News

Upcoming Events & Festivals in Chikmagalur

 

Chikmagalur is a beautiful district in South India. It's known for its coffee industry and diverse culture, making it an ideal destination for travelers who want to experience both traditional and modern South Indian culture. Here are some upcoming events worth checking out: 

Chikmagalur Coffee Festival 

The Chikmagalur Coffee Festival is a celebration of the district's famous coffee industry, featuring coffee tastings, workshops and cultural performances. The festival is organized by the government of Karnataka and will be held at the Chikmagalur Coffee Estate. It will take place between March 30th and April 2nd, 2019. 

The festival takes place in November and attracts more than 12,000 visitors from around the world. The festival also showcases the district's rich heritage, and includes traditional folk dances and music performances. 

Bhadra Wildlife Festival 

The Bhadra Wildlife Festival is a wildlife-centric festival showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, including guided tours and nature walks. 

The event features live animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. It also offers workshops on conservation issues related to this area as well as arts & crafts activities for children. 

Chikmagalur Summer Festival 

Chikmagalur Summer Festival is a multi-day festival highlighting the region's cultural heritage through food, music, dance, and art. It runs from June to August each year and is held in the town of Chikmagalur. The festival celebrates the harvest season with various traditional activities such as singing and dancing performances by local artists. 

The main attraction of this event is its food offerings from different parts of India including lamb preparations from Mysore state (Karnataka), pork dishes from Madhya Pradesh state (central India), fish curry from Kerala state (southwest India) etc., all served on traditional banana leaf plates along with rice or lentils cooked separately according to availability in each house/household during this time period 

Malnad Mela 

Malnad Mela is a traditional fair featuring local crafts, handloom textiles, and organic produce from the surrounding Malnad region. 

The fair takes place every year in March or April at Parappanangadi village near Chikmagalur town. It features traditional art forms like bamboo carving and woodcarving as well as traditional food items including dosa (crepes made from rice flour), idli (steamed rice cake), vada (deep-fried lentil ball), chutney and pickle made from various fruits and vegetables grown in that region. 

Mullayanagiri Trekking Festival 

Mullayanagiri Trekking Festival - A trekking and camping event that takes participants to the summit of Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka. 

The festival is held every year on 1st and 2nd of November at a place called Periyapatna. The festival has been organised by ITPL (Indian Traditional Plateau Language) Club since 2010, under whose guidance it has grown into a major event in Chikmagalur district with participation from all over India. 

Chikmagalur Monsoon Festival 

The Chikmagalur Monsoon Festival is a festival held in the town of Chikmagalur during the monsoon season. It was founded by Kannada poet Isakhandananda Bharathi and is celebrated annually on the third Tuesday of July. 

The event features rain dances, water Chikmagalur Sports venues and local cuisine. 

Hande Hanumanthaiah Memorial Music Festival 

The Hande Hanumanthaiah Memorial Music Festival is a classical music festival in honor of the late Hande Hanumanthaiah, a renowned music composer from Chikmagalur. The festival was organized by HSE Cultural Centre and Foundation Trust on 15th January 2019 to mark his birth anniversary. This year it was supported by Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) and Tourism Promotion Council (TPC). 

Jatra Mahotsav 

Jatra Mahotsav is a religious festival celebrating the goddess Annapoorneshwari, featuring processions, music and traditional rituals. The Jatra festival takes place every year at Bajrang Nagar (the temple town). 

The festival starts with an idol of Goddess Annapoorneshwari being consecrated by a priest on November 14th and continues till December 1st when it culminates with a grand feast for all those who attend. 

Kemmannugundi Winter Festival 

Kemmannugundi Winter Festival - A winter-themed festival featuring outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. 

The Kemmannugundi Winter Festival is one of the largest winter festivals in India. This festival is celebrated in Chikmagalur District and attracts thousands of tourists every year to enjoy the fun filled activities like skiing, snow boarding and skating on frozen water bodies. The main attraction of this festival are its exciting events like ski jumping competition where participants attempt to jump over a ramp built with wooden planks tied together with ropes made from branches that have been bent into shape by artificial means (like using pliers or hot glue). 

Giri Shuddhi Festival 

Giri Shuddhi Festival - A spiritual festival promoting environmental conservation and the protection of Chikmagalur's natural resources. 

The Giri Shuddhi Festival is held every year on a Tuesday in July, as per the lunar calendar. It is one of the most important festivals of Chikmagalur, attracting thousands of tourists from all around Karnataka and beyond. The highlight of this festival is its procession through town which involves colorful floats decorated with flowers and lights being carried by young people dressed up as gods or goddesses (known as Kshatriyas). These processions last for hours during which they pass through many streets while people throw rose petals at them from rooftops or balconies (as a mark of respect). 

Malnad Marathon 

The Malnad Marathon is a running event that takes participants through the scenic hills and valleys of the Malnad region. The first edition was held in 2005, with runners from all over India coming to participate in this marathon. It has since grown into one of India's largest sporting events with over 30000 runners participating each year. 

The course for this popular event begins at Hubli and follows a route that passes through many towns and cities such as Dharwad, Gadag, Chitradurga, Kalaburagi & Shimoga before ending at Mudumalai National Park or Mysore city depending on how far you'd like to travel with Chikmagalur Travel agencies during your run! 

Chikmagalur Film Festival 

The Chikmagalur Film Festival is a showcase of independent films and documentaries, featuring screenings, discussions, and workshops. The festival also includes an awards ceremony. The festival is held annually at the end of January or early February. It is hosted by the Department of Cinema Studies at Central University of Karnataka, which is located in Chikmagalur. 

In its tenth year, the Chikmagalur film festival has been getting better each year with more people coming to watch it and enjoy themselves 

Sakrebailu Elephant Festival 

Sakrebailu Elephant Festival - An elephant-centric festival featuring elephant rides, elephant shows, and cultural performances. 

The Sakrebailu Elephant Festival is an annual event held on the last weekend of September in Chikmagalur district. The festival was first held in 2003 when a group of local students decided to organize it as part of their school project. The event has since grown into a major tourist attraction and Chikmagalur Tourist information centers with over 100 elephants participating each year from all over India including Nepal! 

Mahashivaratri Festival 

The Mahashivaratri Festival is a Hindu festival honoring Lord Shiva, featuring prayer services, offerings, and cultural performances. It falls on the ninth day of the lunar month of Phalguna (February/March). During this festival pilgrims visit holy places to offer flowers, incense and foodstuffs to their favorite gods or goddesses through an elaborate puja ceremony. 

The origins of Mahashivaratri are lost in the mists of time but there are several legends that explain why it occurs at this time in particular: 

King Dushyanta was born on this day; he wanted his wife Shakuntala (daughter of king Chitrangada) to marry him instead but she refused because she did not want any children from him until they had been married for some time. So she left instead! 

There was another legend where two brothers Arundhati and Nanda were rivals who fought over their wives Satyavati and Surasa respectively through warring armies until finally one brother died while defending his realm against his brother's army which resulted in all four brothers becoming ashramsites - disciples who study under teachers like Buddha himself! 

Chikmagalur Food Festival 

Chikmagalur Food Festival - A celebration of the district's diverse culinary traditions, featuring food stalls, Fast Food Restaurants in Chikmagalur, cooking competitions and demonstrations. 

The event is held in the town square on a full moon day in February. It is organized by the Chikmagalur Development Authority (CDA) which also runs an annual festival called ‘Sankranti’ which is celebrated over nine days starting from January 20th to 25th every year. 

Chikmagalur is a beautiful region with a rich history and culture. It's also home to some of the most popular festivals in Karnataka, including the famous Chikmagalur Coffee Festival. Whether you're looking for an event that celebrates nature or one that showcases local cuisine, there's something for everyone!