lovely place for a picnic lunch. You could take a short trek to the Hebbe Falls ( 8 km )
But don’t attempt swimming here. They are even more spectacular, with the water cascading down from over 500 ft. and then there’s Z Point a good place from which to watch sunsets

Garden timings : 8 am to Noon, 2-6 pm.

Trekking

Mohammed Aseem ( Tel : 9844168948 ) who work for LEAF, an environmental agency. Is the activity coordinator for the Taj in Chikmagalur and also organizes treks, coffee plantation visits and other activities for tourist.

Where to stay

Horticulture Department Guest House
Ph : 08261 – 437126 / 27 / 63
Tariff : Rs 150-500

Nature Nirvana Home Stay
Ph : 08262 – 230959
Tariff : Rs 950

Taj Garden Retreat
Ph : 08262 – 220202 / 04
Tariff : Rs 2500 – 3200

The Planters Court
Ph : 235881 / 85 / 231169
Tariff : Rs 375 – 1100.