Nishani Motte Trek
Kodagu, Karnataka
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 1,527 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 16 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A long day of about 16 km and up to 8 hours on the Forest Department route, through shola forest and over open grassy ridges, with a short, steep final climb to a small, windy summit.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Talacauvery forest checkpost → Nishanimotte Anti-Poaching Camp (APC)
1,249 m → 1,527 m → 900 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 · Talacauvery (Talakaveri) forest checkpost
at 1,249 mLoading forecast…
High point · Nishani Motte summit
at 1,527 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
- Talacauvery (Talakaveri) forest checkpost (nearest town: Bhagamandala)
- Nearest railway
- Mysuru Junction (about 130 km from Bhagamandala)
- Nearest airport
- Mangaluru International (about 150 km) or Kempegowda International, Bengaluru (about 320 km)
- By road
- Bhagamandala (7–8 km to Talacauvery by jeep or auto); Madikeri (about 40 km); Bengaluru (about 280–300 km via Mysuru and Madikeri)
- Drive
- About 7 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
₹3,000–5,000
With an operator
₹2,000
Per person, ex-Bengaluru. Guided figure is the only operator price found: Treks and Trails India lists its Nishani Motte Coorg trek at ₹2,000 (Oct 2026; inclusions not stated, check before booking). Self-guided is an estimate: overnight KSRTC bus to Madikeri and back, local bus to Bhagamandala, jeep to Talacauvery, and a homestay night near Bhagamandala (Indiahikes quotes ₹1,500–2,000 for stay, meals and jeep). The forest booking fee is not shown outside 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.
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Ad · affiliate link
Store buttons open a search on that store, not a product we picked. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Photos show the kind of item, not a specific product. Affiliate disclosure
Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 20
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Patchy across the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary; BSNL is the most reliable, Airtel only on high ground.
- Last ATM
- Madikeri (Bhagamandala has limited banking; no ATM at Talacauvery)
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital, Madikeri (about 40 km); government hospital, Virajpet
- Water
- Very little water on the trail; a small stream near the start is the only dependable source. Carry 2–3 litres.
Highlights
- Starts at Talacauvery, where Kaveri Maa rises as a spring beside the temple
- Dense shola forest giving way to long open grassy ridges of the Brahmagiri range
- Small, egg-shaped summit ('motte' means egg in Kannada) with views across the Western Ghats towards Kerala
- A quiet trail inside Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, bookable only on the Forest Department portal
Risks
- Karnataka circular of 11 May 2026: the Chief Wildlife Warden suspended all trekking paths in areas with leopards, tigers, elephants or bears until each trail is certified safe. This trek is listed as bookable on Aranya Vihaara again (Oct 2026); book only through the portal.
- Elephants, gaur, sloth bears and leopards live in the sanctuary; walk with the forest guide and keep to the trail
- Heavy leech load and slippery forest paths in and just after the monsoon (June–September); visibility on the ridges can drop to near zero
- The summit is tiny, exposed and windy; stay back from the edge, especially in cloud
- Late February is partly blocked on the booking calendar as the fire season begins
Know before you go
Questions
Do I need a permit for the Nishani Motte trek?
Yes. The trail is inside Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and is booked on the Karnataka Forest Department portal, Aranya Vihaara (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in), under Kodagu district as 'Talacauvery- Nishaanimotte Trek'. Booking opens up to 30 days ahead and closes the day before. Check the fee and slot on the portal.
How long is the trek?
The Forest Department route is 16 km, starting near the Talacauvery temple and ending at the Nishanimotte Anti-Poaching Camp, and takes about 8 hours. Karnataka Tourism gives 14–15 km and 6–8 hours; Indiahikes describes a shorter 12 km round trip from Cherangala.
How high is Nishani Motte?
The Forest Department gives the highest point of the trek as 1,527 m, which matches satellite terrain data for the summit (about 1,485 m). Several guides quote about 1,250–1,270 m (4,100–4,167 ft), which is lower than the Talacauvery starting point itself.
When is the best time to go?
October to January. The Forest Department names September to January; Indiahikes and Karnataka Tourism say October to February/March. The booking calendar was closed from mid-February to the end of May in 2026.
Is a guide needed?
Yes. Karnataka Tourism says a forest guide is mandatory for every group, and Indiahikes notes the forest section is not always clearly marked.
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: KodaguKarnataka
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital, Madikeri (about 40 km); government hospital, Virajpet
- Last ATM
- Madikeri (Bhagamandala has limited banking; no ATM at Talacauvery)
- Phone network
- Patchy across the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary; BSNL is the most reliable, Airtel only on high ground.
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 Nishani Motte
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
Share your trek photo with #TreksAndTrails
I trekked this
Did Nishani Motte look different from this page? Tell us what changed and we will check it.
Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Aranya Vihaara – Talacauvery- Nishaanimotte Trek (Kodagu, trek id 63) — Karnataka Forest Department (official)
- Nishani Motte Trek, Coorg | Official Guide, Permits & How to Reach — Karnataka Tourism (official)
- The Complete Guide to Nishani Motte Trek — Indiahikes
- Monsoon trek to Nishani Motte Betta — Bangalore Ascenders
- Nishani Motte Coorg Trek — Treks and Trails India
Photos: Sankarekannapiran / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; L. Shyamal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
