Adventurous Hidlumane Falls Trek
Hidlumane Falls Trek

Hidlumane falls is a series of stepped waterfalls that sits at the base of Kodachadri hills of Western ghats, Shimoga. As these falls are stuck deep inside the jungles of the Mookambika reserve forest, be prepared to undertake a small trek to reach this beauty.

There are about 7 waterfalls and each one cascades down at different heights ranging from 30 to 70ft. Despite being a series of waterfalls, the biggest specialty is, each one appears hidden from one another. Do not miss out on the secluded waterfall at the top which is the most scenic of all of them.

You can spot the white water sliding down the smooth rocks to form a natural pool at the foot. This cold water pool that is shallow is perfect to take a dip and get immersed in nature.

You need to hike through muddy roads, dense forests,  plenty of small streams, steep hills, cross huge slippery rocks, jump over dead trees, and paddy fields to reach the waterfalls.

While strolling through the forest all you can hear is the rustling sound of leaves and birds chirping around. However, once you get closer to Hidlumane thunderous sound of the gushing water is sure to put silence of the forest for a toss. In fact, you will find dead woods in unusually attractive shapes, due to the presence of wood termites in this region. Above all, trek to Hidlumane falls will be adventurous and it will surely awaken the adventurer in every individual.

Try to avoid this place during peak monsoon as the trail tends to get super slippery and currents are high.

Hidlumane Falls Trekking Routes

hidlumane falls at different stages
Image Credits: Solarisgirl (Flickr)

Since this place lies on the way to Kochadri peak, you can even take a jeep ride. But, the jeep will only go until a lonely house with a shop. After this, you need to trek for amidst paddy fields and forest for 1 km to reach falls.It is a beautiful trek that keeps throwing surprises all along the way.

Hidlumane Falls Trek Via Sampekatte Village

You can see a lot of travelers start their trek towards Hidlumane falls from Sampekatte. After Sampakatte and just before Nittur Village, there is a y junction. Here, you need to take a left turn to reach the jeep route of Kodachadri hills. You should continue in the same direction till you reach Kumble school and from here take the right deviation on the muddy road in front of the school. After a while, you will get another y junction and you should take an immediate right turn here. It is a muddy uphill road, continue in this for 5 km via Emme Honda School, until you get a lonely house with a shop.

You can relax here near the lonely house and buy some snacks and water bottles from the shop. From here, you have to walk through paddy fields and muddy tracks for 1 km to reach the falls.

Hidlumane Falls Trek Via Nittur Village

Usually, there is not much confusion in this route, hence people prefer this route more than other routes. After Nittur, take a 1 to 1.5 km walk on the main road towards Kollur. After you come across a small bus stop take a left turn. It is a jeep track, which will lead you to a lonely house with a shop. This is the same house you will find on the Sampekatte trek route.

It is a series of stepped falls. After you reach the first waterfalls., you need to climb up the rocks on which the stream is flowing. Otherwise,  take a parallel route along the falls to reach the scintillating one at the top.

Hidlumane Falls Trek Via Kodachadri Peak

In this case, you can either take an alternative trek route or take a jeep ride till the Kodachadri peak. From the peak, you can hike down to Hidlumane falls.which is 8 km away.

Eateries near Hidlumane(Lonely House With A Shop)

While you are trekking, just 1 to 2 km from waterfalls, you will find a shop that is attached to a house amidst a paddy field. You can request the people staying here to cook something for you, they will be ready to do it with a small amount. But be prepared to wait for at least 2 hours because they start to cook only after receiving the order. Mostly you will be served with hot rice, sambar, pickle, and buttermilk. In the shop next to the house, you will get snacks, water bottles, and cool drinks.

You can also reach this place through a 2 wheeler or a jeep. After this point, you need to trek to the falls.

Hidlumane Waterfalls Information

Entry Fee: Rs 25 / person

Trek Distance: 5 To 6 Km

Trek Duration: 2 hours

Difficulty  Level: Moderate

Best Time To Visit: September To February

Location: Base of Kodachadri Hills

Also, read: Dabbe Falls Trek In Shimoga

About Author

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Suraj Kumar Manohara
Suraj Kumar is a travel blogger, adventurist, storyteller, solo traveler, and digital marketer who formerly worked as a Business Developer in a travel startup “HornOK” for 3 years. He quit his decent-paying job to travel the world full time with his savings. He loves to travel at a slow pace indulging with experiences which involve exploring the untrodden, eating local or regional food, living like a local and knowing the people and its place best by exploring their natural habitats Suraj is an Engineering Graduate in Computer Science and he lives in Bangalore with his family. He hopes to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone to experience the world filled with various cultures by traveling and experiencing it at its roots.

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