Tranquil
Terrain

Photo: Dinesh Valke / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Scenic drive

Charmadi Ghat: Distance, Timings and Tips

One of the most scenic ghat roads in Karnataka, full of hairpins and roadside waterfalls in the monsoon.

2 min read Updated Nov 2026
From resort
68 km
Drive
about 1 hour 45 minutes to the top of the ghat
Type
Scenic drive
Best time
June to October for waterfalls

The Charmadi Ghat links the coastal plains near Ujire to Kottigehara and Mudigere in the hills. It is a stretch of about 25 km with many hairpin bends, deep valleys and, in the monsoon, waterfalls that pour right onto the road.

Getting there

From Tranquil Terrain drive to Mudigere and Kottigehara, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to the top of the ghat. If you are coming from Mangaluru, you will drive it anyway on your way to us.

Safety tips

  • Drive it in daylight during the monsoon. Fog and landslips can block traffic for hours.
  • Do not stop on bends to take photos. Use the wider shoulders.
  • Watch out for monkeys and do not feed them.
  • Heavy vehicle restrictions apply at times. Check traffic news in peak monsoon.

Questions travellers ask

Is Charmadi Ghat safe?

Yes, if you drive slowly and in daylight during heavy rain. It is a busy route with buses and trucks.

Book direct

Stay at our coffee estate resort

Book directly with Tranquil Terrain. Just pay 50% advance and the rest on arrival.

  • Free cancellation up to 7 days
  • Just pay 50% advance
  • Breakfast and hi-tea included