Saturday, August 9, 2008

Hulikatte in Chikmagalur - Simply fantastic!

Chikmagalur is a district in the state of Karnataka. It was here that coffee was first cultivated in India. The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Chikmagalur district also has Mullayanagiri, which is the highest peak in Karnataka. It is also a tourist's paradise with hill stations like Kemmanagundi and Kudremukh and waterfalls like Manikyadhara and Kallathigiri. Chikmagalur district has a rich history as is seen in the Hoysala temple at Amrithapura. Wildlife enthusiasts would be interested in the Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary present in this district. Nestled in the Baba Budan hills, Chikmagalur is a calm, serene town full of scenic surprises, hills, valleys, streams and snow-white coffee blossoms. Situated 251 kms from Bangalore, Chikmagalur is a trekker's delight, with its rugged mountain trails. Chikmagalur is connected by road to Bangalore, Hassan and Mangalore. The nearest airport is Mangalore (170 kms). Hulikatte Estate is about 40 acres of rich green coffee plantations nestled amidst misty hills, fresh waterfalls, untouched wildlife and reminiscent of Scottish meadows. Our stay at Hulikatte was fantastically memorable.