About Baba Budangiri
Baba Budangiri is a mountain range in the Western Ghats in Chikkamagaluru District, Karnataka, about 28 km north of Chikkamagaluru town. It is known for its forested hills, cave shrine revered as Dattatreya Peetha and Baba Budan Dargah, and as the place where coffee was first introduced to India in the 17th century. The range offers panoramic views, trekking trails and is part of the Chandra Drona hill ranges.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a forested mountain landscape in the Western Ghats with winding ghat roads, viewpoints and trekking trails. At the hilltop there is a small cave shrine with a simple interior visited by pilgrims, surrounded by hills and valleys. The area offers nature walks, photography of mist-covered peaks and coffee plantations on the slopes, and access to nearby peaks and waterfalls. Facilities are basic and the terrain includes steps and uneven paths.
Key highlights
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Part of the Chandra Drona range of the Western Ghats with elevation around 1,895 metres
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Cave shrine at the hilltop revered as Dattatreya Peetha and Baba Budan Dargah
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Historic association with introduction of coffee to India in the 17th century
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Trekking and nature trails through shola forests and grasslands
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Panoramic viewpoints overlooking Chikkamagaluru valleys and nearby Mullayanagiri Peak
History of Baba Budangiri
Traditionally associated with Baba Budan, a 17th-century Sufi saint who is credited with bringing seven coffee seeds from Yemen around 1670 and planting them in these hills, marking the beginning of coffee cultivation in India. The hills are also known as Chandra Drona Parvatha in local tradition.
Culture & Context
The cave shrine on the hill is revered as Dattatreya Peetha by Hindus and as the dargah of Baba Budan by Muslims, and has been a place of pilgrimage for both communities. The site is culturally significant for its syncretic traditions and its association with coffee heritage of Chikkamagaluru.
Route
| By air |
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