Trip: Sakleshpur : Switzerland in Karnataka!

Nitul Gajjar

Situated on the southern coast of Ratna, the state of Karnataka thus has no dearth of places to visit. But did you know, Karnataka also has a little Switzerland. Located at a distance of 220 km from Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, Saklespur is known as the 'Switzerland of Karnataka' due to its amazing natural beauty and tranquility. Sakleshpur is basically a hill station which is the first choice of peaceful people as it is surrounded by dense forest. Nestled amidst pepper, cardamom, betel and coffee plantations, this hill station offers a unique experience of tranquility to trekking adventurers as well as those tired of city life. Bisle View Point is located at a distance of 35 km from Sakleshpur. If you are interested in seeing the unforgettable beauty of the Western Ghats, this place is not to be missed. Part of the 'Bisal Reserve Forest' known for its rich biodiversity, this view point is also a place to enjoy and explore. Dodda-Betta, Pushpagiri and Kumar mountain ranges can be seen from this view point. Also, when the sky is clear, Kumaradhara river can also be seen from here. The exciting thing is that the road to reach this place is also uneven, so it is a kind of adventurous activity to reach here. The view afterwards is a bonus. Hemvati, a tributary of Kaveri passes through Sakleshpur. The Hemvati Dam built on it is the most interesting place to go and enjoy the sunset in the forest. Located in the middle of the forest, many tourists like to come to this place to relax and watch the amazing view of the sunset. Apart from this, Hemvati river bed is also very wide and sandy. Where many people come to have a picnic. Two of the most challenging treks in Karnataka are also located near Sakleshpur. Agni Gudda Hill and Genukal Gudda Hill both prove to be tough and challenging to climb. Agni Gudda Hill is located at a distance of 35 km from Sakleshpur and since it takes a good amount of time to climb it, many people stay overnight after climbing it. It is worth taking the privilege of climbing this mountain and seeing the view from there in the early morning, evening and night. Jenukal Gudda Hill is also known as 'Honey Hill' by locals. This mountain is the second highest peak in Karnataka and offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. Climbing this peak is tough, but the view after reaching the top will take away all your fatigue. There is also a waterfall near Sakleshpur. Known as Mookanam Falls, this waterfall is a perfect place to enjoy solitude. There is something different about diving into the shallow water of this waterfall to sitting quietly with your feet immersed in it. It is impossible to come to Sakleshpur and return without seeing the coffee plantations. Coffee is produced extensively in this place. So coffee farm tours are organized by many farm owners here. In which you can get detailed information about the type of coffee, its cultivation etc. Also, coffee lovers can enjoy buying fresh coffee from here. When to go and where to stay? Sakleshpur is thus a place to enjoy in every season, but if you want to relax, winter is the best time to visit. Sakleshpur does not get very cold during winter, but warm clothes should be carried as the temperature drops at night. Saklespur can also be visited in monsoon, but you may not be able to venture out as it rains heavily here. Summers are not hot at all in this area. So people can enjoy this area in summer. There are many options to stay in Sakleshpur. There are many big and small resorts and hotels around here. Apart from this, many coffee estates in the area offer overnight stays. An overnight stay here in the middle of a coffee farm is an interesting experience. Apart from coffee, spices are also cultivated in Sakleshpur. If one is interested in buying fresh spices, one can stroll through the local market. How to reach Bangalore is the nearest big city to Saklespur by road. As this place is 220 km from Bangalore, it can be reached by a journey of around five hours on National Highway 75. However, the route is full of forests, rivers, hill farms, and hilly areas. It is said to be fun to travel on this road seeing the view. Apart from Bangalore, Mangalore is also a big city near Sakleshpur. From where private as well as government buses are available to reach Sakleshpur. Sakleshpur station is on the railway track from Bangalore to Mangalore. Many trains stop here. However, this station is not directly connected from any place except Bangalore-Mangalore, so you have to come to one of these two cities first. If you want to come to Sakleshpur by flight, you can get a flight to Mangalore International Airport, which is 140 km from Sakleshpur. From where you can reach further by taxi.}

Manjarabad Fort is situated in Sakleshpur, a fort built by Tipu Sultan. The description of this fort prepared by Tipu Sultan in 1792 can be read in many history books. This star-shaped fort is a sight to behold even for those who are not interested in history. The construction of this fort with total five corners is very interesting and rare type. So most of the people who come here have a strong attraction to see Manjrabad Fort.