Malenadu Peaks and Treks

Malenadu trekking at a glance: the difficulty table

Malenadu trekking ranges from a short climb up steps to a long, steep day that tests fit hikers. This table sorts the main treks by difficulty so you can pick the right one for your group.

Trek	District	Usual start	Difficulty	Booking
Bisle viewpoint	Hassan	Bisle	Easy (viewpoint)	Not needed
Kemmangundi and Z point	Chikkamagaluru	Kemmangundi	Easy	Check locally
Mullayanagiri	Chikkamagaluru	Sarpadhari	Easy to moderate	Check locally
Netravati peak	Chikkamagaluru	Samse	Easy to moderate	Aranya Vihaara
Kurinjal	Chikkamagaluru	Kudremukh National Park	Moderate	Aranya Vihaara
Ballalarayana Durga	Chikkamagaluru	Kottigehara side	Moderate	Aranya Vihaara
Brahmagiri	Kodagu	Irpu	Moderate	Aranya Vihaara
Narasimha Parvatha	Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga	Kigga or Malandur	Moderate to hard	Aranya Vihaara
Kodachadri	Shivamogga	Hidlumane or Valur	Moderate to hard	Aranya Vihaara
Tadiandamol	Kodagu	Nalknad palace side	Moderate to hard	Aranya Vihaara
Kudremukh	Chikkamagaluru	Mullodi	Hard	Aranya Vihaara
Kumara Parvatha	Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada	Beedahalli or Kukke Subrahmanya	Very hard	Aranya Vihaara

Difficulty here is for a reasonably fit person in the dry season. Rain makes every Malenadu trekking route harder, slower and more slippery.

What is the highest peak in Malenadu?

The highest peak in Malenadu is Mullayanagiri in Chikkamagaluru district, at 1,930 m, which also makes it the highest peak in Karnataka. Kudremukh comes next at about 1,894 m, according to Karnataka Tourism’s list of the state’s top mountains.

Peak	Height	District
Mullayanagiri	1,930 m	Chikkamagaluru
Kudremukh	about 1,894 m	Chikkamagaluru
Tadiandamol	1,748 m	Kodagu
Kumara Parvatha	1,712 m	Kodagu
Brahmagiri	1,608 m	Kodagu
Kemmangundi (hill station)	1,434 m	Chikkamagaluru
Kodachadri	1,343 m	Shivamogga

We have left out heights we could not confirm from a good source. Treat any exact figure you see for smaller peaks with some care, since numbers vary from site to site.

How does the Malenadu trekking permit system work?

Most Malenadu trekking routes inside forest land can now only be walked with an online permit from the Karnataka Forest Department. The booking site is called Aranya Vihaara. It lists trails by district.

Here is how the Malenadu trekking permit usually works:

1. Create a login on Aranya Vihaara with your mobile number and email.
2. Pick the district and the trail, then choose a date and time slot.
3. Enter details for each trekker, including a government ID number.
4. Pay online. Fees vary by trail and sometimes by age group.
5. Carry the permit and the same ID to the forest check post.

Each trail has a daily cap. Popular ones like Kudremukh and Kumara Parvatha can sell out quickly. Many trails also require a local guide, entry within a fixed morning window and return before dark. Camping is generally not allowed.

Rules have changed often. In 2026 the state paused trekking in wildlife areas after a fatal leopard attack near M M Hills. Later that year Deccan Herald reported that trails were reopening in stages. Always check the portal for the current list before you travel.

The main Malenadu trekking peaks in Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru has more Malenadu trekking routes than any other district, from the Baba Budangiri range in the east to the Kudremukh grasslands in the west.

Mullayanagiri trek

The Mullayanagiri trek usually starts at Sarpadhari, below the summit on the road from Chikkamagaluru town. The trail climbs steeply on loose gravel to the small Mullappa Swamy temple at the top. A road also goes close to the summit, with steps for the last part, so the top can get crowded on weekends.

Baba Budangiri and Kemmangundi

Baba Budangiri is the range around Mullayanagiri, known for the Datta Peetha shrine and for the story of Baba Budan planting the first coffee seeds in India here. It is more a scenic drive with short walks than a trek. Kemmangundi, at 1,434 m, is an old hill station with gardens, the Z point walk and Hebbe Falls nearby.

Kudremukh trek

The Kudremukh trek is a long day hike from Mullodi through shola forest and wide open grassland to the “horse face” peak. It is about 9 km each way, with stream crossings and steep, exposed stretches. Most trekkers take an overnight bus to Kalasa and a homestay jeep to the Mullodi check post. Kudremukh National Park also has the Kurinjal, Gangadikal and Netravati peak trails, so you can plan two Malenadu trekking days from one base.

Netravati peak, Kurinjal and Ballalarayana Durga

The Netravati trek starts at Samse and is one of the shorter Malenadu trekking routes, with a steep last stretch. The Netravati river rises near the base of the peak. Kurinjal is a moderate climb with long views over Kudremukh. Ballalarayana Durga has the ruins of an old hill fort and a grassy ridge walk. The portal also lists a separate trek to Bandaje falls in the same area.

Narasimha Parvatha

Narasimha Parvatha is a forested peak between Sringeri and Agumbe, walked from Kigga or Malandur. The trail passes through thick rainforest. On clear days the views stretch over the forest canopy towards Agumbe.

Kodachadri trek in Shivamogga

The Kodachadri trek climbs to a 1,343 m peak in the protected Mookambika forest, close to Kollur. Kollur is about 21 km away by road. The Aranya Vihaara site lists two Kodachadri trek routes, from Hidlumane and from Valur. Karnataka Tourism names Nittur as the usual base village. Jeeps also use a rough track for part of the way.

At the top is the small Sarvajna Peetha, linked to Adi Shankaracharya. The views at sunrise and sunset make it one of the most loved Malenadu trekking routes. The trail turns slippery in the monsoon, so check the portal and the weather before you go.

Kumara Parvatha, Tadiandamol and the Kodagu peaks

Kodagu has two of the toughest Malenadu trekking routes. Both take a full day and good fitness.

Kumara Parvatha (Pushpagiri)

Kumara Parvatha, also called Pushpagiri, stands at 1,712 m in Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary on the border of Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada. Trekkers start either from Beedahalli on the Somwarpet side or from Kukke Subrahmanya. The Kukke route is much longer. Overnight stays on the hill are no longer allowed, so it is a very long single day. The Beedahalli route reopened for the season in October 2026.

Tadiandamol and Brahmagiri

Tadiandamol is the highest peak in Kodagu at 1,748 m, usually climbed from the Nalknad palace side near Kakkabe. It is a good next step in Malenadu trekking after the easier peaks. Brahmagiri, on the Kerala border, is walked from Irpu, near the Iruppu falls on our Malenadu waterfalls page.

Bisle

Bisle, near Sakleshpura in Hassan district, is a viewpoint rather than a trek. It makes a good rest day between Malenadu trekking days. On a clear morning you look across thick forest to the peaks of the Pushpagiri range.

When is Malenadu trekking season?

The main Malenadu trekking season runs from September or October to February, after the heavy rain and before the summer fire season. Most forest trails close in peak monsoon for safety. Many also close in the hot months when grass fires are a risk.

Months	Trails	Notes
June to August	Mostly closed	Heavy rain, landslides, swollen streams
September to February	Most open	Best views, cool mornings, book early
March to May	Many closed	Dry grass and fire risk, hot afternoons

The monsoon is the most beautiful time to look at these hills, but not to walk them. Read our Malenadu monsoon guide to see how the rains shape the year.

How fit do you need to be for Malenadu trekking?

You need to be able to walk uphill for three to five hours with short breaks for most Malenadu trekking routes. Kudremukh and Kumara Parvatha ask for more: a long day of steep climbing followed by a knee testing descent.

If you are new to hills, start with Mullayanagiri or Netravati peak, then move to Kurinjal or Tadiandamol. Walk or climb stairs a few times a week for a month before a hard trek. The descent is where most people struggle, so practise going down as well as up.

Getting to the trailheads

Most Malenadu trekking trailheads are in small villages with no public transport to the gate. The usual plan is an overnight state-run bus to the nearest town, then a jeep or auto arranged by your homestay.

Trek	Nearest town for buses
Mullayanagiri	Chikkamagaluru
Kudremukh, Kurinjal, Netravati	Kalasa
Narasimha Parvatha	Sringeri or Agumbe
Kodachadri	Kollur or Hosanagara
Kumara Parvatha	Somwarpet or Kukke Subrahmanya
Tadiandamol	Madikeri, then Kakkabe

Kukke Subrahmanya also has a railway station, Subrahmanya Road, on the Bengaluru to Mangaluru line. On trails that need a guide, the check post or your homestay will arrange one. Pay the rate shown on the permit page or at the check post.

Staying safe on the trail

Safety on Malenadu trekking routes comes down to time, weather and staying together. Phone signal is weak or absent on most trails, so plan as if you cannot call for help.

• Start at the first permitted slot and turn back by early afternoon if you are slow.
• Tell your homestay which trail you are on and when you expect to return.
• Turn back if the cloud closes in on open grassland, where paths are easy to lose.
• Never cross a stream in spate. Wait or turn back.
• If you meet elephants or gaur, back away quietly and follow your guide.

Leeches and how to handle them

Leeches are part of Malenadu trekking from June to well after the rains, especially in shola forest and wet grass. They are a nuisance rather than a danger. Locals simply flick them off.

• Wear leech socks or tuck trousers into long socks.
• Carry a little salt or a leech repellent. Salt makes a leech drop off on its own.
• Do not pull a leech off hard. Let it fall, then clean the spot.
• The bite may bleed for a while. This is normal and stops on its own.
• Check your feet, ankles and the back of your knees after every stream crossing.

What to pack for Malenadu trekking

Pack light but do not skimp on water, grip and rain cover. Most Malenadu trekking routes have no shops or water points after the check post.

• Printed or downloaded permit and the ID used to book
• At least 2 litres of water per person in steel or reusable bottles
• Shoes with good grip, plus a spare pair of socks
• Rain jacket or poncho, even in October
• Leech socks, salt and a small first aid kit
• Cap, sunscreen and sunglasses for open grassland
• Simple food: chapati rolls, fruit, nuts and a coconut jaggery sweet
• A cloth or jute bag to carry your waste back down

Trekking etiquette in the Western Ghats

Good Malenadu trekking etiquette is simple: leave nothing behind, take nothing away and make as little noise as you can. These forests are home to elephants, gaur and leopards, so read our page on Malenadu wildlife before a forest walk.

• No plastic. Forest gates check bags and some take a deposit for plastic items.
• No music, no shouting and no drones.
• Stay on the marked trail and with your guide.
• No fires and no camping unless the permit says so.
• Respect the temples at summits such as Mullayanagiri and Kodachadri.
• Start early and be off the hill before dark.
• Coffee estates on the way are private farms, so walk through only where the trail allows.

After the trek: food and the farms around you

Most trails start in farm country, so a homestay meal after the walk is part of the experience. Expect rice, a hot saaru with pepper, a tambuli (a cool curd dish) and pickle. Some homes finish with dosa and joni bella, the runny jaggery of the region.

In many Malenadu homes, warm water with honey and lemon is the drink after a cold, wet day outside.

Plan your next walk in the hills

Use our Malenadu travel guide to choose a base near your trek. See Malenadu in Karnataka for the wider list of sights. For the towns around each trail, the Malenadu district map helps. When you are home, our farm products carry a taste of the hills.

Frequently asked questions about Malenadu trekking