7 Best Waterfalls to Visit in Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur is a district built on rain. The monsoon that feeds the coffee also feeds dozens of waterfalls, from roadside temple falls you can drive right up to, to two stage giants that need a jeep and a walk. Here are seven worth planning around, with how to reach each and when it is at its best.

Distances are approximate. Check them before you travel, and always ask locally whether a track is open in the monsoon.

Hebbe Falls

The headline waterfall of the district. Near Kemmangundi, roughly 55 to 65 km from Chikmagalur town, Hebbe drops in two stages, Dodda Hebbe and Chikka Hebbe, through thick forest. You drive to Kemmangundi, then take a shared 4x4 jeep down a rough track with stream crossings to reach the base.

Best season: July to October for full flow, November to January for an easier trip.

Effort: High. Long drive plus a bumpy jeep ride and a rocky walk.

Jhari Falls

Also called Buttermilk Falls, Jhari is the quick adventure option, around 15 to 20 km from town below the Baba Budangiri range. Park where the tar ends, take a steep 4x4 jeep ride through coffee estates, then walk down a short path and some steps to a mossy rock face pouring into a shallow pool.

Best season: Late June to December.

Effort: Moderate. Short jeep ride, short walk.

Manikyadhara Falls

A thin sheet of water on the Baba Budangiri range, around 30 km from town, close to the Dattatreya cave shrine. Pilgrims stand under the spray. It is a short walk from the road, lined with small stalls, so it is more of an easy stop than an outing.

Best season: Monsoon and just after, when there is enough water.

Effort: Low.

Kalhatti Falls

Near Kemmangundi, Kalhatti is unusual because the water falls over the roof of a small temple built into the rock. You can drive close to it, and steps lead up to the shrine. Combine it with Kemmangundi and Kalhatti in one loop.

Best season: Monsoon for flow, though the temple setting is pleasant year round.

Effort: Low.

Shanti Falls

A small, pretty waterfall a short walk from Z Point in Kemmangundi. Easy to add on if you are already up there for the viewpoint and gardens.

Best season: Monsoon and post monsoon.

Effort: Low, a short walk.

Hanuman Gundi Falls

Deeper west, inside Kudremukh National Park, roughly 90 to 100 km from Chikmagalur town. Water falls into a natural rock pool, reached by a long flight of steps down. There is a park entry fee. This one is a full day trip and best combined with a Kudremukh visit.

Best season: October to January. Monsoon access can be restricted.

Effort: Moderate to high, mostly the steps and the distance.

Sirimane Falls

Near Sringeri, roughly 90 km from town, Sirimane is wide and gentle, falling in tiers into a pool that is safe to wade in. It pairs well with a visit to the Sringeri temple and the Western Ghats scenery around it.

Best season: Monsoon and post monsoon.

Effort: Low to moderate.

Planning a Waterfall Trip

• Two nearby falls in a day is realistic. Three means a lot of driving and not much time at each.
• Carry cash for jeeps and entry fees. Digital payment is unreliable out here.
• Wear shoes with grip and bring a change of clothes if you plan to get in.
• In the monsoon, water levels can rise fast. Follow local advice and do not climb the falls.
• Leeches come out on forest paths in the wet months. Salt or leech socks help.

Where to Stay

Most of these waterfalls are day trips from a single base, so pick a stay that keeps your driving down and gives you a quiet evening to recover. Nature Kingdom sits among coffee plantations near Mallenahalli, within a manageable drive of the Baba Budangiri side falls and the Kemmangundi cluster. Every stay includes a bonfire, with parking and power backup on site, and a BBQ can be arranged on request for an extra charge. Check in is from 12:00 PM and check out is 11:00 AM.

Chase the water in the greener half of the year, keep each day to one or two falls, and let the estate evenings do the rest.

Planning a visit to Chikmagalur?

Stay at Nature Kingdom — surrounded by coffee estates, misty hills, and mountain mornings.