Gangadikal Trek
Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka
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- Max altitude
- 1,455 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 8 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A short day hike, but the last stretch from the second viewpoint to the ridge is a steep zigzag over loose iron-rich gravel and boulders, and that section is tricky on the way down.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Gangadikal forest check post → Gangadikal forest check post (via Gangadikal peak)
1,055 m → 1,455 m → 1,055 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Gangadikal forest check post, near Bhagavathi Nature Camp
at 1,055 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gangadikal peak
at 1,455 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Gangadikal forest check post, near Bhagavathi Nature Camp (nearest town: Kudremukh)
- Nearest railway
- Mangaluru (about 100 km)
- Nearest airport
- Mangalore International Airport (about 97 km)
- By road
- Bengaluru (about 330 km via Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Kottigehara and Kalasa); Kalasa (about 33 km via Kudremukh town on SH-66)
- Drive
- About 8 h from Bengaluru
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹2,500–5,000
With an operator
₹1,809–4,725
Per person, ex-Bengaluru. Guided prices published October 2026: Tripbae ₹1,809-1,880 for a weekend trip (forest permit not included; book it yourself on Aranya Vihaara); BMC Adventures ₹4,499 + 5% GST including forest permission, local guide, transport, dorm stay and meals. Self-guided is an estimate: bus or own vehicle to Kalasa and Kudremukh, the Aranya Vihaara trek ticket, the local guide, a homestay night and food.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 21
Monsoon months (Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- No mobile network on the trail; Jio 4G is occasionally available at the peak.
- Last ATM
- Kalasa (carry cash; card and UPI are often not accepted beyond it)
- Nearest hospital
- Kalasa Government Hospital for first care; Mangaluru for serious cases
- Water
- No water on the trail. Fill bottles at the Kudremukh forest office or in Kalasa and carry at least 2 litres.
Highlights
- A long grassy ridge with deep valleys on both sides, visible all the way from the roadhead
- A view of the Kudremukh range that the more famous peaks do not give, with Kurinjal and Valikunja on clear days
- The backwaters of Lakya Dam and the old Kudremukh mining town right below the summit
- Shola forest patches inside Kudremukh National Park, home to gaur, deer, Malabar giant squirrel and Malabar trogon
Risks
- The final climb from the second viewpoint to the ridge is steep loose gravel and boulders; descend slowly and lean into the slope.
- Heavy June-August rain makes the trail very slippery, and the forest department may stop treks during the monsoon at short notice.
- January is risky to plan: in 2026 the booking portal blocked almost all of January along with February-May for the fire season.
- Entry is only in a morning slot (06:00-11:00 on the portal) with a fixed daily limit, and summit turnaround is by early afternoon so you are back before dark.
- No food or water on the trail and no camping inside the national park.
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need to book the Gangadikal trek in advance?
Yes. Treks in Kudremukh National Park are booked online on the Karnataka Forest Department's Aranya Vihaara portal (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in). Bookings open up to 30 days ahead and close at least one day before; Gangadikal has one 06:00-11:00 slot with a daily cap, and you must carry the original ID used for booking.
How long and how hard is the Gangadikal trek?
The forest department lists it as an 8 km, about 4-hour trek of moderate difficulty; BMC Adventures also gives 8 km in total (two way). The trail is gentle on the old jeep track and grassland, then turns steep and gravelly for the final climb to the ridge.
What is the best time for Gangadikal?
Indiahikes recommends late September to January, after the monsoon, when the grasslands are green. In 2026 the booking portal was shut from mid-January to May for the fire season, so October to December is the safest window. June to August is open on some dates but very wet and slippery.
How much does the Gangadikal trek cost?
The trek ticket is paid on the Aranya Vihaara portal; we could not confirm the current official fee, so check it on the portal when you book. Indiahikes reports about ₹500 per head plus about ₹1,000 for the compulsory local guide. Weekend packages from Bengaluru cost about ₹1,800 (permit extra) to ₹4,500 + GST (permit included).
Where does the Gangadikal trek start?
The walk starts at a forest check post beside the Kudremukh-Kalasa road (SH-66), with parking for about three cars. The forest department names Bhagavathi Nature Camp as the start and end point, and Indiahikes says you first report at the Kudremukh forest office to get permission and a guide.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: ChikkamagaluruKarnataka
- Nearest hospital
- Kalasa Government Hospital for first care; Mangaluru for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Kalasa (carry cash; card and UPI are often not accepted beyond it)
- Phone network
- No mobile network on the trail; Jio 4G is occasionally available at the peak.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Gangadikal
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Aranya Vihaara - Trekking: Gangadikal Trek (ಗಂಗಡಿಕಲ್ ಚಾರಣ), Chikkamagaluru — Karnataka Forest Department (Aranya Vihaara) (official)
- Gangadikal Trek - Trek to the least explored peak in the Kudremukh range — Indiahikes
- Gangadikal Trek, Chikmagalur | Bangalore Mountaineering Club — BMC Adventures
- Gangadikal Trek, Kudremukh by Tripbae — Tripbae
Photos: solarisgirl, CC BY-SA 2.0; solarisgirl, CC BY-SA 2.0; solarisgirl, CC BY-SA 2.0
