12 Best Hill Stations in Karnataka (2026)

Coorg is among the most visited hill stations in South India and among the most popular places to visit in Karnataka. Fondly called the Scotland of India, Coorg (or Kodagu) is about 265 km from Bangalore & 120 km from Mysore, and takes about 6 hrs drive via Mysore.

Coorg district is the largest producer of Coffee in India. Also, it is one of the places with the highest rainfall in India. Tourist Places like Raja's Seat, Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, Omkareshwara Temple, Bylakuppe, Talacauvery and Dubare Elephant Camp are the major attractions in Coorg. The famous Cauvery River is originated in the hills of Coorg at Talakaveri, which is considered a holy place by Hindus.

Being a part of the Western Ghats, Coorg is home to three wildlife sanctuaries - Talacauvery, Pushpagiri, and Brahmagiri Sanctuaries, and one national park, the Nagarhole National Park. Coorg is also famous for trekking activities with peaks like Thandiyandamol, Brahmagiri, and Pushpagiri. Coorg is often visited along with Mysore, Wayanad & Ooty. At least 2 full days is needed to visit the most important places in Coorg. An additional day can cover Nagarhole Park & Irupu falls. Additional 2-3 days can cover Wayanad, Kannur or Mangalore. Coorg receives heavy rainfall in monsoon and several places become inaccessible.

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Chikmagalur, also known as Chikkamagaluru is a beautiful hill town situated at the foothills of Mulliyangiri range in western ghats. It is one of the best hill stations in Karnataka and among the most famous tourist places near Bangalore.

Chikmagalur is famous for its serene environment, lush green forests and tall mountains. Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri, Hirekolale Lake, Ayyanakere Lake, Manikyadhara Falls, Jhari Falls, Horanadu and Kemmanagundi are among the must visit tourist places in Chikmagalur.

Chikkamagaluru is also famous for coffee estates and is known as the Coffee Land of Karnataka. Chikmagalur is the place where coffee was cultivated for the first time in India. The climate of Chikmagalur is pleasant all year round but the best time to visit is from between September & March. Chikmagalur can also be visited along with Coorg for a duration of 4-5 days. At least 2-3 full days is needed to visit main attractions in Chikmagalur. Belur & Halebidu are close to Chikmagalur and are usually visited together. Sakleshpur and Sringeri are located near by and can be visited along with Chikmagalur by spending additional 2 days. Chikmagalur packages are offered from Bangalore, Mangalore & Mysore.

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Kemmanagundi is one of the least explored hill stations in Karnataka. At a distance of 62 km from Chikmagalur, and 246 km from Bangalore, Kemmanagundi is among the best places to visit near Bangalore.

Breathtaking views of the valleys amidst mountain streams and lush vegetation are the main attractions of Kemmanagundi hill station. Situated at an altitude of 1434 m on the Baba Budan range, the region is covered with plantations of coffee and tea along with thick bamboo groves. Raj Bhavan, Hebbe Falls, Kalhattagiri Falls, Z point, Rock garden, Baba Budan Hill, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Shanti Falls, and Hebbe Falls are among the popular place to visit in Kemmanagundi.

Kemmanagundi is also known as KR Hills, named after the Mysore King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Kemmanagundi is one of the top attractions you can include in Chikmagalur tour.

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Sakleshpur is a scenic hill station in the Hassan district of Karnataka state. Situated at an altitude of 3100 feet, Sakleshpur is one of the least explored hill stations in Karnataka. Sakleshpur is about 150 km from Mangalore and 220 km from Bangalore amidst Western Ghats.

Located in the Malnad region, this beautiful hill station is very popular for its fascinating mountains & valleys, scenic beauty, and pleasant weather are the must have experiences in Sakleshpur. Magajahalli Waterfalls, Bisle Ghat Viewpoint, Manjarabad Fort, Sakleshwara Temple, Agni Gudda Hill, Hemavathi Dam, and Pandavar Gudda are some of the popular tourist places in Sakleshpur. This lesser-known hill station is also famous for trekking activities in Devaramane, Bisle Reserve Forest Trail and Kumara Parvatha trail, in which one can explore the rich biodiversity of the place.

Sakleshpura is the gateway to the Western Ghats from Bengaluru & Hassan side. It is also one of the major producers of coffee and cardamom in India. Sakleshpur needs 2 full days to explore all major sites. With additional 2-3 days, Chikmagalur, Coorg, Kukke - Dharmasthala or Mangalore can be included with Sakleshpura.

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Situated on the banks of Kali River, the beautiful hill town of Dandeli is one of the top tourist places in Karnataka for adventure lovers. Situated at 70 km from Hubli, 130 km from Goa, and 462 km from Bangalore, Dandeli is popular for its gorgeous natural backdrop, thick forests, wildlife & birds, and adventure activities.

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. Dandeli is also one of the top destinations for White Water Rafting in India. Kayaking, rafting, and canoeing trips on the Kali River are some of the popular activities one can indulge in Dandeli. Places like Sathodi Falls, Syntheri Rocks, and Kavala Caves are other important sites in & around Dandeli.

Jeep safari in Kali Sanctuary at Kulgi is quite a popular activity in summer season. Explore Dandeli Travel Guide offered by Trawell.in for complete details on the stunning scenic place. Dandeli can also be visited along with Goa tour packages and Gokarna Packages. It usually takes at least 2 full days to visit thee important attractions & activities in Dandeli. With an additional 2-3 days, you can also visit Goa or Gokarna & Murudeshwar with Udupi or Jog Falls.

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Sirsi is a small hill terrain located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. About 99 km from Shimoga, 100 km from Hubli, 395 km from Bangalore, it is the main commercial center and a business hub in the Malnadu region.

Situated at an altitude of 2000 feet, Sirsi is surrounded by thick forests and towering hills. This pristine hill station is also known as 'Gateway of Malenadu' or 'Gateway of Western Ghats'. Unchalli Falls, Vibhuthi Falls, Marikamba Temple, Magod Falls, Benne Hole Falls, Shivaganga Falls, Muregar Falls, Burude Falls, Mattighatta Falls, Manjuguni, Sahashralinga, Sodhe / Sonda, Devimane Ghat, Banavasi, and Gudavi Bird Sanctuary are some of the top place to visit in Sirsi.

Sri Marikamba Jatra is the main festival held every alternate year in March at Sirsi. The fair attracts nearly 5 lakh devotees, tourists, and pilgrims from throughout Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. It is said to be the most famous and biggest fair in the state of Karnataka.

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Nestled in the thickly forested Malnadu region of the Western Ghats, Agumbe is one of the most mesmerizing offbeat tourist places in Karnataka. It is located about 112 km from Mangalore and 342 km from Bangalore.

Situated at an altitude of over 2100 feet, the scenic village of Agumbe lies in the Western Ghats with some of the last remaining lowland rainforests. The place is nicknamed The Cherrapunji of the South as it receives the heaviest rainfall in the southern India which makes it a perfect home to some of the scenic waterfalls, dense forests, and rivers. Prominent Agumbe tourist places are Sri Gopala Krishna temple, Kunchikal Falls, Barkana Falls, Onake Abbi Falls, Jogi Gundi Falls, Koodlu Theertha Falls, Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Narsimha Parvatha trek, Kudremukh National Park, Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. It can be visited as part of Udupi holiday packages.

Agumbe is home to the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, the only rainforest research station in India, and was established as a sanctuary for the King Cobra. It is also the place where RK Narayan has filmed his novel Malgudi Days.

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At a distance of 60 Kms from Bangalore situated close to Chikballapur, Nandi Hills or Nandidurga is a popular hill station near Bangalore. Located close to Skandagiri, Nandi hills is also one of the top trekkig destination and among the popular places to visit near Bangalore.

It gets its name from the ancient Nandi or bull which is meant to be the mount of Lord Shiva. These hills are the source of the rivers Palar, Arkavati and Pennar. It was one of the Tipu's summer retreats. There are about 1,200 steps laid from foot of the hill to reach the top of the hill. Bhoga Nandishwara Temple situated at the foot of the hills is a must see place which houses a 1000 year old sculpture of Nandi.

Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and Tipu's Drop, a 600 ft cliff from where Tipu Sultan used to throw his prisoners, offers a spectacular view of the valley. Amrita Sarovar Lake, ruins of Tipu Sultan's fort are other places to visit. There are also three temples dedicated to Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Yoga Narasimha and Sri Bhoga Narasimha.

There are few accommodation options available on the peak for those who want to experience early morning sunrise, though trekking the peak early in the morning is the best option. Self camping on the peak is not safe.

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At a distance of 85 km from Mysore, 40 km from Chamarajanagar and 170 km from Bangalore, the Biligiri Ranga Hills popularly known as the BR Hills is a hill range in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is considered to be the wildlife corridor that connects Eastern Ghats to Western Ghats. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Mysore.

BR Hills is famous for BRT Wildlife Sanctuary (Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary). The sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 5091 feet and is spread across an area of 540 km. It was declared a tiger reserve in 2010 by the Karnataka State Government. The highest peak within the sanctuary is the Kattari Betta. The wildlife sanctuary is inhabited by a number of animals including elephants, sloth bears, bison, deer, porcupines and a number of other wild animals. It is also a paradise for bird lovers and harbours more than 250 species of birds like the Paradise Flycatcher, Racquet Trailed Drongo and the Crested Hawk Eagle, etc.

Another attraction of the BR Hills is the 500 years old famous Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple which is situated on the highest peak of the hill range, on the white cliff (biligiri) which gives the hill its name. The local form of the deity is called Ranganath, another form of Lord Vishnu and is depicted in a unique standing position. The temple premises offer wonderful views of the valleys of BR Hills. During February-March, a car festival ...

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About Male Mahadeshwara Betta

At a distance of 135 km from Mysore, 89 km from Hogenakkal, 72 km from Kollegal & 209 km from Bangalore, Male Mahadeshwara Betta, also known as MM Hills is a sacred place situated in the eastern parts of Kollegal taluk in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. Situated at an altitude of 3000 feet, this is one of the top attractions you must include in Mysore packages.

Male Mahadeshwara Hills is surrounded by dense forest and is famous for Malai Mahadeshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Mahadeshwara. The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Male Mahadeshwara is one of the very popular Shaiva pilgrim centers in the region, and among the most sacred pilgrimage sites near Mysore. The temple is surrounded by 77 hills of the Eastern Ghats. The temple draws large number of pilgrims from the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

History & Mythology of Male Mahadeshwara Betta

The Mahadeshwara Temple was built by Junje Gowda, a local landlord belonging to the Kuruba Gowda community. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Mahadeshwara who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. Historical evidences suggest that the Saint Mahadeshwara came here in 15th century to perform penance and it is believed that he is still performing penance in the temple's garbhagriha in the form of a linga. The linga, worshipped now ...

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