Trekking is today’s trend. In the weekends, the city people rush to the beautiful trekking sites. Many among them choose Mullayanagiri as their trekking destination, which is the highest peak in the State. It is at 1,930 metres above sea level.
The peak that lies in the Western Ghat range is located in Chikkamagaluru District. The District in itself has many peaks appropriate for trekking. The entire area receives very heavy rainfall, making the trekking routes extremely difficult to traverse in the monsoons. The winters are severe with frequent mists reducing visibility along the treacherous inclines. About halfway up the hill, there is a cave. The walls of this cave are multi-coloured due to mineral deposits. The cave runs a good distance into the mountain and is infested with bats. The trek continues further up the hill. An ancient Shiva Temple perches atop the peak.
The view from the peak is breathtaking. The road to peak runs amidst coffee estates and dense forests for about half an hour. Sarpadhari is a small hamlet from where a well-trodden path takes one to the peak. ‘Sarpadhari’ means serpentine path, and it is indicative of the arduous nature of the trek. This scenario gives pleasant look for the eyes of the visitors.
Bababudangiri, Sringeri, Madikeri are the nearby places to visit during Mullayanagiri trip. September to February is the best time to visit here.