Motorbiking to Kodachadri, Mookambika, Karnataka

The peak at Kodachadri, sunrise

Sarvajna Peetha

Kodachadri (Shimoga district) is mountain(1400 meters) located approximately 40KM from the Mookambika temple town in Udupi district of Karnataka in the Mookambika wildlife sanctuary. Kodachadri is a hill that men have apparently trekked since pre historic times, the evidence being the monolithic structures of stone 12 feet high in the nearby areas. Adi shankara is said to have meditated at a small temple carved from stone called Sarvajna Peetha.
We live in mangalore so we started from there on our motorbikes.

How to reach Kodachadri from Mangalore: Start from AJ Hospital and Research Centre, it lies on the National Highway 66 ( formerly NH 17) this road connects Kochi(Kerala) to Panvel (Mumbai), The road signs from Surathkal to Udupi Have not been completely changed, so at points road signs read as NH 17 this is the same as NH 66! Head north from mangalore to Udupi and then from there to Kundapura. The total distance from Mangalore to Kundapura is about 90KM.
From Kundapura head toward Kollur, If you stay on the NH 17( NH 66) take a right after crossing 3 bridges you'll have to travel 36KM and if you take the right from chikensaal it will be 45KM, both roads are good.
Once you reach Kollur head toward Mookambika and you'll pass through the Mookambika wildlife sanctuary and then reach the giant temple arch over the road indicating you have reached Mookambika, from Mookambika the road takes you to the main temple and from the temple gates take a left to the guest houses and continue along that road to Kodachadri, the entire trip from mangalore is 163KM and that includes the 9KM drive to the temple priests home near the peak.

our ride, from front to back: SUZUKI FIERO, BAJAJ PULSAR 150
HONDA CBR 250

If you come by car or anything other than a motorbike or a four wheeldrive you'll have to park it at the village and either hike to the peak or rent a jeep from the village. For motorbiking the road is quit an experience, it can be risky because of the steepness and the numerous hairpin bends its totally offroad motorbiking and i enjoyed  it thoroughly!! Its a nine KM ride and will take around 30-45mins to reach the temple Priest's home. 

road to kodachadri( picture borrowed from xbhp)

temple priests home

If you call the local tourist office you can arrange for an overnight stay at the top with tents, if not tents you can stay overnight at the temple priests home for Rs 200 that includes one meal and early morning tea, its totally worth it! the temperature can be between 10'C to 16'C in the night so bring warm clothes, you'll be sleeping on the floor with mats and a blanket.

Whats there to see? most people come to see the sunset and sunrise, the temple Sarvajna Peetha, the Iron pillar, the Ganesha Guha, nearby waterfalls are there which requires you to do some trekking. The view from the top cannot be jusified with words you have to experience it, here are a few photos enjoy!!

Sunrise