Facts:
- Distance from Bangalore: 283.1km (6hrs 52 minutes via Thalassery-Mysore Road)
- Terrain: Densely Forested
- Type: Forest with Wildlife
- Total Trek/Hike Km: Trekking from Kutta or Mananthavady – 29km, Via Iruppu Falls – 9kms, and from Munikal Caves – 7kms
- Forest Type: The forest is rich wet evergreen forest, Moist deciduous forest, Shola Forest, and high altitude savanna grasslands.
- Difficulty Level: Medium
- Altitude: 4,248ft (approx. 1295mtres) above the sea level
About the Place:
Brahmagiri is a mountain range situated in the Western Ghats of South India. Located on the borders between Kodagu district in Karnataka state in the north and the Wayanad district of Kerala state in the south, this mountain is well-known for its scenic beauty. The pinnacle of this mountain is densely forested with lots of wildlife. Legend has it that Gautama Maharishi who is one of the Saptha Rishis lived with his wife Ahalya Devi in Brahmagiri.
.How to Reach Brahmagiri:
Brahmagiri can be reached by trekking from Mananthavady (29 km east) or Kutta. From the Karnataka side, the trek to Brahmagiri from Irupu Falls is 9 km and to Munikal Caves (Pakshipathalam) is 7 km. Trekkers need to seek the permission of the Range Forest Officer at Srimangala. Brahmagiri is about 11 km from Tirunelli village.
The Periya ghat road connects Mananthavady to Kannur and Thalassery. The Thamarassery mountain road connects Calicut with Kalpetta. The Kuttiady mountain road connects Vatakara with Kalpetta and Mananthavady. The Palchuram mountain road connects Kannur and Iritty with Mananthavady. The road from Nilambur to Ooty is also connected to Wayanad through the village of Meppadi.
The nearest railway station is at Mysore and the nearest airports are Kozhikode International Airport-120 km, Bengaluru International Airport-290 km, and Kannur International Airport, 58 km.
Tourist Attractions in Brahmagiri :
Tirunelli Temple:
Abode of Lord Vishnu, this temple lies on the Kerala side of Brahmagiri. The temple was built in an ancient architectural style and has 30 pillars made of granite erected here. According to the legend, this temple is believed to have been built by Lord Brahma himself.
Pakshipathalam:
Located at an altitude of 1740 meters, this is another tourist attraction site from the Kerala side. Pakshipathalam has a cave where ancient Rishis had done penance. On the Karnataka side, this cave is also known as Munikal cave
Iruppu waterfalls :
Also called Irupu or Lakshmana Theertha Falls is a part of Lakshmana Theertha river, which lies on the Karnataka side of Brahmagiri. As per a fable, when Rama and Lakshmana were searching for Sita, they became thirsty. Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri from which the river sprang. Rama is said to have established a Shiva Kshethra known as Rajeshwara Temple on the banks of the river Lakshmana Tirtha. The Lakshmana Tirtha river eventually flows into the Kaveri River. A Jain Temple is also present here built by the Kadamba dynasty. Nishani Motte is also a peak in the Brahmagiri range of hills.
About Brahmagiri
Located in the district of Kodagu or Coorg, this wildlife sanctuary is a part of the Western Ghats, and is situated on the border between the Kannur district of Kerala on the west and Kodagu district on the east. Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary was declared as a sanctuary on June 5th, 1974. As the area mainly is evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, the higher altitudes of this mountain are covered with grasslands of the shola forest patches, Bamboos, and is famous for Red Mushrooms.
The wildlife includes Mammals in the sanctuary such as lion-tailed macaque, Indian elephant, gaur, tiger, jungle cat, leopard cat, wild dog, sloth bear, wild pig, sambar, spotted deer, Nilgiri langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, common langur, barking deer, mouse deer, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, Nilgiri marten, common otter, brown mongoose, civet, porcupine, and pangolin. Python, cobra, king cobra, Malabar pit viper are some of the reptiles found in the sanctuary. Birds in the sanctuary include emerald dove, black bulbul, and Malabar trogon.
Brahmagiri wildlife safari is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, and it takes 3hrs to explore the entire wildlife. The sanctuary is spread across an area of 181 sq km and is surrounded by coffee plantations, evergreen/semi-evergreen forests as well as shola-grassland habitats making it a popular getaway destination! Entry Fee: Adults are charged Rs. 400/-, Children below 5 years can go for Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary safari without any charges, and those between 6 to 12 years can book the child package.
Activities offered here are wildlife safari and sightseeing. Apart from that, there is also an activity called Nature Walk proffered in this sanctuary. Things to carry include valid ID proof, medicines, a camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and mosquito repellant
.
Advisory
Timings for the activity is between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Maintain a friendly environment with the other members. Please do not litter. Do not feed animals. Avoid close encounters with the animals. Wear appropriate colors. Not to do anything during an animal encounter and keep calm.
Brahmagiri trekking
Brahmagiri Trek overview
Activity duration: 2-days 1-night
About the Trek:
Brahmagiri is one of the best trekking destinations in Karnataka. Situated amid the Kerala and Karnataka border, this place is an abode of Lord Brahma. Amidst the cool mist, floating clouds, and lush greenery, you will feel like a paradise after reaching the peak of this mountain. You will need to be prepared to trek for 12hrs. If you trek from the Karnataka side, you can begin from Iruppu falls which is a 9-km trek. However, you can even trek from the Munikal cave which is at a 7-km distance. The trekking activity comes with comfortable accommodation in a homestay that would be allocated on quadruple sharing.
When it comes to food, you can grab your delicious grub in the form of Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Apart from that, the accommodation spot is equipped with the necessary amenities and comfort so that you do not have to undergo inconvenience. Also, the trekking activity would be supported by an experienced guide. A campfire session shall also be organized in the evening to make you warm and comfortable.
As the difficulty level of trekking, this mountain is moderate, it is an ideal place for all age groups of friends, family, and corporate teams. To reach the trekking location, you are required to travel 154kms from the Mysore railway station. From there, you can opt for a mode of local transport to reach the Brahmagiri mountain range.
Below is the sample itinerary of operators organising trekking in Brahmagiri as follows:
Day 1:
- You will be picked from the choice of your location at a stipulated timing. Since it is an overnight journey, have a light dinner.
- As you will be reaching the campsite early in the morning, you can take your breakfast, and start trekking to reach atop the Brahmagiri mountain.
- When you reach the pinnacle of this marvelous mountain, you can have a picturesque glimpse of the entire Coorg amidst its scenic beauty, and abundant coffee plantation.
- After the trek, descend the mountain after lunch to enjoy the wine party and the warm campfire in the chilling evening.
- Soon after the party, dinner will be served. Post that, you can retire for the night.
Day 2:
- Wake up to a magnificent morning, and have your breakfast amid the emerald green stretch
- Check-out and leave for your transfer back to Bangalore, bringing the experience to an end.
Accommodation:
Homestay Accommodation is available on various modes from rooms to minimum 4 or a group of 10pax sharing basis. And below is the meal plan provided for an overnight exclusive trekking package.
Meal: 2 Breakfast (Veg), 1 Lunch (Veg) and 1 Dinner (Veg and Non-Veg)
Activity: Trekking, Campfire, Offbeat Jeep tour (At an extra cost), Wine Party with music, and River Rafting (At an extra cost).
Other inclusions: Guide Charges
Advisory
- Rafting, safari to Nagarhole Park, and activities like zip-lining, river crossing, loop walk, Burma bucket, etc. can be availed at an additional cost
- Washrooms on the premises are for only the purpose of freshening up.
- Avoid uncomfortable clothing during the activities (like sarees, etc.)
- Carrying jewelry or other valuables is not advisable
- No smoking or consumption of alcohol before or during the activity
- Kindly dispose of plastics in an appropriate manner
Places to visit:
- Nagarahole Safari
- Kushalnagara Nisarghadhama
- Dubare Elephant Camp
- Golden temple – Bylakuppe
- Bettadapura.
- Kabini backwaters.
- Madikeri
