Bengaluru to Chikkamagaluru by Bike: Route, Stops and Mullayanagiri Tips

Chikkamagaluru (often written Chikmagalur) is coffee country: rolling estates, the highest peak in Karnataka and some of the best hill roads in the state. It’s one of the most rewarding weekend rides from Bengaluru.

Before you go: distances are approximate, and access rules for the hill roads around Mullayanagiri change — check the Chikkamagaluru district’s official website before you ride.

Distance and time

Distance (Bengaluru to Chikkamagaluru town)	about 240–250 km
Riding time	about 5–6 hours with breaks
Best time to go	September to March; June to August is monsoon
Good for	a 2–3 day weekend ride

The route: Bengaluru → Hassan → Belur → Chikkamagaluru

Leg 1: Bengaluru to Hassan (about 185 km)

Leave the city via Tumakuru Road and turn onto NH75 at Nelamangala towards Kunigal, Channarayapatna and Hassan. It’s a good highway, so the riding is easy, but keep your speed sensible and watch for trucks and vehicles entering from villages.

Stop idea: Shravanabelagola, a short detour from Channarayapatna, has the huge monolithic statue of Gommateshwara (Bahubali) on a hilltop. The climb is barefoot, on steps cut into the rock.

Leg 2: Hassan to Belur (about 40 km)

Belur’s Chennakeshava temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture, with astonishingly detailed stone carving. Halebidu, with another spectacular Hoysala temple, is close by and easy to add.

Leg 3: Belur to Chikkamagaluru (about 25 km)

A short, pleasant ride through farmland into coffee country.

Faster alternative: if you’d rather skip Belur, ride Hassan to Chikkamagaluru directly.

What to see around Chikkamagaluru

Mullayanagiri and Baba Budangiri

Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in Karnataka, reached by a narrow, winding road with steep drops and hairpin bends, then steps to the temple at the top. Baba Budangiri, nearby, is where coffee was first grown in India, according to local history.

Vehicle passes: the district administration limits the number of vehicles going up to Mullayanagiri, Seethalayanagiri, Baba Budangiri and Manikyadhara, with fixed time slots and mandatory online booking and fees. Book your slot on the official district website before you go, especially on weekends.

Riding the Mullayanagiri road: it’s narrow and often one vehicle wide on the bends. Ride slowly, use your horn on blind corners, give way to vehicles coming uphill, and expect fog.

Other stops

• Hirekolale lake: a calm lake with hills behind it, lovely at sunset and close to town.
• Coffee estates: stay in an estate homestay and take a plantation walk.
• Kemmangundi and Kudremukh: further away, for another day, with more ghat riding.

Monsoon and ghat riding tips

• Fog is common on the hill roads. Headlight on, speed down, and keep a bigger gap.
• Wet leaves and moss are slippery, especially on shaded bends.
• Landslides can close roads after very heavy rain. Ask locally.
• Read our monsoon riding tips before a wet-season trip.

Packing list

• Rain suit and luggage covers
• A warm layer for mornings and evenings on the hills
• Puncture repair kit and basic tools
• Offline maps: signal drops on the hill roads
• Printed or saved confirmation of your Mullayanagiri vehicle pass

FAQ

What is the best route from Bengaluru to Chikkamagaluru by bike? NH75 via Kunigal, Channarayapatna and Hassan, then either directly to Chikkamagaluru or via Belur.

Do I need a pass to ride to Mullayanagiri? Yes. Vehicle numbers are capped per time slot, and online booking with advance payment is mandatory. Check the district’s official website for the current process.

How many days do I need? Two days works; three lets you add Belur, Halebidu and a sunrise ride without rushing.

Planning to ride as a group? Read our group riding rules. For another hill-country ride, see Bengaluru to Coorg by bike.