Karshigudda Trek
Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka
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- Max altitude
- 1,356 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 6 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short, about 6 km with roughly 300 m of climbing, and Indiahikes calls it beginner-friendly; but the last 0.7 km is a steep open-grass climb, the optional descent down the far face is very steep, and the Forest Department lists the route at its 'adventurous' (ಸಾಹಸಮಯ) level.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Karshigudda Forest Checkpost → Karshigudda Forest Checkpost
1,064 m → 1,356 m → 1,064 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 · Karshigudda Forest Checkpost, near Horanadu
at 1,064 mLoading forecast…
High point · Karshigudda summit
at 1,356 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
- Karshigudda Forest Checkpost, near Horanadu
- Nearest railway
- Chikkamagaluru or Kadur Junction (both about 3 hours by road)
- Nearest airport
- Mangaluru International
- By road
- Horanadu bus stand (about 15 minutes by auto to the checkpost); Kalasa (about 10 km to Horanadu); Bengaluru via Hassan (about 330–340 km)
- 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
₹2,000–4,000
With an operator
₹3,000–5,500
Per person, ex-Bengaluru, for an overnight-bus day trip. Both ranges are estimates: no trek operator published a Karshigudda package as of Oct 2026. Self-guided = KSRTC overnight bus to Horanadu and back, auto from Horanadu bus stand to the checkpost (Indiahikes, Sep 2026: about ₹500 two-way per auto; ₹2,000 for a pick-up jeep for groups), a share of the mandatory forest guide (₹1,000 per group of up to ten, per Indiahikes) and meals. The guided figure assumes an organised weekend group trip. The online forest booking fee is shown only inside the portal login, so it is not included.
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
- Not confirmed by our sources; expect usable signal in Horanadu and weak or no signal inside the forest.
- Last ATM
- Horanadu or Kalasa (carry cash for the auto and guide fee)
- Nearest hospital
- Government hospital at Kalasa (about 10 km); larger hospitals in Chikkamagaluru
- Water
- One perennial forest stream at about the 2 km mark; do not rely on it. Carry 2–3 litres per person.
Highlights
- Dense shola forest from the start, opening into grassland clearings with views of the Kudremukh range
- Steep zig-zag grass climb past a lone tree to a 360-degree summit view over Merthigudda, Aanegudda, Netravathi and Kudremukh
- Optional steep descent down the far face, over a saddle and 'mini Karshigudda' back to the forest trail
- Post-monsoon Gurige flowers in the forest; Neelakurinji in a bloom year
- Easy to pair with a darshan at the Sri Annapoorneshwari temple in Horanadu or the Merthigudda trek
Risks
- Leeches and slippery grass in the monsoon and early post-monsoon; permits can be cancelled on heavy-rain alerts
- The alternate descent down the far face is very steep; first-timers and anyone uneasy with heights should return the way they came
- Many foot trails criss-cross the forest; a Forest Department guide is mandatory, so stay with them
- Entry is allowed only in the morning slot (the portal lists 6:00–11:30 AM; Indiahikes reports a strictly enforced 11:00 AM cut-off)
- Little shade on the open grassland; after February the meadows get very hot
- Wildlife area: the Forest Department notes sambar and animal tracks on the route
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need a permit for the Karshigudda trek?
Yes. Book online in advance on the Karnataka Forest Department's Aranya Vihaara portal (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in) under Chikkamagaluru → Karshigudda. In Oct 2026 the portal showed one 6:00–11:30 AM slot for 300 trekkers, up to 3 people per booking. Indiahikes reports no offline permits at the checkpost; carry an original government photo ID.
Is a guide mandatory?
Yes. Indiahikes reports that the Forest Department assigns a guide at the checkpost for every group, at about ₹1,000 for up to ten people (Sep 2026), so even solo trekkers walk with a guide.
How long and how hard is it?
About 5.5–6 km in all (the Forest Department lists 6 km and 3 hours; Indiahikes measured 5.5 km and says under 5 hours). The first 2.2 km climbs gently through forest; the last 0.7 km to the top is a steep grass climb of about 40 minutes. Indiahikes rates it suitable for beginners and families.
When is the best time to go?
The booking calendar was closed from late March to the end of June in 2026, and Indiahikes says the trek runs July to February. Post-monsoon (Sep–Oct) is greenest with flowers; November to February gives the clearest summit views.
How do I reach the start without a car?
Take an overnight KSRTC bus from Bengaluru to Horanadu, then an auto from the bus stand to the Karshigudda checkpost (about 15 minutes; about ₹500 two-way per auto in Sep 2026). Private vehicles can drive to the checkpost, where there is parking for about 10 vehicles.
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
- Government hospital at Kalasa (about 10 km); larger hospitals in Chikkamagaluru
- Last ATM
- Horanadu or Kalasa (carry cash for the auto and guide fee)
- Phone network
- Not confirmed by our sources; expect usable signal in Horanadu and weak or no signal inside the forest.
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 Karshigudda
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Aranya Vihaara – Karshigudda trek (Chikkamagaluru, trek id 144; Koppa division, Kalasa range) — Karnataka Forest Department (official)
- A Complete Guide to the Karshigudda Trek — Indiahikes
Photos: Prof. Mohamed Shareef from Mysore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Adityamadhav83 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
