Kanakapura is a taluk town on the Arkavathi river, about 55 km south of Bengaluru on the old Bangalore-Coimbatore-Madurai highway (NH 209). It is a working market town rather than a tourist centre, known across Karnataka for its cocoon and silk trade. Its interest for a visitor lies in the country beyond it.
South of town the land drops towards the Cauvery. Here the Arkavathi joins the larger river at Sangama, and a few kilometres on the river is squeezed into the narrow granite gorge of Mekedatu. All of this lies in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, which holds elephants, leopards and the endangered hump-backed mahseer. Closer to town are granite hills with a hill temple at Bilikal Rangaswamy Betta and the ruined fort of Kabbaldurga.
It works best as a day or overnight escape from Bengaluru. The roads are rural, facilities are limited and the best sights involve rough ground, so go early with a driver, carry food and water, and treat the river with respect. Older travellers will enjoy the confluence and the drive more than the gorge or the hill climbs.
Before you plan
Kanakapura at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable, with a flowing river and mild days; June to September is wet and the gorge is risky
- Ideal trip length
- One long day tripOne long day trip, or an overnight to combine river, falls and a hill
- Airport
- Kempegowda International Airport,…Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), roughly 100 km away; allow about 2.5 to 3 hours by road
- Railway station
- Kanakapura has no passenger railwayKanakapura has no passenger railway; the nearest railheads are Ramanagara and Bengaluru, then onward by road
- Getting around
- A hired car and driver is bestA hired car and driver is best; state and private buses run from Bengaluru, but the river sites are off the main road
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹3,500 per person per day excluding stay, mostly for a hired car; local eating is inexpensive
- Senior comfort
- Fair: the town and drives are easyFair: the town and drives are easy, but the gorge, falls and hill climbs have rough, slippery ground and few facilities
- Language
- Kannada locallyKannada locally; Hindi and English are understood in larger shops and on tours
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Kanakapura: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Kanakapura itinerary
One good day
1 day in Kanakapura
Leave Bengaluru early and reach Kanakapura for a tea stop. Drive south to Sangama, where the Arkavathi meets the Cauvery, and spend an hour by the water. Continue to Mekedatu and view the narrow gorge from the safe paths, without swimming. On the way back, stop at Chunchi Falls if the flow is good, and have a late lunch in Kanakapura before returning.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Kanakapura
Start at sunrise for Kabbaldurga if you are fit, or just visit its base. Return for lunch in Kanakapura and spend the afternoon at a quiet pace, perhaps seeing the cocoon and silk market activity in town.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Kanakapura
Climb at dawn, rest in the afternoon and spend the evening in town.
Day-by-day plan →
