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Getting there · Karnataka
Chikmagalur Nearest Railway Station: Chikkamagaluru, Kadur or Birur, and the Fares
Many guides say Chikmagalur has no station. It does: Chikkamagaluru (CMGR), about 3.5 km from the centre, at the end of a branch line. But only one train a day runs into it, and it is unreserved. Most people take a fast day train to Kadur (39 km) or Birur (47 km) and a bus on. Here are the trains, the fares and the buses.
Photo: Srinivasa83, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
Chikmagalur does have a railway station: Chikkamagaluru (CMGR), about 3.5 km from the centre. But only one train runs into it daily, the unreserved 16240 from Yesvantpur (15:40 to 21:05), plus a Friday train from Tirupati via Bengaluru. Most people take a fast day train from Bengaluru to Kadur (about 39 km away), about 2.5 hours, chair car about ₹400, second sitting about ₹115, then a bus on, about 45 minutes. The KSRTC bus straight from Bengaluru is the simplest option, from about ₹343.
Chikmagalur is coffee country around Karnataka's highest peak, Mullayanagiri, with homestays in the estates. It is closer to Bengaluru than Coorg and, unlike Coorg, it is on the railway map. The catch is that the trains into the town itself are few and slow.
How we worked it out. On 5 November 2026 we found every station within 70 km on OpenStreetMap, re-ran road distances with OpenStreetMap routing to the town, read train times on erail and the lowest fare per class on ConfirmTkt's listings for travel on 6 November. Fares change with the date, so check IRCTC before you book. You book every piece yourself: Trip Under is not an agency.
Every railway station near Chikmagalur
| Station (code) | Distance to town by road | Drive | Trains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chikkamagaluru (CMGR) | about 3.5 km | about 4 min | One daily unreserved train from Yesvantpur (16240); one Friday train from Tirupati (17423). |
| Kadur (DRU) | about 39 km | about 30–45 min | About 19 trains from Bengaluru, incl. the Intercity, Vishwamanav and Janshatabdi. |
| Birur Jn (RRB) | about 47 km | about 35–50 min | About 40 trains from Bengaluru, and all Hubballi trains. |
| Hassan Jn (HAS) | about 69 km | about 1 h | On the Bengaluru/Mysuru–Mangaluru line; buses on via Belur. |
| Arsikere Jn (ASK) | about 77 km | about 1 h | A big junction; many trains end here. |
Use Chikkamagaluru station only if the unreserved evening train suits you, or you are coming on the Friday train. Use Kadur for a fast day train from Bengaluru or Mysuru. Use Birur from Hubballi and north Karnataka. Or skip the train: the KSRTC bus from Bengaluru drops you in town in about 4.5 to 5.5 hours.
Infographic · the route
The fast way by train
The district website says buses and taxis take about 45 minutes from Kadur; we could not confirm the bus fare.
Chikmagalur train ticket price by class
Straight into Chikkamagaluru
| Train | Fares | From → to | Departs → arrives | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16240 Yesvantpur–Chikkamagaluru Express | Unreserved only (fare not confirmed) | Yesvantpur → Chikkamagaluru | 15:40 → 21:05 | Daily |
| 17423 Tirupati–Chikkamagaluru Express | SL ₹205, 3A ₹520, 2A ₹725 | SMVT Bengaluru → Chikkamagaluru | 03:15 → 10:30 | Friday |
From Bengaluru to Kadur
| Train | Fares | Departs → arrives (Yesvantpur → Kadur) | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20689 Intercity | CC ₹400, 2S ₹115 | 09:15 → 11:50 | Daily |
| 20676 Vishwamanav Express | CC ₹400, 2S ₹115 | 10:12 → 12:34 | Daily |
| 12725 Siddaganga Express | CC ₹400, 2S ₹115 | 13:12 → 15:38 | Daily |
| 12089 Janshatabdi | CC ₹430, 2S ₹135 | 17:27 → 19:54 | Daily |
| 16589 Rani Chennamma Express | SL ₹150, 3A ₹520, 2A ₹725 | 23:12 → 01:49 | Daily |
From Mysuru and Hubballi
| Train | Fares | From → to | Departs → arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16206 Talguppa Express | CC ₹360, 2S ₹100 | Mysuru → Kadur | 06:00 → 09:26 |
| 12080 Janshatabdi | CC ₹495, 2S ₹155 | Hubballi → Birur | 14:10 → 17:26 |
| 12726 Siddaganga Express | CC ₹465, 2S ₹135 | Hubballi → Birur | 06:05 → 09:58 |
For budgeting, Trip Under plans the Kadur train at about ₹400 each way (chair car). Here is how it compares:
| Way in | Route | Time | Fare (per person, each way) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight bus | Bengaluru → Chikmagalur | 5–6 h | ₹600 | KSRTC non-AC sleeper about ₹595; Sarige buses from about ₹343, every 20–30 minutes (KSRTC fare list, undated). |
| Train + bus | Bengaluru → Kadur, then about 45 min by bus | 2.5 h + 45 m | ₹400 | Daily Intercity, Vishwamanav and Janshatabdi trains to Kadur: chair car about ₹400, second sitting about ₹115 (ConfirmTkt, 5 Nov 2026). The Kadur bus fare is not confirmed. One daily unreserved train (16240) runs right into Chikkamagaluru station. |
| Flight + road | → Mangaluru (IXE), then 4 h | 1 h + 4 h | ₹8,000 | Only worth it from outside Karnataka. |
Infographic · two days in Chikmagalur, per person
Train and bus against the direct bus
One person from Bengaluru, return travel plus two days on the ground at Trip Under's Chikmagalur daily rates (₹1,000 shoestring, ₹1,700 mid-range).
The bus: from Kadur, or straight from Bengaluru
From Kadur and Birur, buses and taxis run to Chikmagalur town in about 45 to 50 minutes (district website). We could not confirm the bus fare. Women ride KSRTC ordinary buses free within Karnataka under the Shakti scheme.
| KSRTC bus, Bengaluru → Chikmagalur | Fare |
|---|---|
| Sarige Express (every 20–30 min) | ₹343 |
| Rajahamsa | ₹376 |
| Non-AC sleeper | ₹595 |
| EV Power Plus AC (via Hassan, Belur) | ₹656 |
| Volvo Multi-Axle | ₹668 |
Our plan uses about ₹600 for the overnight bus.
Two days, what it costs
Photo: Photos Worldwide, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
A dorm in town is about ₹550 a night and an estate homestay about ₹1,500, usually with breakfast and dinner. Veg meals at a town darshini are about ₹80. Two days from Bengaluru by train and bus come to about ₹2,800 per person on a shoestring and ₹4,200 mid-range.
When to go
Infographic · month by month
Chikmagalur month by month
Month-by-month as text
Jan: Good · Feb: Good · Mar: Passable · Apr: Passable · May: Passable · Jun: Good · Jul: Best · Aug: Best · Sep: Best · Oct: Good · Nov: Best · Dec: Best
Two windows. June to September is monsoon — the estates are at their greenest, the falls are running and rates fall by a third. November to February is dry, cool and busy at weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chikmagalur have a railway station?
Yes: Chikkamagaluru (CMGR), about 3.5 km from the town centre, at the end of the Kadur branch. Only one train runs into it daily (the unreserved 16240 from Yesvantpur), plus a Friday train from Tirupati.
What is the nearest railway station to Chikmagalur with good trains?
Kadur (DRU), about 39 km away, with daily Intercity, Vishwamanav and Janshatabdi trains from Bengaluru. Birur Jn, about 47 km away, has even more.
How do I reach Chikmagalur from Bengaluru by train?
Take a day train to Kadur (about 2.5 hours, chair car about ₹400, second sitting about ₹115), then a bus or taxi on, about 45 minutes. Or take the unreserved 16240 straight into Chikkamagaluru, 15:40 to 21:05.
How far is Kadur from Chikmagalur?
About 39 km by road, around 45 minutes by bus or taxi according to the district website.
Is the bus or train better from Bengaluru to Chikmagalur?
The KSRTC bus is simpler and drops you in town, from about ₹343 (Sarige) to ₹668 (Volvo). The train is faster to Kadur but needs a bus on.
How much does a 2-day Chikmagalur trip cost?
About ₹2,800 per person on a shoestring and ₹4,200 mid-range from Bengaluru by train and bus, return included.
Sources and how we priced this
- Stations within 70 km: OpenStreetMap (Overpass); road distances: OSRM driving routes to the town (13.32, 75.77), 5 November 2026. Kadur and Birur onward times: chikkamagaluru.nic.in (How to reach).
- Train times and the trains into Chikkamagaluru: erail.in (Bengaluru and Arsikere to CMGR, Bengaluru to Kadur and Birur, Hubballi to Birur) and ConfirmTkt's 16240 schedule; fares: ConfirmTkt route listings for travel on 6 November 2026, read 5 November. Live fares: IRCTC.
- KSRTC fares by bus type: tickettogetlost.com KSRTC Bengaluru–Chikkamagaluru page (updated November 2025, fares undated); all operators: ixigo, 6 November 2026.
- Stays, food and the season: Trip Under's Chikmagalur page. Budgets: our cost model.
Keep reading
Plan your own Chikmagalur trip
Set your dates, group and travel mode on the Chikmagalur page and see the train, bus, bed and food add up.
Open the Chikmagalur page →Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.