Agumbe hill station, a small village located in Karnataka at a height of 2725 ft above sea level in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. Agumbe is a dream destination for all those who wish to find peace with nature in the western ghats. It is known to be the wettest region in Karnataka receiving highest rainfall. The tiny village is much known for its beautiful sunset and the trek opportunities it offer. It is also famous for its glorious sunsets and travelers on the highway from Shimoga to Udupi or Mangalore. This was the town where the classic serial “Malgudi days” was filmed. A number of trekking trails are available from Agumbe.
Agumbe Attractions
Agumbe attracts tourists for its serenity and enchanting scenic beauty. It has verdant valleys; picturesque mountain terrains, sparkling streams and a rustic charm that draws tourists to it, almost throughout the year.
Trekking in Agumbe : You can trek along the local Narasimha Parvatha or else you can choose for a trek to Nisha gundi or to the Barkana falls. An upstream trek from Onaki Abbi is a dream trek for every avid trekker. Agumbe is one of the highest peaks of Western Ghats and to reach the Agumbe peak you have to maneuver along the steep hairpin turns. On your trekking you may encounter the Lion Tailed Black Macaque (Monkey)or the endangered Yellow Ringed Kraite(snake).
Sunset Points :
Agumbe has a sunset point which receives lot of visitors. On a clear day, one can see the sun setting over the Arabian Sea though the sea is at quite a distance from Agumbe.
The Barkana Falls are made by the river called as Sita River. Bakrana Falls also makes for one of the best trekking grounds as one covers the Kudllu Teertha to reach the Bakrana Falls. There amidst the dense forest which cover the area lie the Barkana Falls.
The forests flora changes every 100 meters – from bamboos to hurbs to shurbs. The main attraction of this forest apart from the Bakrana Falls is the plant called Guruji. It is said, it blossoms once in 7 years and it is also believed that the flower signifies coming of Drought. But with sadness comes the happiness. Along with the draught also comes a lot of natural honey. Whenever, this bounty flower blossoms, there is a large scale production of Honey which fills the entire village.
Onake Abbi falls :
is eight kilometer trek on an unmetalled road. It is a perennial waterfalls from where you can see beautiful views of the valleys of Agumbe. Approach to the waterfall is from the top of the fall, and there is no paved path to get to the bottom.
Jogigundi Waterfalls
is situated about four kilometres from Agumbe. About 3 out of these 4 kilometres can be covered by vehicles and the last one kilometre needs to be trekked via a narrow and steep trail. Jogigundi Falls like most of the falls in and around Agumbe is situated amidst the dense forests of the Western Ghats of Karnataka. But, this is your slightly different waterfall. Unlike your traditional waterfall that falls from a height or in multiple tiers, this one flows out of a cave that runs through the hill. The amount of water that comes out of the Jogigundi falls might not be scary, but the sheer thought of water coming out of a dark cave is thrilling. But, keeping the adventure factor away, this place is great for a half day visit. A very pleasing and natural swimming pool greets you at the end of this trek.
Achakanya Falls
is a petite waterfall on the way to Hosanagara near Aralsuruli. The Sharavathi River takes an amazing jump of 6.10 m to form this brilliant falls. Achakanya Falls is just four kms away from the Shivalinga.
Kunchikal Falls are the highest waterfalls in India and second highest waterfalls in Asia. They are located near Agumbe in Shimoga district of state of Karnataka. Kumchikal falls are formed by Varahi river. Currently Kunchikal falls are the prime source of one of the hydro electric projects in Karnataka. Kunchikal Falls is the highest waterfall in India and ranks 116th in the list of highest waterfalls in the world.Its total height is 1493 ft/455 mts. It is formed by the Varahi river. This series of falls has been tapped for hydro-power. It’s no surprise that a fairly large river such as the Varahi was harnessed for electrical production. A powerful river dropping almost 1500? in a distance of about 1.25 miles. While this might be stretching the definition of a waterfall, the entire formation is known as the Kunchikal Falls.
Agumbe has many other credits to its name. Primarily, it has a rich biodiversity because of its position in the Western Ghats in the Malnad area. It borders the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, considered to be among the last surviving lowland rainforests in the country, and the Kudremukh National Park. It is here that the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station is location, which is the country’s only such research station. It is here that famous herpetologist Romulus Whitaker has done a lot of research on King Cobras. There is also a protected area for medicinal plants.
Where to Stay: There is no accommodation available in Agumbe. You have to stay in Shimoga or Sringeri.
Getting Here
Air: Mangalore is the nearest airport (Bajpe)
Rail: Udupi is the nearest railway station on Konkan Railway.
Road: Bangalore via Hassan – Belur – Chikamagalur – Sringeri – Agumbe. The Road is excellent to drive on this route. The distance between Sringeri and Agumbe is only 15 Kms.
