15 Breathtaking Hill Stations in Karnataka to Visit in 2022

Karnataka is one of the ideal tourist destinations in India. Despite being home to a number of hill stations in Karnataka, the state has not been explored to its core. With the soothing climate round the year and picturesque places, Karnataka should be your next destination for summer vacation. On your trip do visit some of the breathtaking hill stations in Karnataka.

Top Hill Stations in Karnataka:

1. Coorg

Coorg tops the list of breathtaking hill stations in Karnataka because of its scenic view and lush green slopes. It nestles in the mountains with the picturesque landscape. It is also one of the coffees producing hill stations in India. It is also home to quaint Namdroling Tibetan settlement.

Best Time to Visit Coorg: October to March

Activities to do in Coorg: Cycling, Hiking, Mountaineering, Trekking, Waterfall Visits, and Plantation Tours.

Attractions in Coorg: Abbey Falls, Tadiyandamol Peak, Madikeri Fort, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Dubare Elephant Camp

Also check out: Hill Stations Near Delhi You can Visit on Weekends

2. Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur boasts hills and mesmerizing views. It is also one of the best places for activities like cycling and trekking. Or you can even sit and relish the beauty of the hill. The hill station is located in the foothills of the Mullayangiri Range in the state. It stands high at the altitude of 3400 feet. Chikmagalur is one of the most preferred hill stations in Karnataka.

Best Time to Visit Chikmagalur: September to May

Activities do in Chikmagalur: Nature Trails, Trekking, Waterfall Visits, Hiking, Homestays and Plantation Tours.

Attractions in Chikmagalur: Baba BudanGiri Range, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary & Reservoir, Kalasa, Hebbe Falls, and Khandya.

3. Nandi Hills

Located at the distance of 6o km from Bangalore, this is one of the famous cold places in Karnataka. This hill station was the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan. Today is home to many shrines and is no less than a hidden paradise of India.

Best Time to Visit Nandi Hills: October to June

Activities to do in Nandi Hills: Camping, trekking, and sightseeing

Attractions in Nandi Hills: Tipu’s Drop, Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Bhoga Nandishwara Temple, Skandagiri Hills

4. Agumbe

Located in the Shimoga district, Agumbe is amongst the pictorial hill stations in Karnataka that one should visit atleast once in the lifetime. This captivating hill station is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located at a distance of 357 km from Bangalore, which makes it a perfect weekend gateway. Agumbe is also known to be Cherapunji of the south because of its scenic view and climatic conditions round the year.

Best Time to Visit Agumbe: October – February

Activities to do in Agumbe: Waterfall visits, trekking, forest trails, and nature trails.

Attraction in Agumbe: Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Wildlife and Avifauna, Sunset Point, Koodlu Theertha Falls, Wildlife, and Avifauna.

5. Biligiri Hills

Also known as BR Hills, Biligiri hills are amongst the top hill stations in Karnataka. It is also one of the best cold places around Mysore, which makes it a perfect destination for summer vacations. It has natural sites that are a retreat for the eyes and camera lenses.

Best Time to Visit Biligiri Hills: November to March

Activities to do in BR Hills: Trekking, site seeing, cycling.

Attraction in BR Hills: Wildlife Sanctuary, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple, Dzogchen Monastery, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

6. Kemmanagundi

This beautiful hill station is just 85 km away from the Mangalore city and is ideal for summer vacations and holidaying as it has soothing climate. Also, the hill station is home to the tallest peak in the city. It is also a top-rated tourist destination in India for even bag packers who are looking for budget-friendly destinations in the country.

Best Time to Visit: September to February

Activities to do in Kemmanagundi: the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, trekking, the Z point at Kemmanagundi.

Attraction in Kemmanagundi: Shanti Falls, Hebbe Falls, Mullayanagiri, Shiva Temple, Rock Garden

7. Gangamoola

Gangamoola is a hidden gem of the Karnataka and one of the cool places in the city where you can head over to distress your mind and body. Surrounded by the dense forests and the hill station has misty climate throughout the year, which makes it amongst the top hill stations in India. The place is also home to three rivers, which are Tunga, Bhadra, and Nethravati. Once you visit the place, you will surely fall in love with it. However, avoid visiting this hill station during the monsoon.

Best Time to Visit Gangamoola: December to February

Activities to do in Gangamoola: Trekking, nature camping, and sightseeing

Attractions in Gangamoola: Temple of Goddess Bhagavathi and cave with a 6 feet tall image of Varaha, rich wildlife

8. Kundadri Hill

Kundadri hill is an amazing hillock with mesmerizing Jain Temple. The iconic temple is surrounded by two small ponds. The paddy fields, dense forests, and huge maintain chain makes Kundadri hills one of the breathtaking hill stations in Karnataka. Also, it is at a distance of 70kms from Bangalore.

Best Time to Visit Kundadri Hills: October to May

Activities to do in Kundadri Hills: Trekking and sightseeing

Attractions in Kundadri Hills: Jogigundi Falls, Onake Abbi Falls, Kavaledurga, and Agumbe Ghat

9. Yana

Yana is a village situated in the forests of Kumta that is also one of the top hill stations in Karnataka. It is famous for its unusual karst rock formations. The place is enveloped by the lush green forests. Owing to its captivating views, it is no less than a paradise for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts.

Best Time to Visit in Yana: October to January

Activities to do in Yana: Sight Seeing and Camping

Attractions in Yana: Yana Rocks, Vibhooto Falls, Vishnu Theertha Lake, Hedbandar beach, and Nirvana Beach.

10. Kodachadri

Next in our list of breathtaking hill stations in Karnataka is Kodachadri. Known to be a paradise for trekkers, Kodachadri is one of the best hill stations in Karnataka. It boasts pictorial views that would burst your stress. Since the place is not known to many so it is generally less crowded so you can explore the hill station around the year. This hill station is also one of the natural heritage sites in the city.

Best Time to Visit Kodachadri: October to March

Activities to do in Kodachadri: Trekking and sightseeing

Attractions in Kodachadri: Mookambika temple, Sarvajna peetha, Ganesha Guha, Hidlumane Falls, and Iron Pillar

11. Madikeri

How can one forget to add Madikeri in the list of best hill stations in Karnataka? Also called coffee capital of the state, Madikeri is covered with vast plantations of coffee. With numerous iconic attractions to visit, the place has the best of the climatic conditions round the year.

Best Time to Visit Madikeri: November to April and September

Activities to do in Madikeri: Trekking, camping,

Attractions in Madikeri: Abbey Falls, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Raja’s Seat, Madikeri Fort, Mercara Gold Estate

12. Sakleshpur

The hill station is located on the Western Ghats in India. It is a small town that is enveloped with coffee, tea, and spices plantations. It has mesmerizing landscapes and sceneries. Sakleshpur is one of the hill stations in Karnataka for a quick gateway.

Best Time to Visit in Sakleshpur: November to April

Activities to do in Sakleshpur: Camping, Railway Bridge trekking, and sightseeing

Attractions in Sakleshpur: Sakleshwara Temple, Manjarabad Fort, Temple of Halebid and Belur, Manjehalli Waterfalls, Kukke Subramanya Temple, River Hemavati

13. Ramnagara

Located amidst rocky hillocks, small granite canyons, Ramnagara is one of the iconic hill stations in Karnataka. It is the same place where the cult classic Sholay was filmed. The place Is close to Bangalore and thus an ideal weekend gateway for the locals.

Best Time to Visit Ramnagara: November to February

Activities to do in Ramnagara: Trekking Kayaking, Canoeing, Rappelling and Zip-lining

Attractions in Ramnagara: Ramdevara Hill, Arkavathi River, SRS Hills, Kanva Reservoir, Ramanagara Ramdevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary

You might also interest: Natural Wonders of India

14. Shimoga (Shivamogga)

Shimoga has been home to numerous dynasties and kingdom. It enjoys a rich culture and heritage. The place derived its name from the term Shiv-Mukha which means the face of Lord Shiva.

Best Time to Visit in Shimoga: July to December

Activities to do in Shimoga: Trekking, tiger and lion safari, and sightseeing

Attractions in Shimoga: Bhimeshwara temple, Mattur Lake

15. Kudremukh

With a picturesque view of the mountain in the horse shape, Kudremukh is one of the best hill stations in Karnataka. The place is also known for its biodiversity and scenic beauty that it offers throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit Kudremukh: October to March

Activities to do in Kudremukh: Trekking, camping, and sightseeing

Attractions in Kudremukh: Kudremukh National Park, Kalasa, Hanuman Gundi Falls, Janta Market, Lakya Dam, Horanadu, and Kadambi Falls.

Conclusion

Close to the Arabian Sea, Karnataka is a home to many hill stations, which makes it a must place in a lifetime. This was our list of breathtaking hill stations in Karnataka. Do tell us which is your favorite hill station.