Chikmagalur district

Kadur taluk

The dry eastern taluk, where the Ghats give out and the plateau begins. Most visitors meet Kadur as the railway junction they arrive at; it is worth a stop for Ayyanakere, the second-largest lake in Karnataka, sitting at the eastern foot of the Baba Budan range, and for the old temple towns of Sakharayapatna and Yagati.

3 places to visit

  • Ayyanakere, Karnataka's second-largest lake
  • Sakharayapatna's fort and temple town
  • Mallikarjuna temple at Yagati
  • Kadur Junction — the district's rail gateway

What to eat in Kadur

  • Ragi mudde with soppina saaru — the plains staple, not the Malnad one
  • Mandakki and mirchi bajji at the Kadur and Birur station stalls
  • Coconut-and-groundnut chutneys with thatte idli
  • Kadur's dry-country jaggery, sold in blocks at the weekly market

Getting around

Kadur Junction is the practical arrival point for the whole district — most Bengaluru and Mumbai trains stop here. Ayyanakere is best at first light; there is no shade and no shop at the bund.