Agumbe is a small rainforest village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It is known as the Cherrapunji of the South because it gets some of the heaviest rain in South India. Mist, deep green forest and quiet roads make it one of the most loved nature stops in the state.
Where is Agumbe?
Agumbe is in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district, in the Malnad region. It stands at about 660 metres above sea level, close to Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park.
- About 90 km from Shivamogga
- About 98 km from Mangaluru
- About 50 km from Udupi, the nearest big railway station
- About 357 km from Bengaluru
- About 55 km from the Arabian Sea
Why it is called the Cherrapunji of the South
Agumbe receives an average of roughly 7,600 mm of rain a year, with July the wettest month. Fog often settles over the hills, and the humidity stays high all year. That is why the forest here is so dense and green.
Rainforest and wildlife
Agumbe has southern tropical wet evergreen forest. Wildlife here includes the lion-tailed macaque, sambar, gaur, barking deer and many birds. The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, founded in 2005 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, studies the king cobra, which is one of the village's best-known residents. A survey of the area has recorded hundreds of plant species, many of them medicinal.
The Malgudi Days connection
Many episodes of the TV serial Malgudi Days, based on R. K. Narayan's stories, were filmed in Agumbe.
What to see around Agumbe
- Agumbe Sunset Point: a hilltop viewpoint with wide valley views and sunsets.
- Barkana Falls and viewpoint: one of the tallest waterfalls in India.
- Jogi Gundi Falls: a short, easy walk to a cave-fed waterfall.
- Onake Abbi Falls, Kundadri Hills, Kudlu Theertha Falls, Sirimane Falls and the Narasimha Parvatha trek are all within reach.
Best time to visit
The monsoon, June to September, is the greenest and wettest season. From October to February the skies are clearer, which is the best time for trekking and sightseeing. Summer, from March to May, is warmer, and April is the hottest month.
Stay close to it all
Mithila Nature Stay is a 3½-acre plantation homestay inside Agumbe, near the bus stop and the popular sightseeing places. Message us on WhatsApp to plan your trip.Agumbe is a small rainforest village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It is known as the Cherrapunji of the South because it gets some of the heaviest rain in South India. Mist, deep green forest and quiet roads make it one of the most loved nature stops in the state.
Where is Agumbe?
Agumbe is in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district, in the Malnad region. It stands at about 660 metres above sea level, close to Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park.
- About 90 km from Shivamogga
- About 98 km from Mangaluru
- About 50 km from Udupi, the nearest big railway station
- About 357 km from Bengaluru
- About 55 km from the Arabian Sea
Why it is called the Cherrapunji of the South
Agumbe receives an average of roughly 7,600 mm of rain a year, with July the wettest month. Fog often settles over the hills, and the humidity stays high all year. That is why the forest here is so dense and green.
Rainforest and wildlife
Agumbe has southern tropical wet evergreen forest. Wildlife here includes the lion-tailed macaque, sambar, gaur, barking deer and many birds. The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, founded in 2005 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, studies the king cobra, which is one of the village's best-known residents. A survey of the area has recorded hundreds of plant species, many of them medicinal.
The Malgudi Days connection
Many episodes of the TV serial Malgudi Days, based on R. K. Narayan's stories, were filmed in Agumbe.
What to see around Agumbe
- Agumbe Sunset Point: a hilltop viewpoint with wide valley views and sunsets.
- Barkana Falls and viewpoint: one of the tallest waterfalls in India.
- Jogi Gundi Falls: a short, easy walk to a cave-fed waterfall.
- Onake Abbi Falls, Kundadri Hills, Kudlu Theertha Falls, Sirimane Falls and the Narasimha Parvatha trek are all within reach.
Best time to visit
The monsoon, June to September, is the greenest and wettest season. From October to February the skies are clearer, which is the best time for trekking and sightseeing. Summer, from March to May, is warmer, and April is the hottest month.
Stay close to it all
Mithila Nature Stay is a 3½-acre plantation homestay inside Agumbe, near the bus stop and the popular sightseeing places. Message us on WhatsApp to plan your trip.