Aldur and Chikmagalur: Coffee, History, Heritage

Coffee plays a role in a trip around Aldur, including through the history of Yellikodige Estate and regional coffee plantation tours. Yellikodige Estate is located in the Aldur area of Chikmagalur, Karnataka; coffee plantation tours are also offered in the greater Aldur area. The wider Chikmagalur destination is also home to a Coffee Museum and religious and architectural sites.

Coffee cultivation and history in the Aldur area

Yellikodige Estate covers 152 acres and is situated at an elevation of 3,800 feet. The estate is more than a century old. Its original owner, C.H. Godfrey, sent most of the coffee grown there directly to London. The estate’s area and elevation provide a sense of its location; its age and trading history add historical context. The shipments to London tell of a former trading connection.

The coffee grown at Yellikodige Estate is certified organic by I.M.O. Certifications can change. If this attribute is important to your travel plans, check the current certification status.

Coffee plantation tours are offered in the greater Aldur area. If such a tour is important to your stay, check in advance which tours are currently available.

Coffee and getting there in the wider Chikmagalur area

Chikmagalur also has a historical connection to coffee: the country’s first coffee was grown at Baba-Budan Giri in 1670 AD. The Coffee Museum is located in Chikkamagaluru, behind the Zilla Panchayat Office, and is open to tourists. The growing site and the museum offer two different perspectives on the subject: a historical point of origin and a museum to visit in the wider destination.

Kadur is the nearest railway station to Chikkamagaluru. From there, the onward journey by bus or taxi takes 45 minutes. If you plan this leg of your trip, check the timetable for your chosen service in advance.

Culture and religious sites in Chikmagalur

The wider Chikmagalur destination also features religious and architectural sites. The Ishwara Temple in Hiremagalur has a distinctive, somewhat rounded statue of Jademuni, 1.22 metres high. It also has a Yoopastambha, which tradition says was erected by King Janamejaya during his snake sacrifice. Also in Hiremagalur, the Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple is said to have been the first temple in South India dedicated to Rama.

The Kodandarama Temple in Chikkamagaluru is another temple associated with a distinct location: it combines Hoysala and Dravidian architectural styles. The religious sites also offer different perspectives: Bababudan Dargah/Dattatreya Peetha is a sacred place for Hindus and Muslims. The Jamia Mosque is one of the revered religious monuments in Chikkamagaluru.

Discover more destinations: Magundi, Kelagur, Arasinaguppe, Maragadi, Aramane Thalagur, Chikmagalur, Balehonnur, Lakkavalli

Back to the wider travel overview: Chikmagalur.