Weekend treks near Kochi

Short treks of up to three days whose trailhead is within 350 km of Kochi, nearest first.

31 treks

Cover photo: Savandurga

Pravega · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tall rainforest trees with sunlit trunks and thick undergrowth in the Manamboli area of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve

1,106 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Manambolly

Moderate1 dayOct–Mar

83 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Still pools and rounded boulders in the Chinnar river near Chinnar Checkpost, with tall riverside trees behind

470 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Chinnar - Kottar

Easy1 dayNov–Feb

114 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Trekkers on the rock ledge of Dolphin's Nose near Vattakanal, the first big viewpoint on the walk down to Vellagavi, with the Palani Hills beyond

1,997 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Vellagavi

Moderate2 daysOct–Feb

137 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Grassy valleys, shola patches and a pointed peak in the Avalanche hills, the area the Devarbetta trail crosses (photo taken about 2 km north-west of the summit)

2,538 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Devarbetta

Difficult1 dayOct–Feb

155 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Open grassland at Avalanche with shola-covered hills and a glimpse of the reservoir, in the area where the Kolaribetta trek starts (not the trail itself)

2,625 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Kolaribetta

Moderate1 dayNov–Apr

156 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
AprilBest
May
June
July
August
September
October
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

View over forested valley and hills from the Nadugani ghat road, near the Gene Pool trek (not the trail itself)

940 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Gene Pool

Easy1 dayOct–Mar

172 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Needle Rock (left) and Morapu Malai (right), the grassy peaks about 10 km west of Gudalur where the Rockwood trail climbs, seen from NH 181

1,530 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Rockwood Peak

Moderate1 dayOct–Mar

177 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

A grey slender loris clinging to a branch, photographed in Dindigul district - the animal the Loris Trail is about (not taken on the trail itself)

434 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Loris Trail

Easy1 dayNov–Feb

218 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Evergreen forest and grassy hills elsewhere in the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, the same sanctuary as the trek (not the trek itself)

800 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Nandigunda

Easy1 dayOct–Feb

243 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Forested Chamundi Hill with the temple tower and a mast on its summit, seen across Karanji Lake in Mysuru

1,063 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Chamundi Hills

Easy1 dayOct–Feb

265 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Grassy ridges and shola forest of Tadiyandamol under a clear sky

1,748 m

Karnataka

Tadiyandamol

Moderate1 daySep–Feb

265 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
AprilClosed
MayClosed
JuneClosed
JulyClosed
AugustClosed
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Forested valleys and grassy Kodagu ridges near Tadiandamol, the hills seen from the Nelji ridge (not the Nelji trail itself)

1,597 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Nelji Hill

Moderate2 daysOct–Feb

272 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Forested ridges of the Talakaveri hills under monsoon clouds, the area where the Nishani Motte trek begins (not the trail itself)

1,527 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Nishani Motte

Moderate1 dayOct–Jan

286 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
February
MarchClosed
AprilClosed
MayClosed
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Rocky Kunti Betta hill rising beyond the Pandavapura lake and green marsh under a cloudy blue sky

878 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Kunti Betta

Easy1 daySep–Feb

290 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Bare rock path and scrub-covered hill near Gundur in the Yercaud foothills, near the trek (not the cave itself)

975 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Gundur Limestone Cave

Easy1 daySep–Feb

292 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Walkers crossing green fields below forested slopes in the Pachaimalai hills, the range where the trek runs (not the trek itself)

845 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Mamarathu Solai

Moderate1 dayOct–Feb

296 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Walkers crossing green fields towards forested hills in the Pachaimalai range, near the trek (not the Senbakam trail itself)

900 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Senbakam

Easy1 dayOct–Feb

296 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

The Kaveri river near Biligundlu at dawn, with still water reflecting the forested hills

328 m

Unverified

Tamil Nadu

Biligundlu Cauvery River

Moderate1 daySep–Feb

297 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Trekkers crossing bare granite slabs at the start of the hike, with the Kabbaladurga monolith rising behind under a cloudy sky

1,067 m

Karnataka

Kabbaladurga

Moderate1 dayOct–Mar

307 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Upper section of Mallalli Falls pouring over dark rock in the monsoon; the trek passes the head of these falls

1,121 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Doddabetta and Abbey Vari Falls

Easy1 daySep–Mar

311 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
MarchBest
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

View of Mallalli Falls and the forested Pushpagiri hills near Kumaralli, close to the trek start (not the trek trail itself)

1,196 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Merankote Patla Betta

Moderate1 dayNov–Feb

311 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Sunrise over the hills near Ramanagara, seen from Narayanagiri hill about 4 km north of Kunagalu Betta. This photo does not show the Kunagalu Betta trail.

850 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Kunagalu Betta

Easy1 dayJun–Feb

327 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
JuneBest
JulyBest
AugustBest
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Sunrise through cloud over scrub and trees on a hilltop about 2 km north of Muthurayaswamy Betta, near the trek (not the trek itself)

916 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Muthurayaswamy Betta

Easy1 daySep–Dec

329 km from Kochi (straight line)

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

The bare granite dome of Huliyurdurga hill seen from Hemagiri, with fort ruins on the top and coconut groves below

845 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Huliyurdurga

Moderate1 dayOct–Feb

332 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Aerial view of Koothagal village among coconut groves and wooded hills in Ramanagara district, about 6 km from Narayanagiri (not the trek itself)

1,158 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Narayanagiri

Easy1 dayJul–Feb

337 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
JulyBest
AugustBest
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Aerial view of Koothagal village among coconut groves in Ramanagara district, about 8 km from the trek; this photo does not show Siddalingeshwara Betta itself

905 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Siddalingeshwara Betta

Easy1 dayOct–Feb

340 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Jenukal Gudda's grassy slopes and forest on the Western Ghats crest near Sakleshpur

1,380 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Jenukal Gudda

Moderate1 dayOct–Feb

346 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Trail across grassland leading to the rocky hump of Ettina Bhuja, with the Charmadi hills behind

1,300 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Ettina Bhuja

Moderate1 dayOct–Feb

348 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
JuneClosed
JulyClosed
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Old stone fort walls climbing a granite hill at Hutridurga, with boulders and green scrub in front

1,130 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Uttari Betta

Easy1 dayOct–Feb

349 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

Savandurga's pink granite domes and lower rocky spurs with old fort walls, seen from the south above the base temples near where the Bidirukatte trail starts (photo of the neighbouring hill, not the Bidirukatte trail itself)

975 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Bidirukatte

Easy1 daySep–Feb

350 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
June
July
August
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest

The pink granite domes of Savandurga hill rising above scrub forest and village houses, seen from the south

1,226 m

Unverified

Karnataka

Savandurga

Moderate1 daySep–Feb

350 km from Kochi (straight line)

JanuaryBest
FebruaryBest
March
April
May
JuneClosed
JulyClosed
AugustClosed
SeptemberBest
OctoberBest
NovemberBest
DecemberBest