Agumbe
A ghat village where the rain rarely stops
An Agumbe tour in Shivamogga district covers a rainforest village with over 7,000 mm of rain, a sunset point, waterfalls and king cobra research.
Overview
Agumbe is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk, Shivamogga district, at the top of the Western Ghats, and it is known for rain: 7,000 to 8,000 mm a year falls on the village and the forests below it, which has earned it the name "Cherrapunji of the South". It suits travellers who prefer slow forest walks and viewpoints to a packed itinerary, and November to February is the stretch recommended for a visit, when the mist has thinned.
The forest on the slope is the main sight. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary lies below the village and covers about 314 sq km of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, with gaur, spotted deer, wild boar, hornbills and macaques among its animals. Exploring the dense forest without an expert guide is not advised, and there are no jeep safaris, so walks are on foot with a guide. The sanctuary's waterfalls include Jogigundi, Onake Abbi, Barkana and Koodlu Theertha, and the Seetha river has bathing spots.
Agumbe is also tied to the king cobra. The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station was founded in 2005 by the herpetologist Romulus Whitaker and carried out the first radio-telemetry study of a snake in India, using king cobras. It also runs volunteer and internship programmes, so ask before you plan a stop there. The village's other draw is its sunset point, a walk of about ten minutes from the village, which has views over the Arabian Sea. Fans of the 1980s television series Malgudi Days may recognise the setting, as episodes were filmed here in 1985 and 2004.
Kundadri Hill, topped by a Jain temple, and the Sri Venugopala Krishna Temple are the usual cultural stops. Homestays and small resorts serve the village.
Mangaluru's airport is about 95 km away, and the nearest railway station is Udupi, about 50 km. Mangaluru city is roughly 98 km by road, Sringeri about 24 km and Bengaluru about 357 km. Because the rain is so heavy from June to September, trails are slippery and views are often lost in cloud then, so check conditions and any forest department restrictions before you go.
Known for
Guided walks in Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, which has no jeep safaris
Quick facts
Rainfall is among the heaviest in Karnataka, quoted at 7,000 to 8,000 mm a year, with the downpours concentrated from June to September.
Mangaluru International Airport, about 94 to 95 km
Udupi, about 50 km
Mangaluru is about 98 km by road, Sringeri about 24 km and Bengaluru about 357 km, with road access by the national highway and state highways, and buses and taxis available from Udupi and Mangaluru. Drive times (to be supplied).
Go with a guide for forest walks, as exploring Someshwara's rainforest alone is not advised
Head to the sunset viewpoint before dusk, since it is about a ten-minute walk from the village
Check forest department restrictions on trails and waterfalls before travelling, especially from June to September
Location
Packages that visit Agumbe
All packages →Agumbe Rainforest and Coffee Hills
An Agumbe Chikmagalur tour package: rainforest walks and sunset views in Agumbe, then Mullayanagiri and coffee estates, over 5 days from Mangaluru airport.
Agumbe → ChikkamagaluruWildlife & NaturePlan a trip to Agumbe
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