Mullayanagiri Trek

The Mullayanagiri Trek Trail is a trek that takes about half a day to finish, beginning with Sarpadari. The peak lies 3-4 km from the starting point, and it takes around 3 hours to arrive. The preliminary part of the trek is relatively high, with a slope of 60 degrees or more. Along the course, you will discover bushes and trees lining the trail. As you advance, the trail begins to zig-zag along the mountains, and the climb is even steeper. Ultimately, you will reach a big rock, where you must travel through an opening in the cliff to continue.

After traveling for around 2 hours, you will stumble upon a Nandi idol, which lies below a tree and is surrounded by thick shrubs and blooming climbers. From this point onward, the trail ends up being less steep. As you continue strolling, you will find some deep caverns home to bats and bugs. These caverns have various colored walls due to mineral deposits. After passing the caverns, the trail ascends again, causing the last stretch towards the peak. There is another Nandi statue near the peak, and quickly after, you will reach the temple and the burial place at the top.

To come down, you can backtrack to the beginning point, or you can utilize the 250-odd stone steps in the hill that lead towards the concrete roadway linking Mullayanagiri foothills and Chikmagalur. Nevertheless, remember that you will be required to hitch a ride back to town from there, and the frequency of buses might be more significant on this route. Another choice is to trek towards Baba Budangiri from Mullayangiri temple, a moderate 10 km trek through ridges, hills, and meadows.

The trailhead for the Mullayanagiri to Baba Budangiri trek lies behind the Mullayangiri temple. The course starts with a high descent through rich meadows and shola forests, using breathtaking views. Nevertheless, throughout monsoons, the valley is typically shrouded in mist, and the tracks can be slippery. After a two-hour descent, you’ll reach a tarred roadway. Continue strolling till you reach the Gundi forest checkpoint, where you’ll be required to get approval to continue. The trail then begins ascending, leading you through narrow ridges with mountains on one side and plains on the other—the BSNL telephone tower is a famous landmark.

As you approach the BSNL tower, the trail is steeper and more precarious, with a 300-foot drop on either side. This stretch can be difficult and takes around 30 minutes to browse. When you reach the tower, you’ll have another 20-minute descent to Manikyadhara waterfalls, where you can discover drink stores and an appropriate area for outdoor camping. Bababudangiri is a two-kilometer trek away, which is simple as it’s a tar roadway. You can likewise discover automobiles to take you to Bababudangiri from this point.

Investing in the night at Mullayanagiri’s summit is an alternative; however, be ready for strong winds and an absence of toilets. The ideal time to explore this location is from September to February, following the monsoon season. Nevertheless, understand that the trail might be slippery and the presence might be lowered due to high winds, mist, and rain. In addition, leeches prevail in the location throughout the post-monsoon season.

To guarantee appropriate hydration throughout your walking, it’s advised to bring water from the base camp, especially throughout the stretch from Sarpadari to Mullayangiri, where no water sources are readily available along the trail. Furthermore, it’s an excellent concept to refill your water bottles at Mullayanagiri before starting the trek towards Baba Budangiri, as this is the only other area with a reputable water source, Manikyadhara, along the way.