Kumara Parvatha trek is one among the most popular trekking trails in Karnataka. Set on the backdrop of beautiful natural surroundings, many ardent trekkers and nature lovers take up trekking expedition to Kumara Parvatha throughout the year. If you are planning for a trekking trip to Kumara Parvatha and looking for detailed information about the route, weather condition, challenges etc., then you have landed at the right place. This Kumara Parvatha trekking guide has been carefully compiled to provide you all the information that you need to plan your trip. Let's find out more about Kumara Parvatha trek with this detailed trekking guide. Kumara Parvatha Location: Kumara Parvatha, also known as Pushpagiri, is a mountain peak belonging to the Western Ghats mountain ranges situated in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. Perched at an altitude of 5617 feet (1712 meters) above the main sea level, Kumara Parvatha is the second highest mountain peak in Kodagu after Tadiandamol. Kumar Parvatha Trek Route: Kumara Parvatha trek is considered as one of the most difficult trekking trails in South India. The trekking route goes through dense evergreen forests, steep rocky cliffs and grasslands. There are two different trekking trails that can lead you to Kumara Parvatha peak. The first one is from Beedehalli village via Heggademane temple. The total distance is 8 KM and it can be covered in 4-5 hours. This route is the easier one and offers gradual acsend. The second route is via Kukke Subramanya. This is the more scenic of the two routes, and at the same time, much more strenuous. The total distance that needs to be covered on foot is approximately 13 KM and it takes around 10 hours to complete this hike from the base point at Kukke. The second route via Kukke Subramanya is preferred by most of the trekkers. Kumara Parvatha Trekking Permission: As the trekking trail passes through the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, it is required to obtain permission from the forest department to take up trekking expeditions to Kumara Parvatha. There is a forest check-post along the trekking route near Battara Mane, from which you can obtain the necessary permission to trek beyond the check gate. A trekking fee of INR 75 per person is collected by the forest department. Another INR 100 is charged as the camera fee if you are carrying one. If you are opting for the first route via Beedehalli, then you need to obtain the permission from the forest office at Somwarpet. Kumara Parvatha Trek - Route Details Trekking Route: Kukke Subramanya - Battara Mane - Kallu Mantap - Sheshaparvatha - Kumara Parvatha. Stage 1: Kukke Subramanya - Battara Mane -> 5.5 KM Stage 2: Battara Mane - Kallu Mantap -> 2.5 KM Stage 3: Kallu Mantap - Sheshaparvatha -> 3 KM Stage 4: Sheshaparvatha - Kumara Parvatha -> 2 KM Stage 1: The starting point for the trek is the tar road next to Kukke Subramanya temple. The first stage from Kukke Subramanya to Battra Mane is mainly through forest areas. Due to regular trekking expeditions, the trail is well-marked and you just need to follow the path. The level of difficulty is moderate. The distance is around 5.5 KM and it can be covered in around 4 hours. Stage 2: Battara Mane is the only point along the trek where you can get food, water and rest-rooms. So freshen up, take your meal and then proceed towards Kallu Mantap. Right after Battara Mane, you will come across the forest check-post. Here you need to enter your details and obtain the permission from the forest department. From the forest check-post, Kallu Mantap is another 2 KM. The difficulty level is easy in this stretch as there is not much ascend involved. Stage two trek can be completed in 1.5 hours. Stage 3: The stretch between Kallu Mantap to Sheshaparvatha is the most difficult part of Kumara Parvatha trek. You need to negotiate a number of steep ascends in-between couple of flat-bedded areas. In terms of distance, it's just about 3 KM, but you will gain around 2500 feet altitude during this stage. It can take 3-4 hours to complete this stretch. Stage 4: The last stage between Sheshaparvatha to the peak is relatively easier. The vegetation becomes thicker in this area and it involves a brief spell of descend as well. You will also encounter couple of water streams in this stretch. The level of water is not above knee-high, so it can easily be negotiated. Only in the post-monsoon season between August to November, the water crossings can be a little tricky. It usually dries up from December onwards. Camping Sites En-route Kumara Parvatha Peak: The charm of Kumara Parvatha can best be experienced by clubbing camping alongside trekking. As it takes around 10 hours to complete this trek, you must plan for an overnight stay. There are quite a few favorable camping grounds en-route where you can pitch your own tent and enjoy the adventure of camping out in the open forest. 1. Near the Forest Check-Post - The first camping site you would come across is right after the forest check-post, before entering the forest area. There are a couple of large open spaces where you can pitch your own tent. 2. Kalluchappara View Point - This place comes after Kallu Mantap. There's a view-point over there which offers excellent hawk-eye view of the rolling hills. Watching the sunset from this point is something that you should not miss out. 3. Flat-bedded Area after Sheshaparvatha - This is another great place for overnight camping. Right after Sheshaparvatha point, as you approach the forest (before the descend), there is a flat surface which is just the perfect place to build your make-shift tent. 4. Kumara Parvatha Peak - It's the best camping site without any doubt. You will be greeted with lovely views of lush green vista at this place. Do make sure to wake up early in the morning to see the white clouds playing a game of hide-&-seek. You can also capture wonderful shots of sunrise from the top of Kumara Parvatha peak. Best Time for Kumara Parvatha Trek: The peak season is between October to February, but it is possible to do the trek throughout the year. Post-monsoon days are equally good for trekking. The summer months add to the difficulty level, so try to avoid this period. Monsoon days too are not the favorable period as the place receives lots of rainfall in July-August. Hope the information provided in this Kumara Parvatha trekking guide would prove to be helpful for the trekkers and hikers who wish to take up this challenging trek. Regards, Deb
