Chikmagalur – The Land of younger daughter is one of the best hill stations in India. Located in the foothills of the Mullayangiri peak of the western ghat, Chikmagalur is famous for its coffee plantation, natural beauty and pleasant climate.
Situated 243 KM from Bangalore, 150 KM from Mangaluru, and 171 KM from Mysore, Chikmagalur attracts tourists around Karnataka for its waterfalls, coffee plants, tropical rainforest, high mountain peaks and pleasant weather conditions.
The pleasant climate makes it a year-round destination. However, the best time to visit Chikmagalur depends on the purpose of the visit. So let’s find out the best time to visit Chikmagalur on the basis of seasons, festivals, and activities.
| Best Time To Visit Chikmagalur |
| Chikmagalur In Summer |
| Chikmagalur In Monsoon |
| Chikmagalur In Winter |
| Avg. Temperature |
| FAQ’s |
Best Time To Visit Chikmagalur
September to May is the best time to visit Chikmagalur when the temperature varies from 14 to 35 deg Celsius. The cool and fresh breeze makes the weather more pleasant to explore the beauty and top attractions of Chikmagalur.
During these months you can enjoy the two main seasons of this hill station – Winter from September to February and Summer from March to June.
- Peak Season – September to February is considered the peak season in Chikmagalur when the temperature varies from 14 to 30 deg Celsius. This is the busiest season in Chikmagalur as lots of tourists come here to celebrate Christmas and New year. Due to the huge crowd, hotels become expensive during this season and advance booking is recommended to avoid any inconvenience.
| Season | Best Time to Visit | Avg. Temperature |
| Winter – Sep to Feb | Best – Peak Season | 14 to 32 deg Celsius |
| Summer – March to June | Ideal time to visit | 25 to 35 deg Celsius |
| Monsoon – July to Sep | Off Season | 18 to 24 deg Celsius |
Summer Season in Chikmagalur – March to June
In Chikmagalur, the summer season starts in the month of March and ends in the month of June. During this season the temperature fluctuates between 25 to 35 deg Celsius with the fresh and cool breeze. The cool breeze flowing through the western ghats keeps the temperature in check and due to that, Chikmagalur doesn’t feel the heat as much as it feels in other parts of Karnataka.
The pleasant climate and cool breeze embrace the tourists to explore the beauty of this hill station. This is the ideal time to explore various trekking trails around this town. Overall, it is a perfect time to visit Chikmagalur, especially for those who want to escape from the heat of summer.
Places to visit and Things to do in Summer in Chikmagalur:
- Trek to Mullayangiri peak, Z Point, Baba Budangiri, Kemmanagundi, Mutthodi forest, and Kudremukh peak.
- Visit Chikmagalur gandhi park, Hornadu Annapoorneshwari Temple, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Veera Narayana Temple, Coffee Museum Chikmagalur, Bhadra Dam and Hebbe Falls.
- Don’t forget to experience Coffee Plantation.
- Try white water rafting in Bhadra River
- Camping.
Monsoon season in Chikmagalur – July to September
Monsoon in Chikmagalur starts in July and lasts till September. This is the time when you can experience the surreal beauty of this town as the droplets of rain creates mist and fog around the valley.
The shower of rain brings the peak of the waterfalls and also misty fog enhances the beauty of the path through it. It is the perfect time to escape from the daily city life and spend some quality time in the lap of nature as this is the off-season in Chikmagalur.
However, the shower of rain makes the road slippery and the fog makes it difficult to get the perfect view of the valley. Therefore, it is advisable to check the weather forecast before making an itinerary.
Things to do and Places to visit in Chikmagalur in Monsoon:
- Take a Long nature amidst the green landscape of this town.
- Go for white water rafting in Bhadra River.
- Go for trekking.
- Visit beautiful Coffee plants.
- Visit Yagachi Dam to try different water activities.
- Don’t forget to experience the waterfalls like Hebbe falls, Jhari falls, Kalhatti falls, Shanti fall, and Shankara Falls.
Chikmagalur in Winter – September to February
The Winter season attracts the most number of tourists to Chikmagalur as the temperature varies from 14 to 32 deg Celsius. This is the peak season of Chikmagalur.
The pleasant weather condition is perfect to explore the top tourist attraction of this town. The coffee plantation is also the main highlight of this season which attracts tourists from nearby places.
In winter, the day becomes delightful while the nights might be little colder so it is recommended to bring some warm clothes as well. December and January are the busiest months of this season as lots of tourists visit this town to celebrate Christmas and January. The hotels become expensive during these months so it is advisable to book in advance to get the best deals.
Major highlights of Chikmagalur in Winter:
- Visit coffee plantations around the town.
- Take adventurous trekking trails.
- Visit temples like Sringeri Sharada peeth, Sharadamba temple, Vidyasankara temple, Amruteshwar temple, and Kodana Ramaswamy temple.
- Visit Mahatma Gandhi Park.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Ayyanakere Lake and Hirekolale Lake
- History buffs can visit Belur
Best time to visit Chikmagalur for Honeymoon – December to June is the best time to visit Chikmagalur for honeymoon couples when the weather becomes pleasant to explore this beautiful town and the misty fog and fresh breeze mix the romance in the atmosphere.
Chikmagalur in June – June is one of the best months to visit Chikmagalur as the temperature fluctuates between 19 to 24 deg Celsius. This is the ideal time to go trekking to Mullayangiri peak, Baba Budangiri, Kemmanagundi, Mutthodi forest, and Kudremukh peak. Also, you can try the white water rafting in the Bhadra river.
Average Year-Round Temperature:
| Month | Avg. Temperature in Celsius |
| January | 14 – 27 Deg |
| February | 15 – 29 Deg |
| March | 18 – 34 Deg |
| April | 20 – 31 Deg |
| May | 20 – 29 Deg |
| June | 19 – 24 Deg |
| July | 19 – 23 Deg |
| August | 18 – 23 Deg |
| September | 18 – 24 Deg |
| October | 17 – 25 Deg |
| November | 16 – 25 Deg |
| December | 14 – 25 Deg |
FAQ’s
Q1: Which month is best to visit Chikmagalur?
Despite having the pleasant climate throughout the year, March, April and May are some of the best months to enjoy the beauty of Chikmagalur. During these months the temperature ranges from 18 to 29 deg Celsius. And the cool and fresh breeze of the western ghats makes it the best time to visit Chikmagalur.
Q3: How many days are enough for Chikmagalur?
3 days and 2 night would be enough to get out the best of this hill station. During yours 3 days you can explore the high mountains peaks, ancient temples, cascading waterfalls and amazing coffee plants.