The awesome Hidlumane and Arishinagundi falls, temples which evoke pious feelings, shola forest, River Souparnika, known for its medicinal value, picturesque view of sunrise and sunset... All these features make Kodachadri hill an interesting place. Inspired by the beauty of Kodachadri, poet laureate Kuvempu composed these immortal lines: “Shiva mandira sama, vana sundara suma, shrungarada girishrungake, baa phalguna Ravi darshanake.”

Located at a height of 4,800 feet above sea level, Kodachadri hill is spread over an area of 2,500 acre comprising Tirthahalli, Hosanagar, Sagar and Kundapur taluks. Kodachadri is a place of spiritual significance as Shankaracharya attained self-realisation at the Sarvajna Peetha here. It is from Kodachadri that Shankaracharya began the propagation of Advaitha philosophy. Shrines of Moola Mookambika, Siddeshwara, Parvateshwara, Bhairava and Huliraya are located here. Devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu who come to Kollur for Shakti aradhana make it a point to visit Kodachadri, the place of Moola Mookambika. The influx of tourists is more during Navaratri and amavasya.

Kodachadri has many mysteries enclosed within itself. It is the place where Mookambika killed the demon Mookasura and the trishul of the goddess can be found in the place. The metal with which the trishul is made is still unknown. The silence and tranquillity of the place has turned it into an abode of the saints of Sidha, Natha, Bhairava and Aghora traditions. Even today, many such sadhaks can be found at Chitramoola caves in Kodachadri.

Kodachadri is rich in bio-diversity and is home to 64 rare medicinal plants and tirthas or ponds. Kodachadri is also home to many wild animals facing the threat of extinction and River Souparnika takes birth here.
Though many jeeps ply to Kodachadri from Kollur and Nittur, adventurous tourists can opt to trek to the place. From Kattinahole, the place can be reached via Hidlumane falls with modest trekking. Trekking from Iskcon temple in Nittur is risky and steep.

Considering the tourist potential of the place, the State Government has sanctioned Rs 13 crore for the upgradation of tourist infrastructure at Kodachadri in the last budget. The approach road to Kodachadri hill at Rs 10 crore and a resort at Nagodi, 15 km away from Kodachadri, at Rs 3 crore, have already been planned. But the project is caught in a legal tangle as members of the Kodachadri Samrakshana Trust have approached the Court against the same on the grounds that the project will have an adverse impact on environment and sanctity of the place. The local community are not in favour of the approach road planned for the hill as they fear the road may be misused to exploit the rich natural resources of the place.

Persons who are in favour of the project are of the opinion that the construction of the approach road and the resort will result in increased tourist influx and promote income generation activities in the region. As jeep is the only mode of transport to Kodachadri, a whopping sum of Rs 1,200 is charged for the short trip of 20 km from Kollur!

However, members of the Kodachadri Parisara Samrakshana Trust are of the opinion that the influx of tourists will disturb the sanctity of the place. Seer Esha Vithaladasa of Kemaru Mutt, who is a member of the Trust, says that Kodachadri should be retained as ‘tapo bhoomi,’ a place of devotion and worship, and should not become ‘bhoga bhoomi,’ a place of pleasure. The resort planned at the place will have a swimming pool, a lounge and a conference hall, among other luxuries. Locals are of the opinion that the construction of the resort will serve a limited purpose as it is planned only for ‘elite’ tourists. Instead of a resort, they prefer a dormitory for common tourists. Regarding the approach road to the place, they are of the opinion that the “road should be constructed till Harvekhanjabbi, the last village on the way to Kodachadri. Road till the peak of the hill will serve commercial interests and tourists who visit the place for pleasure.”

The Sahyadri range is impregnated with high quality iron and manganese ore. Sir M Vishweshwaraiah, the then Diwan of Mysore, during the construction of iron and steel factory at Bhadravati, had planned to feed the ore for the same from Kodachadri. Samples of ores extracted during the time of Sir M V for testing are piled at many points in Kodachadri. As many companies have applied for a mining license in Western Ghats, local people feel that the construction of a road will help mine owners for the logistics of ore. Mining in Western Ghats is profitable as high quality ore is available here. Even the expense towards transportation will be less as the place enjoys proximity with the west coast through which the ore is exported.

The ecology of Ambaragudda, another hill adjacent to Kodachadri, has been adversely damaged due to mining and other commercial activities. Mining resulted in mysterious diseases among people and cattle in and around Ambaragudda and River Sharavati was polluted as extracted ore was carried to the same during monsoon. Thanks to the anti-mining struggle launched by seer Raghaveshwara Bharati of Ramachandrapur Mutt, mining has been stopped as per Court orders.

According to Mr Krishnamurthy, a resident of Nittur, “Kodachadri should not become another Ambaragudda. Tourism should benefit the local community in the region. Destruction of environment and violation of sanctity in the name of tourism will be resisted.”

Film fare

Heavy tourist influx to Jog Falls this season is attributed to Kannada blockbuster Mungarumale. Kodachadri is expecting a similar magic from Galipata, another Ganesh-starrer. Directed by Yogaraj Bhat, breathtaking views of Kodachadri are presented in the movie.

“Galipata has created an air in favour of Kodachadri, which needs to be encashed. A state-level kite flying competition will be organised at Kodachadri this month,” said Mr A N Vijayendra Rao, a tourist operator who manages Kalyani Chowka, a tourist accommodation near Kodachadri.