Coffee country · Karnataka
Bengaluru to Chikmagalur — 2 nights, by cab
Chikmagalur is the shortest of the serious hill drives from Bengaluru and the only one on this list that stays inside Karnataka — no interstate permit, no border formalities. It is coffee country, with Karnataka's highest peak at its centre, and the one real piece of admin is a vehicle pass for the Mullayanagiri road.
Outstation trips run as a personal cab — the vehicle and driver are yours for the trip. Shared departures apply to airport and one-day getaway routes, not multi-day journeys.
Before you go
The Chikmagalur route has 2 requirements that will actually stop your trip if missed, and a few smaller ones. These change from time to time — confirm before you travel.
Mullayanagiri vehicle entry pass
Entry to the Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri and Baba Budangiri road is now controlled by an online vehicle permit issued through the Chikkamagaluru district portal, replacing the old pay-at-the-checkpost system. Expect a per-car fee in the low hundreds of rupees.
Daily vehicle cap and timings
Roughly 1,200 vehicles a day are allowed, and the road runs only between 6 AM and 6 PM so everyone is down before mist and darkness. On weekends the cap is reached early — start at opening, not mid-morning.
Vehicles stop at the parking area
Private vehicles are not permitted beyond the designated parking point near the summit; the final approach is on foot.
Weather closures
Forest officials restrict entry during heavy rain or dense fog. In the monsoon, treat the Mullayanagiri leg as conditional rather than confirmed.
No interstate permit needed
Chikmagalur is within Karnataka, so there are no border taxes or interstate permits on this route — one reason it is the least complicated of these trips.
Verified August 2026. Passes, caps and closures are revised from time to time — check the official source before travelling, and your QuicReach driver will confirm current conditions on the route.
A workable 2 nights plan
Day 1
- Leave Bengaluru after breakfast — this is the short drive, so no pre-dawn start needed
- Reach Chikmagalur by early afternoon
- Coffee estate walk and an easy evening
Day 2
- Early start for Mullayanagiri — the road opens at 6 AM and fills fast
- Baba Budangiri and Seethalayanagiri on the same loop
- Afternoon at Hebbe Falls or Kemmanagundi
Day 3
- Slow morning; buy coffee at source
- Belur and Halebidu on the way back if you want temples with the hills
- Bengaluru by evening
Places worth the drive
Mullayanagiri
Karnataka's highest peak at 1,930 m. The drive up is the attraction as much as the summit; vehicles stop at a parking area and you walk the last stretch.
Baba Budangiri
A ridge of shrines and viewpoints on the same range, usually combined with Mullayanagiri in one morning.
Hebbe Falls
Reached through coffee estates near Kemmanagundi, with the last leg by jeep. Full and loud right after the monsoon.
Kemmanagundi
A hill garden and sunset point about 55 km from town, best as a half-day out.
Coffee estate stays and walks
The real reason to come. Most estates run short walks explaining pulping and drying, and it costs you nothing but a morning.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Tigers, elephants and a reservoir, about 40 km out. Safaris need booking and an early start.
Bengaluru to Chikmagalur: common questions
Do I need a pass for Mullayanagiri?
Yes. Vehicle entry to the Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri and Baba Budangiri stretch is now controlled by an online permit issued through the Chikkamagaluru district portal, with a per-car fee in the low hundreds of rupees. Around 1,200 vehicles are allowed per day and the road operates 6 AM to 6 PM only, so book ahead and start early on weekends.
How far is Chikmagalur from Bangalore by road?
About 245 km, and 4.5 to 5.5 hours in a car. It is the shortest of the popular hill drives out of Bengaluru, which is why it works as a two-night trip without either day being swallowed by driving.
Is Chikmagalur worth it in the monsoon?
The landscape is at its best and the waterfalls are full, but the Mullayanagiri road can be closed at short notice for rain or fog, and estate tracks turn difficult. Plan it as a coffee-and-greenery trip with the peak as a bonus rather than the centrepiece.
Can I visit Belur and Halebidu on the same trip?
Yes, and it is the standard way to use the drive home. Both Hoysala temple sites sit roughly on the return route and add about two hours including a proper look around.
Other multi-day trips from Bengaluru
- Ooty · 2 nights
- Coorg (Madikeri) · 2 nights
- Wayanad · 2 nights
- Munnar · 3 nights
- Sakleshpur · 2 nights
- Hampi · 2 nights
- Kodaikanal · 3 nights
- Pondicherry · 2 nights
- Gokarna · 3 nights
Only have a day?
Nandi Hills, Adiyogi, Mysuru and Hogenakkal all work as single-day trips from Bengaluru, with shared departures as well as personal cabs. See the one-day getaways →