Road Trip to Mullayanagiri Peak Chikmagalur
Mullayanagiri Peak is one of the best hiking destinations from Bangalore. I have often satiated my weekend travel urges with a drive to Chikmagalur, 243km west of Bangalore.
Chikmagalur makes an ideal base for indulging in various other adventure and touristy activities. There are several Hoyasala temples in its vicinity.
We visited temples like: Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Javagal, Yoga Narasimha Temple in Baggavalli.
Road Trip to Mullayanagiri Peak
For once we decided to do a road trip to Mullayanagiri Peak.
Before proceeding for Chikmagalur we had done good study of weather in Chikmagalur, courtesy Google. The prediction was pleasant and sunny.
Within city limits it was indeed dry and pleasant, but as we drove up the Mullayanagiri peak we started experiencing light drizzle, soon it was raining.
Road Trip to Mullayanagiri Peak
It was like driving into the unknown. Visibility dropped below 10m. While it was not raining hard, nor was there any thunder showers; no roaring winds too. It was mist or the clouds decided to hang too low.
Just the drizzle and the temperature too dipped so much that we had to pull out the shawls. Worried parents bundled their little ones in colorful warm jackets.
We had to be extremely slow and careful in the twists and turns of the road. The roads are narrow and old, they were breaking of from the edges, so take care on those roads, till new ones are built. Mist all around provides one with good fodder for photography no doubt, but I yearned to see the sky at least between the branches.
Hiking the Mullayanagiri Peak
Mullayanagiri Peak is the highest one in Karnataka. It belongs to the chain of hills in Chandra Dhrona Hill Range of Western Ghats of district Chikkamagaluru. I expected no tourists around at the summit; I mean who travels in such a beautiful weather! But I was surprised to see good crowd there warming themselves with a cup of tea and munching on choice snacks. The little shops there were making good sales.
There are several local groups which offer to conduct the trek to the summit of Mullayanagiri. Young crowd from IT companies of Bangalore often head to this destination for weekends. And that day was no different. I have several of my pictures dotted with their heads! You can trek all 4km up the hill or drive up half the way and take stairs till the peak. I chose to do the second option. We availed the jeep service after driving up some distance. (It is advisable to master hill driving skills before you embark on this narrow winding road.)
Bangalore to Mullayanagiri Peak
Bangalore to Mullayanagiri Peak distance – 265km. Best option would be to halt at Chikmagalur and start early to hike up the peak. If you can reach before sunrise you can feast your eyes on some glorious views of the sun rising there. Chikmagalur to Mullayanagiri Peak distance – 22km and takes approximately an hour. But on that misty day it took double the time.
Beautifully done!!!
this is beautiful. refreshed some old memories of the same place we had last year
I have been to Mullayangiri peak during the same kind of weather. Dangerous but adventurous at the time. 🙂 Very beautiful.
That looks like one adventurous drive. There's a lot of mystery to these captures…
The mist actually beautifies the whole picture here!
it is a great place and driving in those curves is fun… Been there twice
Misty roads look inviting. Wish you had written more about Mullayangiri.
Been there, treacherous ghats but breathtaking view 🙂
This could have been from Bergen in Norway where I live. We are known for all the rain 🙂
I like these misty shots, Indrani. I like the way the photo fades into the background.
The misty fog is pretty but dangerous to drive in! Lovely images. Have a happy day!
beautiful mysterious mist!
The fog is a wonderful filter.
What a beautifully winding road. Gray clouds and mist right out there for you to touch! Must be a difficult drive though!
We have to drive on roads like this fairly often during bad weather. But at least you got some neat pictures. I'm glad you had a safe trip.
Wow, beautiful…
Awesome pictures..
Ha ha ha, you never can trust in Google!!!!!!
Beautiful!
beautiful
Lovely Misty Captures..I really enjoy this type of weather…
The mist makes for a nice photo but I know from experience that Indian roads are challenge enough even in sunny weather….
Awesome captures on the mist weather… love the ambiance spread over there.
such a soothing atmosphere always delight to travel
Looks like November in Belgium !
Driving along winding, twisting roads while it is raining is always nerve-wracking to me. But the rain and mist made for wonderfully atmospheric photos.
Zero visibility and you drove on! Great! I love pictures with mist.
Looks great………….
A trek to this place is long time pending. May be this October we should conquer this peak.
The mist makes it look mystical, eerie but beautiful at the same time. Nice pics.
It's beautiful… We're starved for misty days here in pune. Looks lovely and smells wonderful too, isn't it
The mist and all looks great but makes driving dangerous specially on hilly areas.
Regards
Love those misty roads, how beautiful!
So Beautiful
Looks lovely!!
The misty shots are nice but I'm sorry you didn't get any blue skies.
i love long road trips in this condition. very relaxing and romantic.
Ah, gray, foggy skies!! Looks like here in the northwest US once Autumn arrives! You have captured the fog so beautifully, Incrani! Wonderful shots for the day! Hope you have a lovely weekend!
dangerous for driving, but so beautiful!