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Planning a trip to Kalasa and unsure where to start? Finding the best places to visit in Kalasa can be overwhelming, especially with so many hidden gems to uncover. Don’t stress – We have got you covered.

As avid travelers, we have explored every nook and corner of this beautiful town, located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. From stunning temples to lush green mountains to serene waterfalls, we’ve experienced it all, and we’re here to share our insider tips with you.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the must-visit places and things to do in Kalasa offering a mix of spirituality, culture, and untamed nature. Our detailed recommendations will ensure you have an unforgettable experience.

Let’s discover the beauty of Kalasa!

Kalasa – 10 Best Places To Visit

Best Places to Visit in Kalasa

Kalasa, Samse, and Horandu are situated near each other, and this blog covers attractions in all three areas. Since Kalasa is the largest town among them, we have highlighted it. Regardless of which village you visit, you can easily explore the places in Kalasa.

1. Kudremukh Peak

Kudremukh, the second highest peak in Karnataka is every trekking enthusiast’s dream. The fresh open air and dense forests make the hike very rejuvenating. Numerous green beds litter the mountains in different shades of green with the mist playing hide and seek is a visual treat, that has no substitute. 

It takes a complete day to do the hike. As the terrain is steep, you have to be very careful while climbing up and descending. A guide is mandatory for this trek, without whom you are denied entry.

• Difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult
• Trek distance: 22 Km in total (Two way)
• Summit altitude: 1894 m
• Best time to visit: July to December
• Guide charges: Rs. 1000 for 8 persons
• Entry fee: Rs. 575 per person for Indians
• Restroom: Only available ones are at the forest check post office
• Parking: Available near the forest check post

Note: The Kudremukh National Park is strictly a plastic-free zone. Every bag is searched and all the plastics are removed at the forest check post.

For more details on Kudremukh, check out our post on hiking guide to Kudremukh Peak

2. Duggapan Katte

Known mostly by the locals, it is a viewpoint overlooking the entire town of Kalasa. For the best views, go during the golden/twilight hours. As the place is deserted, it is safer to go in a group.

• Distance from Kalasa: 600 m
• Entry fee: Free
• Timing: No restrictions. But it is recommended you not visit when it is dark
• Restroom: Not Available
• Parking facilities: Available

3. Samse Tea Estate

Since Chikmagalur prides itself on being the land of coffee, you can spot only a few tea estates in the region and Samse tea estate is one among them. Along the main road of Kalasa, you can see the Samse Ganapathi temple amidst the tea plantation.

Park your vehicles alongside the road, take a walk, and ensure you memorialize the beauty of this place by indiscriminately clicking pictures of the beautiful tea estate, which is open to tourists.

Opposite the tea plantations, a tea shop sells tea and coffee powders and also serves tea and refreshments. Tea tastes best here. If you like it, buy some for your loved ones.

• Distance from Kalasa: 7.6 Km
• Entry fee: Free
• Timing: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Restroom: Not Available
• Parking facilities: No dedicated vehicle parking. However, you can park alongside the road

4. Soormane Falls

The most unique thing about Soormane waterfalls is that you can go behind the waterfall. This opportunity in addition to the scenic location makes this place a must-visit when you are on the Kalasa.

The waterfall attracts people only during weekends. If you visit on weekdays, you can enjoy the waterfalls all to yourself.

There are two ways to reach the waterfall. One is via private property (allowed if you are visiting by jeep with local drivers) and the other is a 300 m short walk that will take you to the waterfall.

• Distance from Kalasa: 5.8 Km
• Entry fee: Rs. 30 per person
• Best time to visit: July to December
• Timing: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Restroom: Not Available
• Changing rooms: Not available
• Parking facilities: Available

5. Kalasa Hanging Bridge

Situated just 3 Km away from Kalasa, this long hanging bridge has been built on the river Bhadra and it is one of the prime tourist spots in the region.

With lush greenery on either side of the banks and the Bhadra river flowing in between, the bridge looks like something out of a fairy tale. The bridge is reliably strong and it connects to a private farm on the other side of the river.

• Distance from Kalasa: 1.5 Km
• Entry fee: Free
• Timing: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Restroom: Not Available
• Parking facilities: Available

6. Sri Kalaseshwara Swamy Trek

Famous festivals like Shivarathri, Girija Kalyana (wedding of Shiva and Parvathi), and Kalasa car festival (Rathotsava), honoring Lord Shiva, are celebrated here with unbridled enthusiasm every year.

The Kalaseshwara Swamy temple is considered to be a Dakshina Kashi. You can also learn more about the history of this famous place from the inscriptions and information boards inside the architecturally wondrous temple premises.

• Distance from Kalasa: 150 m
• Entry fee: Free
• Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Restroom: Available
•  Parking space: Available

Did you know? “Kalasa” in Sanskrit means “a pot that holds water”. This temple town is celebrated as the home of the 5 sacred water bodies called “Panchatheertha”.

7. Amba Theertha

This water body is one of the sacred waters of the Panchatheertha. The location is incredibly scenic with the flowing river of Bhadra against the backdrop of the stoic and permanent mountains.

A very peaceful place with a laid-back ambiance indeed. You also get to see local fishermen getting their catch of the day.

Be very careful in these places as the rocks are very slippery even in the summer when there is less water flow. Multiple avoidable deaths have been reported here every year.

• Distance from Kalasa: 3.5 Km
• Entry fee: Free
• Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Restroom: Not available
•  Parking space: Available
• Shops nearby: None

8. Annapurneshwari Temple

The Horanadu temple or Annapurneshwari temple is a very famous temple that is home to a golden idol honoring the goddess of food. There is a firm belief among the folk that the devotees who come here never had to face food scarcity in their lives. To the credit of this faith, free food is served every day to devotees.

In terms of traditions, men have to remove their shirts while entering the temple. Given the reverence this temple commands and the importance it holds for its devotees, ensure that you respect the traditions and dress modestly.

• Distance from Kalasa: 8.5 Km.
• Entry fee: Free.
• Darshan timing: 6 AM – 9:30 PM.
• Prasad Bhojan timings: Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, Lunch – 1 PM to 2:30 PM, Dinner – 8 PM to 9:30 PM.
•  eHundi: Available.
• Bathrooms and toilets: Available, and they are cleaned every day.
• Parking facilities: Available.
• Shops nearby: Many shops are there near the temple.
• Accommodation: There are rooms available for you to refresh for a few hours or stay for the night.

Note: Photography and videography inside the temple are strictly prohibited. Do not incur the disrespect of the devotees for a picture.

9. Nethravathi Peak

The Nethravathi Peak, an easier alternative to Kudremukha is located near Kalasa in the Samse village of Chikamagalur. The ridgeline covered by mist on one side and lush greenery on the other side looks so stunning from the summit during the monsoon season. This view made the Nethravathi Peak increasingly popular among tourists and hikers.

We hiked the Nethravathi Peak and have written a detailed hiking guide. Refer to it to know everything from entry fees to hike distance, duration, and more.

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Trek distance: 16 Km in total (Two way)
• Summit altitude: 1520 m
• Best time to visit: September to December
• Guide charges: Rs. 1000 for 1-10 persons
• Entry fee: Rs. 500 per person for Indians
• Restroom: Only available ones are at the forest check post office
• Parking: Not Available

10. Kyatanamakki Hill Viewpoint

Also known as Gaali Gudda by the locals, the Kyatanamakki Hill is a hidden gem that cannot be unmatched. Found in the Kalasa region of Chikmagalur, the 180° view of the evergreen mountains as far as the horizon stretches is so arresting to the eyes.

This place is very relaxing and we loved the moments we spent there. You can watch both sunrise and sunset from the Kyatanamakki Hills.

From the forest check post, you can only travel by either walking or a 4×4 WD Jeep. The terrain is so slippery, steep with rocks and sand, that it makes it next to impossible to use two-wheelers and cars.

You can hire jeeps near the forest check post. Alternatively, walk uphill for 15 – 30 minutes to reach the top from where the jeep drops you. If you are planning to walk up from the checkpost, it would approximately take 1 hour.

The path to the left along the ridge takes you to a Gaali Gudda viewpoint which no words can do justice to and you should just see it for yourselves, to truly appreciate the view.

Do visit this viewpoint on your visit to Kalasa or the Kudremukh trek.

• Distance from Kalasa: 16 Km
• Entry fee: Rs. 50 per person, collected at the forest check post.
• Jeep charges: Rs. 2000 for 8 persons
• Timing: 5 AM – 6 PM. The last entry is at 5 PM.
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trek time: 15 min walk uphill will take you to the top.
• Tent stay/Camping: Not allowed.
• Restroom: Not Available.
• Parking facilities: Available at the foothills.
• Shops nearby: One shop with refreshments available near the forest check post.

The Kyathanamakki Gaali Gudda viewpoint, Elaneeru Falls, and Soormane waterfalls are a few places that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Kalasa.

How To Reach?

By Air

The nearest airport to Kalasa is the Mangalore International Airport (Airport code: IXE, 111 Km). From there there are no direct buses available. You can book a cab and reach Kalasa by road.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Kalasa is the Chikmagalur railway station (Station Code: CMGR, 88 Km). The railway station is not well connected to the nearby cities like Bangalore and Mysore. Be advised that here the train frequency is also low.

By Road

The best option to reach Kalasa from Bangalore is by boarding a direct bus or using a private vehicle. As the number of buses is limited, book online at least 2 weeks in advance during the peak seasons. Direct KSRTC buses are not available to Kalasa from any of these places – Mangalore, Udupi, and Mysore.

To reach Kalasa from Mysore, you have to reach Hassan or Mudigere first, then hop on another bus to reach Kalasa. Note that the frequency of the buses on this route is very low, only once or twice a day.

From Chikmagalur direct buses are available to Kalasa. As Horanadu is located only 9 Km away, in addition to the buses, you can also hop on a shared auto as it is used frequently in the area.

Restaurants in Kalasa

Usually, homestays at Kalasa provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for visitors. We recommend you opt for the homestay food in order to taste the local cuisine. Neer Dosa and Akki Rotti are a few of our favorites that you shouldn’t miss. The homestays in the region will pack lunch for you if you request a day before or while planning your trip to Kalasa. Also, many restaurants are available at Kalasa. So you need not worry too much.

Note: Door delivery services like Zomato and Swiggy are not available.

Accommodations in Kalasa

Homestays are commonly found accommodation options in Kalasa. Before booking, make sure to confirm the accessibility of the services listed below: 

• Pick up and drop from the bus stand if you are using public transport – usually, they charge extra for this service.
• Wifi & network availability
• Hot water facility
• Jeep to roam if needed

Note: Rather than booking on third-party platforms, we found that booking the rooms directly by calling the owner was much more nominal. You can search for desired homestays on Google and reach out to them directly.

We stayed in Kallu Kore homestay with a few of our other friends. The place was clean and the hospitality was great. Both veg and non-veg food with tea, coffee, and snacks were provided.

Here are a few recommendations.

• STAYMAKER Prince of Kalasa
• Gaaligudda homestay
• Hotel Mudra Midtown Suites & Rooms

On our next visit, we stayed in the Horanadu Devasthanam guesthouses. The price starts as low as Rs. 250 for two persons per night. You’ll also get free food at the temple premises. If you are visiting Kalasa on a budget, make use of the temple guesthouses as they are pretty decent. Make sure to pre-book as they are fully booked during weekends and holidays.

For even more places to stay in Kalasa, check booking.com. We use booking.com for all our accommodation bookings.

Best Time To Visit Kalasa

The best time to visit Kalasa is from September to December. Lush green landscapes and greeneries are everywhere. Carry raincoats while visiting Kalasa as the weather is unpredictable and frequented by rains.

From January to early June, the weather is dry and Kudremukh National Park is closed to visitors. During this time of the year, the water in the waterfalls is low or nil. The rainy season is during July and August. The region experiences heavy rainfall during this time of the year.

ATM Availability

The number of ATMs available in Kalasa is limited, and the one available near the Horanadu temple often runs out of cash. Make use of debit/credit cards and online payments wherever possible.

As most people accept only cash in Kalasa and Horanadu areas, do ensure you carry sufficient cash. Moreover, the internet connection is also poor when moving out of town, and you cannot rely on UPI and other online payments. So, we recommend you carry enough cash with you.

Languages Spoken

Kannada is the native language spoken by the people of Kalasa. As the place is frequented by tourists, few people can converse in Hindi and English. 

Network Availability

All operators have good network coverage in Kalasa town. But in more interior places, Jio is the only reliable network with moderate to good connectivity.

How To Roam Around?

The local buses are not frequent. Hopping between the tourist places by relying on public transport takes a lot of time. All the attractions in Kalasa that are mentioned below are not accessible by public buses.

The best option is to bring your vehicle or hire a jeep on a day-to-day basis which would cost you around Rs. 4500, depending on the seasons and demand. No two-wheeler rentals are available in Kalasa.

We hired a jeep and roamed for a day covering all the tourist places near Kalasa and Horanadu. Here is the contact number of the jeep that we hired: 

Shivaraj – +91 9482544840, +91 9448688623 (speaks Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Tulu, and Malayalam)

Note: OLA and Uber services are not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

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