Chikmagalur district is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka, India. Located in the south-western part of the state, the district lies on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and is known for its coffee plantations, hill country, and pilgrimage centres. The district headquarters is the town of Chikmagalur, whose name is traditionally interpreted as "the village of the younger daughter".
Key facts
| State | Karnataka |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Chikmagalur |
| Region | Malnad (Western Ghats) |
| Official language | Kannada |
| Highest peak | Mullayanagiri |
| Major rivers | Tunga, Bhadra, Hemavati |
Geography
The district spans a varied terrain that ranges from the high ridges of the Western Ghats in the west to undulating plains in the east. Mullayanagiri, situated within the district, is the highest peak in Karnataka. Other prominent hills include Baba Budangiri and Kudremukh. Several important rivers of peninsular India rise in the district, among them the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Hemavati. The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kudremukh National Park lie within or extend into the district, and form part of the Western Ghats biodiversity zone.
Chikmagalur shares borders with the districts of Shimoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Tumakuru and Davanagere.
History
The region that now forms Chikmagalur district has been part of successive south Indian polities, including the Kadambas, the Gangas, the Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra (modern Halebidu lies nearby in Hassan district), the Vijayanagara empire, the Keladi Nayakas, and later the Kingdom of Mysore. After the political integration of India and the reorganisation of states in 1956, the area became part of the new state of Mysore, renamed Karnataka in 1973.
Chikmagalur is widely associated with the early history of coffee cultivation in India. Tradition credits the saint Baba Budan with bringing coffee seeds from Yemen and planting them on the hills that now bear his name, the Baba Budangiri range, making the district one of the earliest coffee-growing areas in the country.
The Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency drew national attention in 1978, when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi contested and won a by-election from the seat, returning to Parliament after her defeat in 1977.
Administration
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is divided into several taluks for revenue and general administration. The principal taluks include Chikmagalur, Kadur, Tarikere, Mudigere, Koppa, Sringeri, Narasimharajapura and Ajjampura. Local self-government is exercised through the Zilla Panchayat at the district level, along with taluk panchayats and gram panchayats.
Economy
The district's economy is dominated by agriculture and plantation crops. Coffee—both Arabica and Robusta—is the most distinctive crop, and Chikmagalur is among the largest coffee-producing districts in India. Other plantation produce includes pepper, cardamom and areca nut. Paddy is grown extensively in the Malnad valleys, while the eastern, drier taluks such as Kadur cultivate ragi, maize, cotton and oilseeds. Tourism, dairying and small-scale industry contribute additionally to the local economy.
Religion and culture
Chikmagalur is home to several centres of religious importance. Sringeri, on the banks of the Tunga, hosts the Sharada Peetham, one of the four mathas traditionally associated with the philosopher Adi Shankara. The Baba Budangiri shrine, also known as Inam Dattatreya Peetha, is venerated by both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Horanadu, with its temple of Annapoorneshwari, and Kalasa, on the Bhadra river, are other notable pilgrimage sites. The district preserves Hoysala-era and later temple architecture in places such as Amrutapura, where the Amruteshwara temple stands.
Tourism
- Mullayanagiri and the surrounding Chandra Drona range
- Baba Budangiri hills and the Manikyadhara falls
- Kudremukh National Park and peak
- Bhadra Wildl