Bangaluru.org - "Inam Dattatreya Peetha" Pilgrimage in Karnataka

Inam Dattatreya Peetha Situated on the Baba Budangiri range is the Inam Dattatreya Peetha, a shrine venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike. The range is also called Chandra Drona Parvatha as it resembles a crescent. Located just 28km north of Chikmagalur town and 24km from Kemmangundi.

Sri.Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy's Darga on the Bababudan hills in Chikmagalur Taluk is an ancient and important institution held in high esteem by Hindus and Mohammadans alike and is resorted to by large numbers of Pilgrims from all parts of India. A laterite cave here is believed to have been sanctified by the residence of Dattatreyaswamy and Hazarat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar and other saints is a venerated place of pilgrimage. The worship of the Peeta is conducted by an unmarried Man or Fakir. Several Hindu and Muslims rulers are stated to have helped this institution with liberal grants. An annual “Jatra or Urs” which is held under the auspicious of the peeta for three days after the Holi Festival according to Hindu Calender is attended by both Hindus and Muslims.

Inam Dattatreya Peetha

It was Baba-Budan Giri that the first ever coffee in the country was grown way back in 1670 A.D. Enterprising Europeans pioneered large scale coffee plantations in the district more than 150 years back and to this day the sylvan slopes are studded with coffee plantations. A walk among the coffee plants, especially during the flowering season (March – April) when the air is full of the heady fragrance of coffee blossoms, is an experience to cherish.

Inam Dattatreya Peetha
At a short distance from Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswaamy's Darga are the three famous waterfalls with epic associations – Gada Theertha, Kamana Theertha, Nellikayi Theertha. Gada theertha according to a myth was created by the Pandava prince Bheema with his ‘gada', to quench the thirst of his mother during their exile. Pilgrims who bathe in the Nellikayi Theertha formed by Manikya Dhara Waterfall , leave behind one item of their clothing as per a local belief.

Main Festival : 'Jatra' Or Annual 'Urs'

Significant Feature : Hindu & Muslim Pilgrim Centre

Distance:-	335 km North West of Bangalore , 28 km from Chikmagalur town and 24km from Kemmangundi.
By Road:-	Chikkamagaluru district is not known for well maintained roads. . The poor state of the roads has hampered development of this district to some extent; more so because of the absence of even a good rail network in this district . The total length of roads in this district is 7264 km . There are only two National Highways that pass through this district. The National Highway NH-13 ( Sholapur to Mangalore ) passes through the towns of Koppa and Sringeri where as the National Highway NH-206 ( Bangalore to Honnavar ) passes through the towns of Kadur , Birur and Tarikere . There is a proposal to upgrade the existing state highways Tarikere - Belur , Sringeri - Hassan & Kadur - Mangalore to national highway status.
By Rail:-	The Kadur and Tarikere taluks have railway lines passing through them. The total length of railway line passing through the district is 91 km of which 51 km is in Kadur taluk and 40 km is in Tarikere taluk. Birur station is a major junction in this district where the railway line from Bangalore bifurcates into two, with one line going towards Hubli and the other towards Shimoga . The district headquarters, Chikkamagaluru city does not have a railway station which is one of the reasons for the isolation of Chikkamagaluru city from the rest of the state. A new line is being laid between Kadur and Sakleshpur in Hassan district which should pass through Chikkamagaluru city .
By Air:-	Chikkamagaluru district does not have an airport. Airports at Mangalore , Bangalore and Hubli can be used as an alternative. However, there are plans to develop an airport near Marle village about 10 km from Chikkamagaluru city .
Route:-	NH4 to Nalamangala then NH48 to Hassan via Kunigal then state road to Chikmagalur.
When to go:-	Since it is a typical malnad region the best time to visit is between October to March .
Tourist offices:-	KSTDC(bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in
Where to stay :-	Nature Nirvana (Home Stay) No. 1353, Church Road, Next to Hotel Embassy, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Mobile: 9844042152 Tariff Range: Rs.3000/- to Rs. 6000/- The Taj Garden Retreat K M Road, Jyothinagar, Chikmagalur - 571 102 Tel: 08262-220202, 220404 Fax: 08262-220222 Email: tgrgm.chk@tajhotels.com Web site: www@tajhotels.com Tariff Range: Rs. 4500/- to Rs. 5200/- The Planters Court Hotel P. B. No. 109, K M Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-235884 Fax: 08262-231169 Tariff Range: Rs. 412/- to Rs. 1237/- Hotel Mount Palace Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-237050 Tariff Range: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 650/- Hotel Rajmahal Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262- 236451, 236452 Tariff Range: Rs. 350/- to Rs. 600/ Hotel Malnad Paradise Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-234532, 232218 Tariff Range: Rs. 350/- to Rs. 450/- Woodlands Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-235897 Tariff Range: Rs. 70/- to Rs. 450/- Soundarya Residency Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-235257 Tariff Range: Rs. 140/- to Rs. 390/- Giri Lodge Indira Gandhi Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262- 235355 Tariff Range: Rs. 100/- to Rs. 300/ J P Lodge and Restaurant Opposite KSRTC Bus Stand, Kadur, Chikmagalur - 577 508 Tel: 08262-221433 Tariff Range: Rs. 150/- to Rs. 200/- Prakash Lodge Near Bus Stand Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-230583 Tariff: Rs. 80/- to Rs. 210/- Padmashree Lodge Narasinga Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-230543 Tariff Range: Rs. 150/- to Rs. 200/ Usha Lodge Mallandur Road, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262-235704 Tariff: Rs. 60/- to Rs. 170/ Horticulture Department Guest Houses at Kemmangudi For reservations contact: Special Officer Krishnarajendra Hill Station, Kemmangundi Post, Tarikere Taluk, Chikmagalur - 577 101 Tel: 08262 - 235334 Director of Horticulture Lalbagh, Bangalore - 560 004 Tel: 080-26571925 Special Officer, Nandi Hills, Horticulture Department, Chikkaballapur - 562 101 Tel: 08156-278621 Director of Horticulture, Department Lalbagh, Bangalore - 560 004 Tel: 080 - 26571925 Tariff: Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300/- Hotel Valley View International Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2572281 Fax: 0825-571327 Hotel Ashlesha Opposite Manipal Institute Of Technology, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2572824 Fax: 0820 - 2572824 Tariff Range: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 1000/- Hotel Green Park Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2570561, 2570563 Fax: 0820-2571385 Tariff Range: Rs. 350/- to Rs. 800/- Hotel Lake View Alevoor, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2570100, 2572801 Tariff Range: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 600/- Janani Hotel Opposite Manipal Institute Of Technology Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2570529 Fax: 0820-2570529 Tariff Range: Rs. 180/- to Rs. 550/- Hotel Bhavani Parkala Road, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2572057, 2571332 Fax: 0820-2572057 Tariff Range: Rs. 250/- to Rs. 500/- Hotel Shantala Boarding And Lodging Opposite Manipal Institute Of Technology, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2572920 Fax: 0820-2572920 Tariff: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 500/- Hotel Big Boss Manipal-Karkal Road, Iswarnagar, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2573215 Fax: 0820-2573216 Tariff Range: Rs. 150/- to Rs. 300/- Shivam Boarding And Lodging Karkala Road, Parkal Herge, Manipal, Udupi - 576 119 Tel: 0820-2544760 Tariff: Rs. 160/-