Brahmagiri Location: In coorg, near Kutta. Quite close to Nagarhole NP. Nearest Town: Kutta, Srimangala. Gonikkoppal is the bigger town nearby. Distances: 275km from Bangalore. Route: Route 1: Bangalore - Mysore - Hunsur - Srimangala - Iruppu - Bhrahmagiri. Route 2: Bangalore - Mysore - Nanjangudu - Gundelpet - Sulthan Bathery - Mananthavady - Kattikulam - Thirunelli - Bhrahmagiri. Karnataka SRTC runs only one Rajahamsa through Srimangala which goes to Kutta from Bangalore. There are ample number of services to Gonikoppal. From Gonikoppal private buses are available in plenty to Srimangala. From Srimangala Iruppu falls is just 10km away and the trek starts from here. Route 2 is 50km more than Route 1. To climb from Kerala side you will have to travel in Kerala SRTC after reaching Kutta to reach Kattikulam. From Kattikulam you can get private bus or Kerala SRTC bus to Thirunelli from where the trek starts. Camping Sites: Forest guest house inside the WLS. Trek Length: Irpu falls – Narimale guest house: 4 kms (3 hours) Narimale guest house – Munikal caves: 4 kms (1 – 1.5 hours) Narimale guest house – Brahmagiri : 5 kms (1.5 hours) Difficulty Level: Moderate Best Time To Visit: dec-feb Worst Time To Visit: Monsoon Summary: Brahmagiri is a hill range in western ghats on the border of Kerala and Karnataka. The hill range is a trekkers paradise. There is a peak in these ranges known by the name Brahmagiri. On
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
BrahmagiriLocation: In coorg, near Kutta. Quite close to Nagarhole NP.
Nearest Town: Kutta, Srimangala. Gonikkoppal is the bigger town nearby.
Karnataka SRTC runs only one Rajahamsa through Srimangala which goes to Kutta from Bangalore. There are ample number of services to Gonikoppal. From Gonikoppal private buses are available in plenty to Srimangala. From Srimangala Iruppu falls is just 10km away and the trek starts from here. Route 2 is 50km more than Route 1. To climb from Kerala side you will have to travel in Kerala SRTC after reaching Kutta to reach Kattikulam. From Kattikulam you can get private bus or Kerala SRTC bus to Thirunelli from where the trek starts.
Best Time To Visit: dec-febWorst Time To Visit: Monsoon
Summary: Brahmagiri is a hill range in western ghats on the border of Kerala and Karnataka. The hill range is a trekkers paradise. There is a peak in these ranges known by the name Brahmagiri. On its south is the Thirunelli temple in Wayanad district of Kerala and on its north lies the Iruppu falls in Kodagu district in Karnataka. The Brahmagiri peak is trekkable from both Kerala side and Karnataka side. The trek from Kerala side begins at Thirunelli while from Karnataka side begins from Iruppu falls. Forest Department permission is required for trekking. If you are trekking from Kerala side you have to get permission from Thirunelli Forest Range Officer. While from Karnataka side you need to take permission from Srimangala Forest Range Officer (ph:08274-426331). The Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary lying in Kerala side is also a famous tourist attraction. This is a cave in which too many number of birds arrive during the mating season.
Food and Accomodation: Gonikoppal is the nearest place with decent hotels in Karnataka side. While trekking from Karnataka side, Narimale Estate Guest house is the place of stay. If you are approaching from Kerala side, at Thirunelli itself you can get hotels for food and
stay. The forest guest house at Thirunelli also offers stay. Mananthavady is the nearest place with decent hotels in Kerala side.
Important Phone Numbers:For booking accomodation in advance at Narimalai: Contact Person: Pramod, Forest Range Office, Srimangala, Cell # : +91-9448813835
For booking accomodation at Inspector's Bunglow for stay at Srimangala (This is right next to the Forest Range office. Night stay for 7 people, worked out to less than Rs.675 here): Contact Person: Rama, Number: +91-8274-246693
Coorg Guest House - Owner :Dr.Vince +91 9448126427/08274246325/ +91 9845452222
Therunelli Forest Range Office: 04935210377
Permission: You have to get permission from forrest office Srimangala. A guide is compulsory. You can find the guide near Iruppu falls, where the trek starts.
How about going trekking on Brahmagiri hill and falling right into the lap of Mother Nature?
The sanctuary derives its name from the highest point, the Brahmagiri peak, which is 1607 m in height. It covers an area of about 181 Kms.
Trekking Along Brahmagiri Hill
Brahmagiri, at 1608 m above sea level, is a hill range on the Western Ghats bordering Kerala and Karnataka. It is situated on the border between Wyanad District of Kerala state on the south and Kodagu District in Karnataka on the north side.
Pack your bags and head to this trekkers’ paradise that is graced by the ancient Thirunelli temple in the Wayanad district on the south and adorned by Iruppu falls from the Kodagu district ofKarnataka in the north.
December to February is the best time to visit the hill and one should avoid the monsoon. The hill is at an approximate distance of 270 km from Bangalore. If you’re trekking from Kerala, you have to begin at Thirunelli and whilst trekking from Karnataka, you have to begin from Iruppu falls. Permission from the Thirunelli Forest Range Officer and Srimangala Forest Range Officer has to be taken while trekking. The nearest towns to Brahmagiri hill are Kutta, Srimangala and Gonikkoppal. Taking a guide along is compulsory and his charges will range around INR 200.
The area has mainly evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, and in the higher altitudes, there are grasslands with shola forest patches. Bamboos are well represented in these forests.
What to See and Do
Thirunnelai Temple: Legend has it that the Thirunnelai Temple was built by Lord Brahma himself and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It lies on the side bordered by Kerala. Also celebrated as the Kasi of the South or Dakshina Kasi, the temple has 30 granite pillars constructed in traditional style.
Pakshipathalam: Pakshipathalam is another major attraction on the Kerala side of the Brahmagiri range having an altitude of 1740 meters. Legend has it
that the cave in Pakshipathalam was used by Gurus and Rishis in primeval times. It is also known as the Munikal cave in Karnataka.
Iruppu Falls: Originating from the Lakshmana Tirtha River in Karnataka, Iruppa Falls is one of the most sought after destinations in Karnataka. According to fables, Lord Rama and Lakshmana were in search of Sita when they became thirsty. Lord Lakshmana shot an arrow to Brahmagiri hill from where the Lakshmana Tirtha River sprang. It eventually flows into the Kaveri River.
Wildlife and Birds At Brahmagiri
The top of Brahmagiri Hill is well forested and has a lot of wildlife. Mammals in the Sanctuary include Lion-tailed Macaque, Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Wild Pig, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgiri Langur, Slender Loris, Bonnet Macaque, Common Langur, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Giant Flying Squirrel, Nilgiri Marten, Common Otter, Brown Mongoose, Civets, Porcupine, Pangolin.
Python, cobra and king cobra are some of the reptiles found in the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary.
Interesting birds in the Sanctuary include emerald dove, black bulbul and Malabar trogon.
How to Reach Brahmagiri
Brahmagiri is about 60 Kms from Coorg and about 270 Kms from Bangalore.
From Bangalore via bus: KSRTC bus service provides several options to go to Gonikkoppal. From Gonikkoppal, you can select from a host of bus services to reach Srimangala. KSRTC services only one Rajahamsa bus to Srimangala from Bangalore. From Srimangala, you will have to travel 10 km before reaching Iruppu falls from where your trekking journey will begin.
From Bangalore by car: Drive through Mysore Road to reach Srirangapatna. After driving for a while, take a deviation from Hunsur and proceed to Gonikkoppal. On the way to Gonikkoppal, you will have to take another deviation towards Nagarhole/Srimangala/Iruppu. Past Ponnampet, Hudikeri and Shettigiri, you will reach Srimangala from where you have to head towards Iruppu and begin your trek.
From Kerala by bus: Reach Kutta and take a Kerala SRTC bus to get to Kattikulam. From Kattikulam you can take a private bus or a Kerala SRTC bus to Thirunelli from where your trek can commence.
The nearest place with good hotels on the Karnataka side is Gonikkoppal. While trekking fromKarnataka, it is advisable to book accommodation at Narimale Guest house. If you are approaching from the Kerala side, Thirunelli is ideal for several no-frill options for lodging. The forest guest house at Thirunelli is also a decent alternative. Mananthavady is the nearest place with places of residence on the Kerala side.
Coorg – Irpu Falls and Trekking in BrahmagiriD E C E M B E R 5 , 2 0 0 5
When I got into the bus last Friday evening, I was headed towards fulfilling a long-
standing plan: to climb up the Brahmagiri hills. Brahmagiri peak, located in Coorg
district of Karnataka is a part of Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. The climb goes
through leech ridden tropical forests to grasslands and shola(forest high in the hills
where grass is the dominant vegetation, and trees are found in small groups where
water is available) above the forest line, and offers great vistas of Sanctuary area