Day 3 – Kemmannugundi and Kallathi Falls
Date: 4-Oct-14
Today was the final day of our trip. Our plan was to visit Kemmanagundi, Hebbe Falls, and Kallathi Falls before heading back to Bangalore. Since we intended to return directly from there, we checked out of the hotel early in the morning. We woke up at 6:00 AM, packed our bags, got ready, and completed the checkout process by 7:30 AM.
A warm visit before the journey
Before setting out for the day’s sightseeing, we planned to visit my aunt’s home. Fortunately, her house was located not far from our hotel, and we had no difficulty finding it. My aunt and uncle are among the kindest people I know. They were delighted to see us and welcomed us warmly. My aunt had prepared a wonderful breakfast with several dishes, all of which were delicious. She even packed lunch for us to carry along. After spending some quality time with them, we left their home at around 9:00 AM.
The drive to Kemmanagundi
Our first destination was Kemmanagundi and Hebbe Falls, located about 45 km from Chikmagalur town. As expected, the drive to Kemmanagundi was incredibly scenic. Along the way, we passed numerous homestays and sprawling coffee estates, all surrounded by lush greenery. The journey through this beautiful hill station was enjoyable and refreshing. As we approached Kemmanagundi, the last 5 km of road was in poor condition, though it was nowhere near as bad as the road to Baba Budan Giri. Our Nano handled the rough stretch effortlessly.
We had high expectations for Kemmanagundi, but our excitement quickly faded when we reached the entrance. Near the gate, there was a diversion leading to Hebbe Falls. When we asked the security guard for directions, he informed us that access to Hebbe Falls had been closed due to wildlife activity in the area. We were extremely disappointed because Hebbe Falls was one of the main attractions we had planned to visit that day. Since there was no one else around to verify the information, we accepted what the security guard told us and continued towards Kemmanagundi.
Reaching the top
At the main entrance to Kemmanagundi, another security guard instructed us to park our vehicle and walk approximately 2 km to reach the top. However, we could clearly see several vehicles continuing beyond the checkpoint. We were puzzled. Why were some visitors parking and walking while others were driving up? Unfortunately, there was no one available to provide clear directions.
Assuming that walking was the correct option, we began the 2 km walk. Fortunately, the views made the effort worthwhile. Vast green mountains stretched in every direction, creating a spectacular landscape.
During the walk, we spotted Z Point in the distance. I never found out exactly why it is called Z Point. My theory was that the trekking trail winding through the mountain resembled the shape of a giant letter “Z.” Convinced by my own explanation, I confidently shared this theory with Thilak, and he believed it too! However, Thilak had a different plan. He wanted to trek all the way to Z Point. I was shocked.
After the challenging trek we had completed the previous day, I had absolutely no interest in another long hike. The viewpoint looked quite far from where we were standing. Without any hesitation, I firmly said no. Thilak was disappointed, but after some time, he accepted the situation and gave up on the idea of trekking to Z Point.
After walking about 500 meters, we noticed that many vehicles were continuing all the way to the top. At that point, Thilak suggested that we return to the car and drive up instead of walking further. We did exactly that. The road was narrow and not in the best condition, but it was manageable. At the summit, we found a large number of tourists and a parking area packed with vehicles. Security personnel helped us find a parking spot. Once parked, we headed to the viewpoint. A beautiful garden maintained by the Horticulture Department added charm to the location. From the viewpoint, we were treated to magnificent views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
We spent some time soaking in the beauty of nature, taking photographs, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere before starting our descent.
Kallathi Falls and another disappointment
On our way back, we planned to visit Kallathi Falls, located about 10 km from Kemmanagundi. After missing out on Hebbe Falls, we hoped that Kallathi Falls would make up for the disappointment. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
As we approached the falls, we noticed an enormous crowd. The parking area was completely full. After parking the car, we made our way towards the waterfall, only to discover that the crowd was so dense that we could barely catch a glimpse of it. As Thilak jokingly remarked, it looked more like a “human falls” than a waterfall.
There is a small shrine near the falls, and being a sacred place, it naturally attracts many visitors. The heavy crowd could also have been due to the long weekend, with tourists arriving from nearby towns and cities. The area was so crowded that we decided to leave after spending barely five minutes there.
The journey back home
While driving back, we stopped at a beautiful scenic spot and enjoyed the lunch my aunt had thoughtfully packed for us. By the time we finished lunch, it was only 2:00 PM. Since we had covered all the places on our itinerary, we began our return journey to Bangalore.
We travelled via Tumkur and reached Bangalore at around 8:30 PM, bringing our memorable three-day trip to an end.
Travel snapshot
Chikmagalur is an incredible destination for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. This three-day trip is something we will cherish for years to come.
We had a wonderful time exploring the places we visited. The endless green mountains, the winding trekking trails cutting through the hills, the challenging hike, and the drive through some of the most scenic roads we have ever travelled will remain etched in our memories forever.
- Route Travelled: Onward: Chikmagalur > Kemmanugundi > Kallathi falls.
Return: Kallathi Falls > Birur > Kadur > Arasikere > Tiptur > Tumkur > Bangalore > BTM Layout
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Nice shots.
Thanks.. Credit goes to Thilak.. 🙂