What to expect
Highlights
- The horse-face peak and grassland ridge trek.
- Shola forest, streams and sweeping Ghats views.
- The wider Kudremukh National Park setting.
Kudremukh Peak
Kudremukh, at about 1,894 m, is the second-highest peak in Karnataka and the centrepiece of the Kudremukh National Park. Its name — "horse-face" — comes from a distinctive profile of the mountain.
Practical guide
Plan Kudremukh Peak
Who's going?Tailor Kudremukh Peak to your trip
Typetrek
Nearest baseKudremukh
DistrictChikkamagaluru
Best timeOctober to February (post-monsoon…
Time neededA full day for the trek
EntryForest permit (and guide) required
Places to visit3→The peak is reached by a permit-controlled day trek from Mullodi/Balagal that crosses rolling shola grassland, streams and forest patches, one of the classic Western Ghats treks.
Getting there
How to visit
- The trek base is near Kalasa/Kudremukh, ~95–100 km from Chikkamagaluru; the trek needs a forest-department permit and usually a guide.
- Numbers and timings are regulated — arrange the permit and guide in advance, start early, and carry water, food and rain cover; the full trek is long and strenuous.
Distance by road
- Hassan55 km
- Shivamogga90 km
- Mangaluru150 km
- Mysuru165 km
- Bengaluru245 km
Road km to Chikkamagaluru; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February (post-monsoon greenery, clearer skies); the park may restrict access in the monsoon.
Weather in Kudremukh PeakSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Kudremukh Peak
Sunrise6:18 am
Sunset6:39 pm
Golden hour best light5:39 pm–6:39 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:39 pm–7:04 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 64%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A regulated national-park trek — carry your permit, stay on the trail, take all litter out, and beware of leeches after rain.
Photos
Kudremukh Peak in pictures
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Stays, food & things to do near Kudremukh Peak
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Top experiences around Kudremukh
2 more places around Kudremukh, each worth a day of its own.
waterfallHanuman Gundi Falls
42.2 km · 68 min drive
A waterfall inside the Kudremukh National Park, reached down a long flight of steps, dropping around 30 m into a rocky pool amid rainforest; also known as Soojipara.
templeAnnapoorneshwari Temple, Horanadu
31.4 km · 58 min drive
A riverside temple to Adi Shakthyathmaka Annapoorneshwari, goddess of food and nourishment, at Horanadu on the Bhadra, where every pilgrim is offered a free meal; a key stop on the Sringeri–Kalasa temple circuit.
Roampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Kudremukh Peak? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessTrek facts
Kudremukh Peak — at a glance
TimingsFull-day trek; start early
Best timeOctober to February; park may restrict monsoon access
Entry: Forest permit (and guide) required
Getting here
How to reach Kudremukh Peak
Trek base near Kalasa/Kudremukh, ~95–100 km from Chikkamagaluru
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Kudremukh Peak is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Kudremukh Peak
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Kudremukh Peak
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Kudremukh Peak
Walking and driving times are real routed distances, except the few marked “straight line”, which are direct-line estimates and will read short. Routing: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
On the map
Where Kudremukh Peak is
Good to know
Kudremukh Peak — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Kudremukh Peak?
October to February (post-monsoon greenery, clearer skies); the park may restrict access in the monsoon.
What are the entry fee and timings at Kudremukh Peak?
Entry: Forest permit (and guide) required. Timings: Full-day trek; start early.
How do I reach Kudremukh Peak?
The trek base is near Kalasa/Kudremukh, ~95–100 km from Chikkamagaluru; the trek needs a forest-department permit and usually a guide. Numbers and timings are regulated — arrange the permit and guide in advance, start early, and carry water, food and rain cover; the full trek is long and strenuous.
How much time do I need for Kudremukh Peak?
A full day for the trek.
What else is near Kudremukh Peak?
Nearby you can pair Annapoorneshwari Temple, Horanadu (31.4 km), Hanuman Gundi Falls (42.2 km), Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (62.2 km), Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri (75.1 km).
Read before you go
Kudremukh Peak guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Kudremukh Peak itself yet. These cover Kudremukh, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Around Kudremukh
Kudremukh Peak sits in Kudremukh, so these cover the streets, buildings and surroundings around it.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: solarisgirl, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0), Ramesh Desai (CC BY-SA 4.0), Prashanthmuthyalanaidu (CC BY-SA 4.0), iMahesh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.