Kudremukh trek guide: permit, route and best time

This Kudremukh trek guide is for anyone planning to climb Karnataka’s horse-faced peak on foot: a rolling walk through shola forest and grassland inside a protected national park where the rules are strict and the permit is not optional. Kudremukh sits in Kalasa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, in the Western Ghats, and the peak trek runs from the small hamlet of Mullodi. Because the whole range lies inside Kudremukh National Park, the Karnataka Forest Department controls who walks, how many walk, and when.

Kudremukh is a Western Ghats range and national park in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district, and its main peak stands at 1,894 metres (6,214 feet). The classic day trek climbs from Mullodi village near Kalasa, needs a Forest Department permit and a guide, and is best done between October and February. Below is how the permit, route, season and access actually work.

About Kudremukh and quick facts

“Kudremukh” means “horse face” in Kannada, from a side profile of the mountain that resembles a horse’s muzzle. According to Wikipedia, which cites survey figures, the peak is 1,894 metres (6,214 feet) and is Karnataka’s second-highest after Mullayanagiri, though it is often ranked second or third depending on the list. The area was once approached from Samse village and so was also called Samseparvata.

The mountain gives its name to Kudremukh National Park. According to the Karnataka Forest Department and Wikipedia, the park covers about 600.57 sq km across Chikkamagaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts and was declared a national park in 1987. Elevations run from roughly 100 metres to the 1,892-metre peak zone. Three major rivers of the region rise here.

Permit and guide for the Kudremukh trek

This is the part to plan first. Kudremukh peak lies inside a protected national park, so a Karnataka Forest Department permit is mandatory for every trekker, and a registered local guide is compulsory. There is no walk-in or on-the-spot permit; you book ahead online.

According to the Karnataka Forest Department’s booking portal, Aranya Vihaara, treks must be booked at least one day in advance and no more than 30 days ahead, and the original ID used at booking must be carried and shown on trek day. Cancellation eight or more days before gives a 50% refund; within seven days there is no refund. Note that as of September 2026 the portal features other Karnataka treks prominently and lists Kudremukh among its wider set, so confirm the exact Kudremukh listing and slot when you book.

The daily cap is tight. Reporting and trek operators say the Forest Department releases only about 50 peak permits per day, and weekend slots can sell out within minutes of opening — treat this as indicative and book the moment slots appear. A registered guide is assigned at the checkpost, typically one guide per group of up to about 10 trekkers, with a guide charge commonly quoted around ₹1,000 per group. The per-person entry and conservation fee is quoted inconsistently across sources (figures near ₹275 and near ₹575 both appear), so treat any fee here as an indicative planning estimate and reconfirm the current amount on Aranya Vihaara before you travel.

Best time to trek Kudremukh

The Karnataka Tourism page recommends the post-monsoon window, October to February, when the grasslands are green and the streams are full. The southwest monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain, slippery trails, thick leeches and low visibility, and the trek is often closed or unsafe in that period. March to May is drier but hotter and hazier.

How to reach Kudremukh

Kudremukh is reached by road; there is no railway or airport at the range itself. Most trekkers base at Kalasa, Kudremukh town or Samse, and drive in from the coast or from Chikkamagaluru. For planning the wider region, see our Chikmagalur travel guide and the broader Karnataka travel guide.

• By air: Mangaluru International Airport is the nearest, roughly 100–130 km away by road (about 3 hours). Take a taxi or bus onward to Kalasa.
• By rail: Mangaluru is the nearest major railhead, about 100 km; Udupi station is around 105 km. From either, continue by bus or taxi via Karkala and Kalasa. Verify current trains on IRCTC/NTES before booking.
• By road: Private vehicles usually go only as far as Samse or Balgal; from there local jeeps run the final rough stretch (around 5 km) to Mullodi. Buses serve Kalasa from Mangaluru and Chikkamagaluru.

The Kudremukh peak trek route

The peak trek starts at the Forest Office in Mullodi, where you clear the checkpost, meet your guide and have your bag checked for plastic. From Mullodi the trail is commonly quoted as about 11 km one way, so roughly 20–22 km round trip; the Karnataka Tourism page describes it as around 20 km round trip and a moderate, full-day effort.

The path climbs through forest and then opens into rolling shola-grassland with stream crossings, a section trekkers call the “Ontimara” (lone tree), and a final steady pull to the summit. Most walkers take about 4–5 hours up and 2.5–3.5 hours down — plan a long single day. You must reach the checkpost early; a morning cut-off (commonly cited around 10–11 am, treat as indicative) applies, after which entry is refused so trekkers can descend before dark. There are no shops, taps or toilets on the trail.

National park and waterfalls

Kudremukh National Park is a Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. According to the Forest Department and Wikipedia, three large predators live here — tiger, leopard and wild dog — alongside the endangered lion-tailed macaque, which conservation surveys treated as a flagship species for the park. The wet shola forests feed thousands of perennial streams that form the Tunga, Bhadra and Nethravathi rivers, described as a lifeline for people downstream in Karnataka.

Two waterfalls are the usual sightseeing stops when you are not on the peak trek. Hanuman Gundi falls (also called Soothanabbi) drops more than 30 metres (about 100 feet) onto rock and is reached by a flight of steps; Kadambi falls sits close to the main road inside the park. Near Gangamoola / Varaha Parvatha there is a shrine and a Varaha (boar) image associated with the river sources. The old iron-ore mining township around Malleshwara/Kudremukh recalls the KIOCL operations that once ran here; according to the park record those mining operations have since ceased, which helped protect the catchment.

Suggested itinerary

The trek is doable as one long day, but an overnight at a Mullodi homestay makes the early checkpost cut-off far easier to meet.

• Day 1: Drive from Mangaluru/Udupi or Chikkamagaluru to Kalasa, then transfer by jeep to a Mullodi homestay. Rest, confirm your permit and guide, and pack water and food. Optional short walk to Hanuman Gundi falls en route.
• Day 2: Early breakfast, reach the Forest Office before the cut-off, and trek the peak (about 7–9 hours round trip) with your guide. Descend, freshen up, and drive back or stay a second night.
• Add-on: Spare a day for Sringeri and Horanadu, or for Kadambi falls and a slow drive through Kudremukh town.

Where to stay

Accommodation clusters around Mullodi (basic trek homestays), Kalasa (more choice) and Samse. Options are simple; book ahead in the October–February season because beds near the trailhead are limited.

• Budget (₹800–₹1,500 per person, indicative): Mullodi and Samse homestays, often including meals and jeep pickup. Basic rooms, warm hosts, shared facilities.
• Mid-range (₹2,500–₹5,000 per room, indicative): Homestays and small resorts around Kalasa and towards Chikkamagaluru.
• Government/forest: Forest guesthouses exist in the region but are limited and often reserved for officials; check availability with the department rather than assuming.

Rates are planning estimates as of September 2026 — reconfirm directly. Staying at Mullodi is the single biggest thing that makes the early start work.

Food to try

Meals here are Malnad homestay cooking — simple, hot and vegetarian more often than not. Expect akki rotti (rice flour flatbread), neer dosa (thin, soft rice crepes), kori/veg curries, local greens, rice with rasam and sambar, and kashaya (a spiced herbal drink). Homestays usually serve fixed thali-style meals timed around the trek. On the trail there is nothing to buy, so carry enough water, ORS, fruit, nuts and a packed lunch, and bring back every wrapper.

Budget breakdown

The table below is a planning estimate for a two-day trek trip per person, sharing costs in a small group. Actual permit and guide fees must be reconfirmed on the Forest Department portal.

Assumptions: group of 6–8, self-arranged (not a packaged tour), coastal Karnataka start. Organised tours from Bengaluru cost more but bundle transport and permits.

Rules and safety

This is an eco-sensitive national park, and the rules are enforced, not decorative. Take them seriously.

• Permit and guide are mandatory. No permit means no entry; the guide stays with your group throughout. Book on Aranya Vihaara in advance.
• Daily cap. Numbers are limited (around 50 peak permits/day, indicative), so trekking without a confirmed slot is not possible.
• Zero plastic. Disposable bottles and packets are checked and turned back at the checkpost. Carry a reusable bottle and pack out all waste.
• Weather and terrain. The grassland is exposed with no shelter; fog, rain and wind roll in fast. Turn back if the guide advises it.
• Leeches. In and around the monsoon, leeches are heavy — carry salt or a leech-repellent and wear leech socks; the trek is best avoided or may be closed then.
• No facilities on trail. No water points, food or toilets — carry your own and start early to descend before dark.

Practical tips

• Network and cash: Mobile signal is patchy to absent around Mullodi. Carry enough cash; UPI and ATMs are unreliable near the trailhead — draw money in Kalasa or Karkala.
• Nearest help: Serious medical care is on the coast (Mangaluru) or at Chikkamagaluru; there is no hospital at the trailhead. Tell your homestay your plan.
• Footwear: Good grip shoes for wet grass and stream crossings; trekking pole helps on the descent.
• Solo women: The guided, capped format and homestay culture make this a reasonably safe trek; still, share your plan, prefer daytime jeep transfers and stay with the group.
• Packing by season: Oct–Feb — layers, wind shell, sun protection; monsoon — full rain gear and leech socks if you go at all.
• Book the room first: A Mullodi bed the night before is what lets you clear the checkpost on time.

Nearby places

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit for the Kudremukh trek?

Yes. A Karnataka Forest Department permit is mandatory for the Kudremukh peak trek because it runs inside a national park, and a registered guide is compulsory too. Book online in advance on the Aranya Vihaara portal; there are no walk-in permits, and daily numbers are capped, so weekend slots go fast.

How long and hard is the Kudremukh trek?

The Kudremukh peak trek is about 20–22 km round trip from Mullodi and takes roughly 7–9 hours on foot. It is graded moderate: long, with exposed grassland and stream crossings rather than technical climbing. Reasonably fit beginners manage it, but reach the checkpost early and carry your own water and food.

When is the best time to trek Kudremukh?

October to February is the best time, when the grasslands are green, the air is clear and streams are full. Avoid the June–September monsoon, when heavy rain, poor visibility and thick leeches make the trail unsafe and the trek is often closed. March to May is drier but hotter and hazier.

How do you reach Kudremukh?

Kudremukh is reached by road. The nearest airport and major railhead are both at Mangaluru, about 100–130 km away, and Udupi station is around 105 km. From there drive via Karkala and Kalasa. Private cars stop at Samse or Balgal, and local jeeps run the last rough stretch to Mullodi.

Where do you stay for the Kudremukh trek?

Most trekkers stay at a homestay in Mullodi, the trailhead hamlet, so they can clear the early checkpost cut-off. Kalasa and Samse have more choice. Homestays are simple and usually include Malnad meals and jeep pickup; book ahead in the October–February season as beds near the trail are limited.

Are there leeches on the Kudremukh trek?

Yes, especially in and just after the monsoon, when leeches are heavy in the wet forest sections. Wear leech socks, carry salt or repellent, and check often. In the dry October–February window they are far fewer. If you trek near the rains, plan for them and follow your guide’s advice on conditions.

Last updated and sources

Go if you want a long, rewarding grassland walk and can plan around a strict permit; the best window is October to February, booked well ahead. Treat every fee and cut-off time here as indicative and reconfirm with the Forest Department before you travel.

Last updated: 30 September 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Karnataka Tourism — Kudremukh trek; Karnataka Forest Department — Aranya Vihaara trek booking portal; Kudremukh National Park (Wikipedia, used to locate park area, rivers, wildlife and mining record); Kudremukha peak (Wikipedia, for height and location). Permit-cap, fee and cut-off figures are cross-referenced against trek-operator reporting and labelled indicative. Accessed September 2026.

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