The Baba Budangiri mountain range is located in the Western Ghats of India. They are found in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 1895m and is considered to be the fourth highest peak that is situated in between the Himalyan Mountains and the Nilgiri Mountains.This range is also called the Chandra Drona Range because if one goes on a hiking trail from Sarpadhari they will be able to see both the Mullayanagiri and the Budangiri peaks appearing at a distance. These mountains appear in the shape of a crescent moon because of which this range is called the Chandra Drona Range. This place is equally important to both Hindus and Muslims.At the end of the trek at the top of the hill one will find the grave of Baba Budan who was a Sufi Saint. Also located here is the famous Dattatreya Caves which was believed to have been occupied by the Hindu deity Dattatreya Swami.
There are many tales that are shared among the pilgrims here with regards to Dattatreya Swami and Baba Budan.It is believed that Prophet Mohammed sent Baba Budan to India and also that Dattareya Swami is an incarnation of Brahma,Vishnu,Maheshwara.Another popular tale here is that Baba Budan had returned from Hajj with seven raw cocoa beans and he planted those beans in the in the soil of these mountains.
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.
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
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.
The 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.
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