October 8, 2018

My TripAdvisor Review No.381: Kundadri Hill, Thirthahalli, near Agumbe. Hilltop Near Agumbe, Good for Trekking.

After a visit to the Sringeri Mutt and the Sirimane waterfalls we drove up to the Kundadri Hill. The hilltop is a 28 km drive from Sringeri. We had to take a right turn about 10 km before Agumbe to climb up a very steep and narrow gradient to the top. The ghat road will test your driving skills as there are many dangerous hairpin bends, and the road is not in a good condition. A 4-wheel drive or SUV will make the steep climb easier. On our return we took a different route to Thirthahalli, which was a 36 km drive from the hill.

The hilltop is at a height of about 826 metres above sea level, with the dense forests of the Western Ghats all around. Agumbe is known to be one of the wettest places in the Indian peninsula, and the dense vegetation here is testimony to this fact. There is a 17th century Jain temple located on the hilltop, whose main deity is Parshwanatha, the 23rd tirthankar. Two small ponds formed by the rocks on one side provide water to the temple, and the pilgrims.

The view from the hilltop is indeed awe inspiring, especially if you visit early morning or in the evening to watch the sunrise or sunset. During the monsoons the low hanging clouds can make the scene look even more mesmerising. A trek to the hilltop from the base is an excellent alternative way of visiting the hill for the enthusiastic trekker. One has to be careful during the monsoon because it may be slippery, and there may be leeches along the way.

Very few tourists visit the hilltop due to its relative inaccessibility. Hence there are no restaurants or refreshment stalls, so do carry your own snacks and drinks.

Kundadri is a good destination to visit for the devout Jains, or if you want to admire the resplendent beauty of the Western Ghats, along with a bit of adventure to reach the top.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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