Gangamoola

About Gangamoola

Gangamoola hill is surrounded by dense forest areas. Three mighty rivers, namely the Tunga, Bhadra and Nethravathi originate from here.Gangamoola is an integral part of Gangamoola-Aroli-Gangrikal range of Western Ghats. Varaha Parvata is another name of Gangamoola. Rising to a height of approximately 1458 mts above the mean sea level, this hilly tract is bounded by the Kudremukh National Park. On an average it records a rainfall of approximately 575 cm. Rich deposits of magnetite-quartzite yeilding iron ores are found in close proximity.

Nandi Hills Special attractions include the shrine Bhagavathi and also a Varaha image, 1.8 metres high, within a cave.Kudremukh, Nandi Hills, B.R. Hills, Kemmannagundi, and Madikeri are the attractive locales near by. Another place of interest is Jamalabad Fort. This majestic fort was constructed by Tipu Sultan, the famous Mysore king, in 1794. The fort was named after his mother, Jamalbee. Previously, it was named ‘Narasimha Hangadi’.

Interesting things to Visit

Kalasa:
Kalasa, meaning a water pot, is the abode of the Kalaseshwara Temple of Lord Shiva and is a holy temple-town and a tourist spot located near Kudremukh on the banks of river Bhadra. Local mythology points the origin of Kalasa connected to the wedding ceremony of Shiva and Parvathy. It is believed that visiting Kalasa bring punya, a greater religious merit. The Girija Kalyana, commemorating the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi, is an important festival here attracting many tourists.Kalasa, an agricultural land, depends on Bhadra river for its water needs. It is famous for the agriculture products such as coffee, varieties of Ayurvedic herbals and plants and spices. Located in the midst of the heart of the Western Ghats, Kalasa has nearly a pretty pleasant climate in all the seasons. Kalasa attracts many tourists with private resorts and five major water spots, known as pancha theerthas. This is a nice place to spend some time to get the religious blessings as well as natural enjoyment.

Horanadu:
Horanadu is a holy city, laid in the middle of charming natural scenarios, for Hindus residing near Kudremukh. This place holds a beautiful temple Adi-Shaktyatmaka Shri Annapoorneshwari, a historical temple of Annapoorneshwari installed in 1973. The shrine renovated with a new idol of Adi Shakthi installed recently, is the main attraction in Horanadu. The place is attracted by plenty of pilgrims who are provided free boarding and lodging by the temple.The main deity of Annapoorneshwari is made out of pure gold, looking imposing and amazing. The legend and folk stories tell that a person who seeks the blessings of Annapoorneshwari would never be having any shortage for food in life. Any devotee who visits here will leave the temple with a sense of fulfillment. Horandu is a place recommended for visiting.

Hanuman Gundi Falls:
One of the main attractions close to Kudremukh is Hanuman Gundi waterfalls. The waterfalls, slashing down from a height of more than 100 feet falling onto natural rocks majestically, is an exciting scenery.One can trek for some distance to get into the falls and to have body rejuvenating and refreshing bath. The forest department has constructed some nice and safe steps to get down into the falls for a nominal Rs 30/- per head. A calm and isolated destination, here one can enjoy the beauty of silence and marvel of the waterfalls.

Flora at Kudremukh:
The flora in Kudremukh National Park consists of mostly evergreen and semi-evergreen forests near the coastal plains on the western portion and the shoal-grassland habitat at elevations above 1400m on the Western Ghats.

Vegetation:
The Burma Monsoon Forests of Manas lie on the borders between the Indo-Gangetic and Indo-Malayan biogeographical realms and is part of the Brahmaputra Valley Biogeographic Province. The combination of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation with riverine succession leading up to Sub-Himalayan mountain forest makes it one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world.

Fauna:
The sanctuary has recorded 55 species of mammals, 380 species of birds, 50 of reptiles, and 3 species of amphibians. Out of these wildlife, 21 mammals are India’s Schedule I mammals and 31 of them are threatened.The fauna of the sanctuary include Asian Elephants, Indian Rhinoceros, Gaurs, Asian Water Buffaloes, Barasingha, Tigers, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Asian golden cat, Capped Langurs, Golden Langurs, Assamese Macaques, Slow Loris, Hoolock Gibbons, Smooth-coated Otters, Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Sambar Deer and Chital.The main wildlife species in Kudremukh include tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel, porcupine and the mongoose.

Nearest Visiting places

Everyone who visits the Annapoorna temple is provided with a three course vegetarian meal irrespective of their religion, language, caste, or creed. Male visitors to the temple have to remove their shirts and preferably cover their shoulders with a towel or a shawl as a symbol of respect and humility in front of god.The main deity of Annapoorna is made of gold and it is believed that a person who seeks the goddess’ blessings will never have any scarcity for food in life. It is also believed that Lord Shiva had a curse upon him once and that this curse was reversed only when the Lord visited Goddess Annapoorna and sought her blessings.

On an average around 5000 devotees are said to visit the Devi temple every day, travelling through the midst of thick forests and valleys. The route to the temple traverses ghats, amazingly dense forests and vegetation. The scenery and the pristine atmosphere have a spiritual effect on every person travelling to and visiting the Annapoorneshwari Temple.

Jamalabad Fort:
Located in Kudremukh, the Jamalabad village is famous for its fort, Jamalabad fort, located 8 km north of Beltangadi town, is 1788 ft above sea level and used to be known as Narasimha Gudde, which refers to the granite hill on which the fort is built. It is also referred to locally as ‘Jamalagadda’.The fort, built by Tippu Sultan in 1794, was named after his mother, Jamalabee and is said to have been built over the ruins of an older structure.The fort is primarily inaccessible save a narrow path, with nearly 1876 steps to the fort that are cut out of this granite hill and lead all the way to the top through the fort to the summit.

Inside the citadel, there are two small fresh-water springs and some tanks to store water. Some of the bastions have dismantled iron cannons with European markings. The rest of the fort consists of ruins of walls and parapets.The British captured the fort in 1799 during the Fourth Mysore war. According to legend, those out of favour with Tipu were hurled down this fort to their death.

These days, Jamalabad is a trekking destination, with the climb up to the fort being classified as ‘medium difficulty level’ and the top of the fort offers good views of the surrounding landscape and the Kudremukh range.Every visitor has to pay a nominal entry fee at the forest check post at the base of the hill. It is advisable to carry sufficient water since there is no potable fresh water available on top. The nearest town with any communication and medical facilities is Beltangadi.

Lakya Dam:
A check dam across the Lakya, the tributary of Bhadra river, built by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company is the so called Lakya Dam having a height of 100 m. The main utility of this dam is to collect the waste materials from the mining operations and since it is a dam of silt not water.The dam is at the backdrop of picturesque hilly terrains, shoal forests and calmly flowing rivers. It is argued that the Lakya dam has already made the submergence of 572 hectres of shola forests and raising the heights or constructing a new dam will submerge more areas. The dam and the surroundings are scenic and lots of tourists are attracted towards it.

Radhakrishna temple:
Radhakrishna temple is a place of interest of Kudremukh offering a panoramic view of the whole place from here. A Kudremukh park has also drawn the admiration of people. Lobo House is an old deserted house on top of Kudremukh.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

**Hotel Hassan Ashok:**P.O Box. 121, B. M. Road,Hassan,Karnataka,India,ph:08172 268731

**Hotel Southern Star:**Bm Highway,Hassan,Karnataka,India,ph:08172 251816

Location info

• **Address:**Gangamoola,Chikmagalur,Karnataka ,India

• District: Chikmagalur

• Nearest City: Chikkamagaluru

• Best time to visit: October to May

Climate & weather

Temprature summer Maximum 35 c to Winter Minimum 10 c

History of Gangamoola

Gangamoola is a part of the Kudremukh bio-diversity sub-cluster of Western Ghats which has been nominated to receive the designation of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.A survey conducted by the ornithologist Davidar in 1980 recorded 107 species of birds in the Kudremukh-Aroli-Gangamoola tract.The presence of a large number of bird species is due to trees like Myristica dactyloides that are favoured by birds.

Things to do at Gangamoola

Trekking:
Trekking is another interesting thing can be done in Gangamoola One has to obtain an entry permit for trekking inside the park from the Range Officers or Deputy Conservator of Forests. The whole scenery of lush green grassland interspersed with narrow strips of forests rivers, cascades, variety of flora and fauna, caves, ruins and traces of old civilizations provide a fantastic vista for a trekker. There are 13 trekking routes inside the park and the anti - poaching camps on the way are useful as camping sites. The Bhagavathi Nature Camp located along the state highway, also forms an excellent camping site with tented cottages and dormitory. Ganga Moola, the source of several rivers including Bhadra, located inside the park is a scenic spot in the Bhagawathi Forest for trekkers. The Kadambi falls and the Lakya Dam located near the Gangamoola area is another interesting spot in the Gangamoola range.

How to reach Gangamoola

• Nearest Railway Station:,Shimoga,Mangalore railway station

• Nearest Airport:Mangalore, 130km away airport.

• **Road Transport:**Gangamooda is connected by road to Kalasa - 20km, Karkala - 50km, Mudigere - 75km, Mangalore 130km, and Bangalore 350km.

Helpline & emergency contacts

• **Police Station:**100

Nearest Hospital:
Venkateshwara nursing home:Hassan,Karnataka,India
Jyothi Hospital:Laila,Belthangady, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka,India,ph:08256 233939

• Society/Community Phone Number:

• **Link:**www.karnatakavision.com

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Karnataka. 4G is reliable in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, and along highways. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Bandipur, Nagarhole, and certain Western Ghats sections. Most hotels, resorts, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Karnataka cuisine ranges from coastal seafood to Udupi vegetarian to Coorg’s pandi curry. Dosa, idli, bisi bele bath, and filter coffee are iconic.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road — check locally for the closest option.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not currently available for this site. Contact the venue directly or check with your accommodation for the latest accessibility details.

Rules & restrictions

Standard visitor rules apply. Check locally for any specific restrictions at this site.

Best photography spots

The best photography spots are typically during the golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). Scout the location first to identify the best angles, and consider the direction of light at different times of day.

Best time to visit Gangamoola

October to March is the best time to visit — the weather is cool and pleasant with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C. April to June offers respite from the plains heat but is busier. Monsoon (July to September) brings heavy rainfall and misty landscapes — beautiful but roads may be slippery.

Timings & opening hours

Open 24 hours for visitors. Some specific viewpoints and gardens within the hill station may have restricted hours (typically 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM).

Entry fee & tickets

Entry to the hill station area is free. Specific viewpoints, gardens, or estates may charge an entry fee of ₹10-₹50 per person. Parking fees may apply at popular spots.

Duration needed

A day trip is sufficient to cover the main viewpoints. For a relaxing experience, stay overnight to enjoy sunrise and sunset. 2-3 days is ideal for exploring the surrounding forests, coffee estates (if applicable), and nearby attractions.

Safety tips

Hill roads can be winding and narrow — drive carefully. During monsoon, watch for landslides and slippery roads. Carry warm clothing as temperatures can drop significantly in the evenings. Stay on marked trails when trekking. Avoid venturing out alone after dark in remote areas.

Things to carry

Warm clothing (jacket/sweater) for evenings. Comfortable walking shoes. Raincoat/umbrella (especially during monsoon). Camera and binoculars for nature viewing. Water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Personal medications.

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest railway station depends on location — typically Shimoga, Chikmagalur, or Mysore stations. Nearest airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) or Mangalore International Airport (IXE). KSRTC buses connect to major cities. Local taxis are available for the final leg.

Frequently asked questions

What is the temperature like? Hill stations in Karnataka typically range from 10°C to 25°C. Evenings can be cool — carry a light jacket.

Are there trekking opportunities? Yes, most hill stations have forest trails and trekking routes of varying difficulty. Hire a local guide for the best experience.

What is the nearest major city? The nearest city depends on the specific hill station — typically 100-200 km away with good road connectivity.

Visitor information

Please check locally for current visitor information.

Photo gallery of Gangamoola

Photos coming soon. In the meantime, you can find images of Gangamoola on popular travel photography sites and social media.