Very Scenic Mullayanagiri to Baba Budangiri Hills Trek, Karnataka
[Image above: Trail from Mullayanagiri to Baba Budan Giri (located near distant mobile tower seen above)]
Mullayanagiri is part of the the Baba Budan Giri Hill Ranges. It stands at 1930 meters and is the tallest peak in Karnataka. There is a small temple (matta) on top of the hill. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. It is around 250 kms from bangalore and 12 kms from Chikmagalur.
Baba Budan Giri : takes its name from the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who resided here more than 150 years ago and reared coffee from the seeds he had secured from Yemen. The Baba-Budan range has taken its name from the 1895 meters high Baba-Budan Giri, situated just 28 kms north of Chikmagalur town. [source: wikipedia]
Baba Budangiri shrine is also called Dattatreya Peeta. It has been controversial due to communal tension (claimed by both hindus and muslim groups). [source: wikipedia]
[Image above: Bus-Top ride from Chikmagalur to mullayanagiri]
[Image above: Sarpa Dhare, starting point of trek]
[Image above: steep climb-up mullayangiri]
[Video above: Height sickness at mullayanagiri 
]
[Image above: explorable bat cave (obv. beware of bats) just few steps before mullayanagiri temple]
[Image above: Mullyanagiri Matta /Temple where free lunch was given to us by the very sweet temple care-takers (obv. don't demand one)]
[Image above: Scenic route from mullayanagiri to baba budhanagiri/dhathatreya peeta]
[Image above: Be very careful while using petrol for camp fires (notice the bottle lid that caught fire in his hand while spilling some petrol into the fire) ]
[Image above: Tent at Gaali Kere, which is at a small distance away from baba budangiri shrine]
[Image above: Jeep-top Ride to Manikya Dhare waterfall]
[Image above: The very badly maintained, but religiously important Manikya-Dhare Water fall, Tip: there is nothing to see at this place, so avoid it]
[Image above: Chilled-out bath in a chilled-out stream, that we found while exploring a stream when we were waiting for a bus somewhere between baba budangiri & chikmagalur]
Other links:
1. http://usandeep.com/trekking/mullayanagiri.html
2. http://www.dreamroutes.org/dreams/mullainagiri_kiran.html
3. http://purana.csa.iisc.ernet.in/~mbk/Mul/Mullayanagiri-Bababudangiri/
[NOTE: I did this trek in May, 2006]
Yup it was a fun trip.. I’m glad, we did this trek..