Baba Budan giri

Baba Budangiri is a mountain in the Baba Budan range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the  Chikkamagaluru  taluk,  Chikkamagaluru District  of Karnataka, Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine to the  Sufi saint  Hazrat Dada Hayat Khalandar , a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims. Sangh parivar organizations started "Datta Jayanti" celebrations in the late 2000s as part of their fight to claim "Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swami Dattapit". People go to have a darshan of the dargah. The main peaks in this range are the  Mullayanagiri  and Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m). Collectively, these peaks are known as Chandradrona Parvatha Shreni (Chandradrona Mountain Range) as they naturally form the shape of a crescent moon.

 

TRANSPORTATION AND BEST TIME TO VISIT THE PLACE

When it comes to transportation, in order to reach Baba Budangiri the nearest airports are the Mangalore or the Bangalore Airport. One can arrive at  either of these airports and take a taxi or a bus in order to reach these hills. There is also an option of shared Jeeps that is available and mostly those people who want to go on a hike in order to reach Baba Budangiri Hills prefer this. There are also private run buses that are available from Chikmagalur to Baba Budangiri and these buses are scheduled after every three hours. The best time to visit this place is from the months of March to April because the primary flowering season takes place during this time. Even during the winters there is mist here which makes this place all the more beautiful to view.

Nearest Airports:

The nearest airports to Baba Budangiri are:

• Mangalore Airport (MXP): Located approximately 160 km from Chikmagalur, the town closest to Baba Budangiri.
• Bangalore International Airport (BLR): Located approximately 245 km from Chikmagalur.

Upon arriving at either airport, there are several options for reaching Baba Budangiri:

Taxi or Bus:

You can take a taxi or a bus from the airport to Chikmagalur. From there, you'll need to hire a local taxi or shared jeep to reach Baba Budangiri.

 

ACCOMODATION AND FOOD

In terms of accommodation around Baba Budangiri, many hotels are available here at affordable prices. Some of them are the Honeydewwz Exoticaa Hotel and Resort,Siri Nature Roosts,Nature View Cottages,Hotel White Feather, Malnad Paradise,etc. When it  comes to the food here, the Malnad cuisine is quite famous. Budangiri Coffee here is also very popular and it is available at Coffee Barn Cafe.There are no restaurants close to these hills, they are a little bit far away. Few names of the restaurants include Town Canteen,Siri Cafe, the Estate Cafe, Cafe Agape,Food Palace,etc

Accommodation Type	Details
Hotels	There are various budget and luxury hotels in Chikkamagaluru, offering comfortable stays with stunning views of the mountains.
	Guest houses and homestays	These options offer a more personal touch, allowing visitors to experience local culture and hospitality.
Ashrams	For those seeking a more spiritual retreat, ashrams provide a peaceful environment and opportunities for meditation and yoga.

 

ACTIVITIES AND PLACES TO VISIT

There are a number of activities that one can undertake here. For instance one of them being trekking. There are two starting points to begin the trek, the first point is called Sarpadhari and the second point is called Attigundi. Whichever route the trekker takes,they will reach the Mullayanagiri mountain first and then they will reach Baba Budangiri.Another interesting thing to watch out on the trek is the walk on the Bladge Ridge which falls on the way to Mullayanagiri.Once the trek is completed, the trekker is greeted with a birds eye view of the valley which lies down below. From several viewpoints along the way one can click amazing pictures. Camping and Campfires also take place here in the forest clearings. An exciting thing to watch out for is the blooming of the Kurinji Flowers in the low lying slopes of the Nilgiris which is a rare seasonal attraction in these hills. These flowers blossom at an interval of every 12 years and cover the entire area in shades of blue because of which the Nilgiris hills get its name.

Datta Peeta is a religious place that is located in Baba Budangiri Hills.The mountain has got its name after the Muslim saint Baba Budan. At this place there are three caves where three Siddhas are buried. Siddhas refer to religious oracles. In these caves there is an annual ceremony that is held. One can also visit  the Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy’s Darga which is an ancient institution. There also exists a cave  in the surrounding  which is believed to be made holy by Dattatreyaswamy. It is believed that he along with Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar lived here and hence this place is considered to be a sacred place and people come here to offer their prayers. The first coffee plantation was grown on this mountain and there still exist many coffee plantations here.

Mullayanagiri Peak is the highest peak in Karnataka. On the trek to Baba Budangiri the trekker will reach Mullayanagiri first and this place is a beautiful sight to behold because it has abundant flora and fauna.The Chennakesava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It is locally referred to as the Kalasagar temple.This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is also known as Chennakesava which means beautiful Vishnu.King Vishnuvardhan defeated the Cholas and in order to commemorate this victory this temple was built. A popular attraction inside this complex is the Deepastambha which is a huge 42 feet high pillar and is carved out of a single stone. It is also called the antigravity pillar. This pillar stands on its own weight on a raised platform without any support. The base of the pillar towards the north side is a little bit raised because of which there is a gap between the pillar and the platform and a piece of paper can easily pass from there.

For all those who want to shop spices and dry fruits, Namma Angady is a must visit place. This place is a traditional shop where one can buy a variety of spices and also dry fruits with good prices and the quality of these items is also quite good.

Thus,this place surely  makes for a good weekend getaway.