TREKS · CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
Kudremukh Trek Guide: Permit Fee, Booking, Route, Rules and Best Time
Kudremukh, the horse-face peak, is the Western Ghats trek that most Bengaluru hikers do first: a long one-day walk from Mullodi through shola forest and open grassland to a summit near 1,890 m. The catch is the permit system. This guide covers the official fee, the 300-a-day cap, how to book, the route stage by stage, the plastic checks, and what the trip costs.
The short answer
The Kudremukh peak trek is a one-day, roughly 9 km each way walk from Mullodi village. The park charges Rs 575 per trekker, a guide is compulsory at Rs 1,000 per group of up to 10, only 300 trekkers are allowed a day, and every trekker needs a booking ID. Plan on 7 to 9 hours, enter the checkpost by about 11 am and start down by 1 pm.
Kudremukh National Park covers about 600 sq km of evergreen forest and grassland at the point where Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts meet. It was declared a national park in 1987 and sits inside the Western Ghats World Heritage listing. The name means horse-face in Kannada, after the outline of the main ridge seen from the west. Iron ore was mined here by KIOCL for decades until a Supreme Court order and the company’s closure in 2006.
The trek to the peak is a classic, but permits sell out and the rules are strict. If you are choosing among treks, compare it with Kumara Parvatha and the other routes in treks in Karnataka; if you want something easier and road-accessible, the Mullayanagiri guide covers the highest peak in the state.
Permit fee, guide and the booking rules
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Trek fee, Kudremukh peak | Rs 575 per person, as listed by the park |
| Guide | Rs 1,000 per 10 trekkers; one guide is mandatory for every group of 10 |
| Daily limit | 300 trekkers a day |
| Booking ID | Required for every trekker; no booking ID, no trek |
| Where to book | The Kudremukh National Park website, or the Aranya Vihaara portal under Chikkamagaluru treks |
| ID at the checkpost | Aadhaar, Voter ID or Driving Licence in original |
| Who can book | Individuals; bookings in the name of homestays, firms or operators are cancelled |
| No-shows | Cancel before the date; repeated no-shows can lead to a ban |
| Camping | Not allowed inside the park |
Book on the park’s own site, kudremukhanationalpark.in, or on the Karnataka Forest Department’s Aranya Vihaara portal. Slots open about 30 days ahead and weekends fill in minutes, so be logged in when they open. One login can book for up to three people. Print or save the permit, and carry the same ID you used to book.
Older pages quote lower fees, such as Rs 200 to 350, and a daily limit of 50. The park’s current price list shows Rs 575 and a cap of 300, and that is the figure to budget with.
Other park treks are priced on the same list: Nethravathi Rs 500, Gangadikal Rs 475, Kurinjal Rs 475, Valikunja Rs 500, Narasimha Parvatha Rs 500 and Kodachadri Rs 400.
The route, stage by stage
| Stage | What you see | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mullodi checkpost | Forest office, bag and plastic check, permit and ID verification | Start here; the guide is assigned on arrival |
| Forest and Somavathi falls | Shola forest, stream crossings, bamboo patches | Slippery in the monsoon; leeches June to September |
| Lobo's house | A named landmark house along the trail | Early rest point |
| Ontimara | A lone tree on the grassland, the main rest stop | Water and a snack |
| Kudre Suthu | Base of the final climb | The steepest section starts here |
| Summit | Wide views across the ridges and, on a clear day, towards the sea | Around 1,890 m; no camping |
The distance is about 9 km one way, so 18 km for the round trip, and most walkers take 4 to 5 hours up and about 3 hours down. The path is not technical, but the length and the open grassland make it a real day’s work, and the last climb after the lone tree is steep. In dry months the grassland has no shade, so start as early as the checkpost lets you.
The forest rules the clock. Entry to the checkpost closes at around 11 am, the descent should start by 1 pm at the latest, and nobody is allowed on the trail after dark. A walker who reaches the summit late is turned round, not given extra time.
Plastic, food and bag checks
The forest staff inspect every bag at the checkpost. Plastic of any size is not allowed, packaged snacks such as chips, biscuits and chocolates are banned, and plastic water bottles are counted on the way in and checked again on the way out, with a fine if one is missing. Carry water in a steel or reusable bottle, at least two litres per person, and pack food in boxes or cloth.
Do not play music, leave the path, pick plants or go ahead of the guide. In heavy rain the guide will call the descent, and you follow.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| June to September | Green hills, mist, heavy rain, leeches and swollen streams | Possible, but hard and risky; the guide can turn the group back |
| October to November | Post-monsoon green, clearing skies, mild days | Best balance |
| December to February | Cool mornings, clear views | Very good and very crowded |
| March to May | Hot, dry, forest fire risk, no shade on the meadows | Avoid; the trek can be restricted |
The two good windows are the weeks just after the monsoon and the winter months. For wider trip planning, see Karnataka in monsoon and Karnataka in winter, or the month table in best time to visit Karnataka.
How to reach Mullodi
| From | Distance | How |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | About 315 to 330 km, 7 to 8 hours | Overnight KSRTC bus to Horanadu or Kalasa, about Rs 800 per person each way; or drive via Hassan and Chikkamagaluru |
| Kalasa | About 10 to 16 km to the trek start | Auto about Rs 300 to 400, or a bus towards Balagal |
| Balagal or Kalasa to Mullodi | Muddy last stretch | Jeep about Rs 150 to 200 per person, or about Rs 2,000 round trip for a 6 to 8 seater |
| Mangaluru | Roughly 100 to 130 km | Nearest airport and a railway station |
| Udupi | About 105 km | Nearest coastal rail link |
Most walkers sleep the night before in a homestay in Mullodi or Kalasa, which costs roughly Rs 1,200 to 2,000 per person with meals and often includes a packed lunch and the jeep ride. Booking a homestay does not replace the park permit, and homestays cannot book permits for you. Kalasa is also the base for Horanadu, nearby, and the temple town of Sringeri is a short drive on the other side.
A two-day plan and what it costs
Day one: take the overnight bus from Bengaluru, reach Kalasa in the early morning, have breakfast at your homestay and spend the day at Horanadu and the waterfalls near Kalasa. Eat early and sleep early, because the trek check-in is before sunrise. Day two: leave for the checkpost at first light, walk with your guide, summit by noon, start down by 1 pm and be back at the homestay by late afternoon. Catch the night bus back to Bengaluru.
Our own estimate for two people travelling by bus: bus fares Rs 3,200 return, permits Rs 1,150, guide Rs 1,000 for the group, jeep Rs 300 to 400, one night in a homestay with meals Rs 2,400 to 4,000, and local transport and snacks about Rs 500. That comes to roughly Rs 8,500 to 10,500 for two. Driving instead cuts the bus cost and adds fuel.
For a longer Malnad trip, add Chikmagalur and the Chikkamagaluru district guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Turning up without a booking ID. Nobody is allowed through without one.
- Asking a homestay to book for you. Registrations made in the name of a homestay or operator are cancelled automatically.
- Arriving after 11 am. Entry closes and the descent deadline will not move.
- Carrying chips and biscuits. The checkpost removes them.
- Trusting an old fee. Check the park’s current list before you budget.
- Trekking in March to May. Fire risk, heat and no shade.
Kudremukh trek FAQ
How much is the Kudremukh trek permit?
Rs 575 per person for the Kudremukh peak trek, according to the park’s price list, plus a compulsory guide at Rs 1,000 for each group of up to 10.
How do I book the Kudremukh trek?
Online, through the Kudremukh National Park website or the Aranya Vihaara portal. Every trekker needs a booking ID and an original photo ID at the checkpost.
How many trekkers are allowed per day?
The park allows 300 trekkers a day. Weekend slots go within minutes of opening.
How long is the Kudremukh trek?
About 9 km each way, around 18 km round trip, and 7 to 9 hours for most walkers.
Is the Kudremukh trek difficult?
It is moderate. There are no technical sections, but the distance, the open grassland and the steep last climb need steady fitness.
What is the best time for the Kudremukh trek?
October to February. The monsoon is possible but slippery and leech-prone, and March to May is hot with fire risk.
Is a guide mandatory?
Yes. One guide is mandatory for every group of 10, and groups without one are turned back.
Can I camp on the Kudremukh trek?
No. Camping is not allowed anywhere inside the park.
Can I carry snacks and plastic bottles?
No plastic is allowed, and packaged snacks such as chips and biscuits are banned. Bring a reusable bottle and homemade food.
Where do I stay near Kudremukh?
In homestays at Mullodi or Kalasa, which cost about Rs 1,200 to 2,000 per person with meals.