Bangalore to Chikmagalur- A Detailed Travel Guide

Bangalore to Chikmagalur is an easy distance of approximately 245 Kms from the National Highway 75.

It is also the fastest route and takes about 4 hours to reach depending on the traffic. It is a perfect destination for 2 days trip from Bangalore.

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The scenic Western Ghats are abundantly sprawled with beatific forests and mountains and many rivers and waterfalls making it an amazingly scenic drive to Chikmagalur.

Bangalore is connected with Chikmagalur via National Highway as well as State Highways. The best route is via NH 75 which is around 243 kms and takes about 4 hours without considering traffic.

This first drive through the NH 75 usually follows this route map and is the shortest distance between Bangalore and Chikmagalur- Bangalore > Yediyur > Channarayapattana > Hassan > Belur > Chikmagalur

The second route map is on NH 75 via NH 73 which is around 247 kms and takes about 5 hours to reach the end destination – Bangalore > Kunigal > Yediyur > Dasarighatta > Arsikere > Chikmagalur

The third route map perhaps is the longest and can be taken if traffic jams are anticipated on the other two popular routes. The distance measures out to be around 298 Kms via NH 48 and takes around 6 hours to reach Chikmagalur - Bangalore > Tumkur > Sira > Hiriyur > Ajjampur > Kadur > Chikmagalur

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If you prefer to take a road trip without needing to think about driving yourself, one of the alternate options is to cover the distance by bus. There are several buses, both public and private that ply between the two cities. Moreover, this is also a more economical option of travel.

Types of Buses and Names- There are several travel options including AC and non AC seater and sleeper buses. Government-run KSRTC buses can be boarded at Kempegowda bus stand, also known as Majestic. There are at least 6 private travel operators in this popular route including Cauvery Travels, VRL Travels, Sri Balaja Travels, Safari Travels, Greenline Travels and Holidays and Himachal Volvo Tour.

Starting Point (Bus Stops)- The buses originate from several convenient pickup points at Bangalore, some of the common boarding points are Majestic, Yeshwantpur Govardhan Theater, Goraguntepalya, Navarang Circle, Jalahalli Cross, Eighth Main Circle Dasarahalli, and Nelamangala Circle.

Timings of buses- Most of the buses leave Bangalore late in the evening, after 6 pm and usually up to midnight.

Number of hours journey- In order to cover the total distance of approximately 250 KM, it can take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours to reach from Bangalore to Chikmagalur, depending upon the number of stops during the trip as well as the traffic and road conditions on the day of travel.

Approximate Fare- The fares start from INR 500 and go all the way to around INR 900 depending upon the type of bus and services offered.

With convenient options, the overnight bus journey tends to be a favourite mode of travel for travellers who prefer to reach Chikmagalur early in the morning. The state run KSRTC buses, especially the multiaxle Airavat Club Class buses are becoming a favoured option by many travellers as these tend to be driven by experienced drivers to assure safety and economical travel. In addition, passengers on these KSRTC buses are provided with blankets and water bottles as well.

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If you want to travel from Bangalore to Chikmagalur on a train journey, there are limited travel options available for you.

Number of trains- There is a single passenger train called Yesvantpur Chikmagalur Fast Passenger (Train Number 56278) that runs on a daily routine, and leaves Yeshwantpur station, which is about 8 KM from central Bangalore at 3.15pm in the afternoon and arrives at Chikmagalur at 10pm on the same day, covering the distance of approximately 245 KM in 6 hours and 45 minutes, with 20 halts at intermediate stations.

Rail connectivity, however, is a whole lot better between Bangalore and Kadur, which is about 40 KM from Chikmagalur. So if you are okay to travel on road from Kadur to Chikmagalur, you can find six to seven trains from Bangalore (Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore City and Yesvantpur stations) to Kadur, most of which will cover the distance of approximately 200 KM in 3 to 4 hours. For additional information on this option, please visit the Indian Railways website.

Nearby Railway Station – The nearest railway station is the Chikmagalur (code name CMGR) and is nearby the main city area or Kadur (code name DRU) which is approximately 40 KM from Chikmagalur.

From nearby Railway station to bus/other modes of transport – The Chikmagalur bus stand is a short distance away from the railway station. It takes less than five minutes to travel from the railway station to the bus stand. In addition, there is an auto-rickshaw stand at the railway station to take you to your desired hotel.

Distance from nearby railway station to Coorg- The distance from Chikmagalur railway station to Coorg is approximately 155 KM.

No. of hours journey- The train journey covers the distance to Chikmagalur within 6 to 8 hours.

Approximate cost- The approximate cost would be INR 250 to INR 300.

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For those who prefer to travel by Air, unfortunately, Chikmagalur being a small town currently doesn’t have an airport that connects with major Indian cities on commercial passenger operations. The nearest airport is at Mangalore, which is approximately 120 KM from Chikmagalur and 3-hour drive away.

However, if you still prefer the air route, you could take one of the several short regional flights from Bangalore to Mangalore, which would take less than an hour and then cover the remaining distance by road, either in a rental car or by bus.

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Located near Channarayapatna of the Hassan district, Shravanabelagola is a historic town and a sought after place for religious devotees and spiritual seekers alike. It has the world’s largest monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, making it one of the first seven wonders of our country.

Located in the Vindhyagiri hills, the calm of the surroundings makes it for a serene place where thousands of monks get together for meditation and to surrender themselves to this sanctuary where they can get deliverance. 

Standing at 57 feet tall, the statue is symbolic of peace and spiritualism. Every 12 years Jains from all over the world get together for the Mahamastakabhisheka where they worship the deity in a huge religious festival. The last one happened in 2006, so the next one to occur is in 2018. It is 12 kms from the Bangalore- Mangalore Highway NH48, 52 Kms from Hassan town and 160 Kms from Bangalore on the way to Chikmagalur.

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Shettihalli Church, or known as the drowning Church of Karnataka, the beauty of this church is that it remains submerged in the backwaters of Hemavathy River throughout the year except for summers, when the water recedes and the Church can be visited by travellers and locals alike.

Built over 450 years ago, the Church’s architecture has Gothic designs and is a beautiful sight to see. Architect lovers and Church lovers both get to see this one of a kind Church in India. It is 22 Kms from Hassan and around 200 Kms from Bangalore. 

The beautiful skeleton of the massive ruins is a photographer’s delight. There is not much to see around here besides the Church, so if you come during the time of Summer, remember to pack yourself a picnic lunch if you want to enjoy some family time or get together with friends and just enjoy the serenity and calm against a great archaeological backdrop.

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Located in The Serai resorts, Odyssey offers multi cuisine menu for its guests and customers. The landscape around the restaurant is beautiful and overlooks the pool which offers a sense of calm. The ambience is cool and contemporary.  The food is a bit pricey but good, with it serving Indian and Asian menu.

Location- The Serai, Mugthihalli Post, KM Road 577133.

-Make sure you don’t book a homestay too deep into the forest during monsoon season. It is known to bear heavy rain falls during monsoon and there is a great likelihood of a landslide. You do not want to get stuck in that.

-If you are a great driver, then all is well. But if not, then do not hesitate to hire a driver for your trip, one who is accustomed to driving on the long windy trails of the mountains.

-Take a sturdy vehicle like an SUV, which will help you navigate well in the Western Ghats.

-While there are quite a few petrol/diesel stations along both routes, it is advisable to plan bio breaks to coincide with food breaks at places such as Cafe Coffee Day, McDonalds, Dominos’, Pizza Hut etc. which you can conveniently find on highways.

-There are several toll roads along the route and it is advisable to keep loose change while making these payments. The highways are good but be prepared to see potholes and poor road conditions intermittently.

-Needless to say, most road trips including this one should be accompanied with Google Maps and driving directions as these can make all the difference towards a happy and safe trip. Be aware to carry both the google maps and the physical map to get the optimum travel distance via road. Sometimes google has a way of taking you through a much longer route. The one positive that you can take away from that, in case you do get stuck in the longer route, is to enjoy the beautiful scenic view.

-Due to the relatively limited number of train options from Bangalore to Chikamagalur, it is advisable to book train tickets as early in advance as possible.

-If your travel plans include train/bus/airfare while traveling and includes staying at hotels and resorts at your destination, and you do not have the luxury of time at hand then the best thing to do it get yourself one of those Bangalore to Pondicherry packages from the travel agencies giving you the best deals possible. Not only do they make an itinerary for you to follow but everything else gets taken care of for you. Your local travel, your entry fees to the attractions and the must to do items also gets checked off.|

-The most important thing that we take for granted while trying to give ourselves this gift of travel is that we forget to relax and be happy. Smile in anticipation of what this journey might mean to you. The trip from Bangalore to Chikamagalur may not be a once in a lifetime opportunity for you, but the memories you make are definitely going to be a lifelong one. Happy Travels.