310 kms from Bangalore

 For lovers of the simple life!

What’s in it for me?

• Experience the forest: If you are going to Kudremukh, you must stay at the government guesthouse. It may not be easy to get a room in it, but it’s worth all the phone calls and applications. The guesthouse is in the middle of nowhere; a forest surrounded by rolling hills. Wild Bisons are a common sight and kerosene lamps are all you can see them by.
• Trek: Kudremukh has some of the most impressive trekking paths in the country! Trekking up to the horse face (Kudremukha) peak is an exhilarating experience! For those who love treks, it’s great. For those not used to long treks, it’s best avoided. There are lots of trekking paths, and almost all of them lead to breathtaking views.
• Loiter around aimlessly: Kudremukh is a very small town with hardly anything in it. There are a few shops and a couple of apartment complexes which once were full of people. After the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company shut down its factory in this little town, most people lost their jobs and left the town. Kudremukh wears the deserted look of a ghost town, straight out of a movie. It’s overwhelming to go a-wanderin’…and discover old abandoned buildings and once-full dams, now filled with what looks suspiciously like toxic waste.

 How’s the Grub?

At the government guest house, lives an old man who resembles your Ramu Kaka from the Ramsey Movies. He carries a Kerosene lamp and shows you the way to the kitchen. There he explains to you that he will cook for you (with firewood) anything that you buy from the market in town. So you need to buy literally everything, from cooking oil and eggs to vegetables and meat that you want to eat. He will even ask you in what style you want the food cooked, and will then cook it in the only way he knows how. In spite of the hard work and the long waiting period for the food to finally get to your plate…it tastes absolutely delicious. There’s nothing like food cooked on good old firewood!  

 What about Shelter?

Government guest house. Click on this link to start the process. There are resorts around Kudremukh, probably much more comfortable than living in the Government guesthouse. But the choice between adventurous living and a comfortable stay is completely up to you!

 How much do I have to shell out for the trip?

Staying in the Government guesthouse will save you a lot of money. It costs between Rs500-Rs1000 a day for a room/ cottage, depending on the time of the year and how much the official likes you. Resorts typically charge about 1500-2500 per head per day. A trip of three days should cost you roughly about Rs.5000.

 How do I get to Kudremukh?

 The drive is beautiful. It will take between 6-10 hours depending on your speed of driving. There are over night buses and day buses as well.