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Photograph by Dr Manoj C. Sindhgi, A.R.P.S.

Agumbe
(105 km from Chikmagalur)

Agumbe, one of the highest points of the Western Ghats, lies in Shimoga district, close to the borders of Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada districts. Agumbe Ghat is one of the four mountain passes that connects the plains to the coastal region.

As the mountains rise precipitously from the flat coastal plain, several points along the western flank of the Sahyadris offer a spectacular view of the sun setting over the Arabian Sea. Agumbe, at an elevation of 826 metres with a line of sight that extends 48km into the Arabian Sea, is one of the best and most accessible of these points. Travellers from all over India and abroad come to Agumbe to watch unforgettable sunsets, which are especially spectacular between November and January. A special platform, called Sunset Point (600m), is a popular spot for viewing the sunsets.

Countless rapids and cascades flow down from the Western Ghats into the areas near and around Agumbe, making it a place of rivers, streams, ponds and waterfalls with pretty names like Onaki, Abbi, Barkana and Jogigundi. Post-monsoon, the waterfalls are a photographer’s delight…exuding water mists and rainbows.

Known as the ‘Cherrapunji of the South’, Agumbe receives one of the highest rainfalls in India (over 7600mm in rains). During the three months of the rainy season, the cloud cover is thick enough to block out almost all sunshine. With so much water, water sports cannot be far behind and the nearby Sitanadi is a favourite spot for white-water rafting.

During the dry months, Agumbe and its scenic environs are an ideal place for trekking, with Narasimha Parvatha being a very popular trekking destination. Local guides are available for the more adventurous trekking routes.

Nearby places worth visiting include the 14th century Gopalakrishna temple with its Hoysala style sculptures and the observatory maintained by the Meteorological Survey of India.

Incidentally, Malgudi Days, the television serial based on R.K. Narayan’s much-loved book Swami and Friends, was shot on location at Agumbe.