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Voykit pocket guide · India
Kollegal
Use Kollegal as a day‑trip base for Male Mahadeshwara Hill (80 km); add 2–3 h to see local waterfalls and markets.
Kollegal is a small town in Karnataka, 60 km from Mysore and 80 km from the pilgrimage hill Male Mahadeshwara. With a few hours for town sights and a half‑day hike on the hill, one full day is enough; a second night only adds comfort.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Feb (check)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (check)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–800 excl. bed · Mid ₹800–1,200 excl. bed · High ₹1,200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical / ambulance 108
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at Nandini Restaurant (vegetarian) | ₹120–200 |
| Autorickshaw per km | ₹10 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | ₹15–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BLR · Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore
- —
- MYQ · Mysore Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Bus Kollegal → Male Mahadeshwara Hill
- ≈₹250 round‑trip, 2 h each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Autorickshaws are common, charging about ₹10 per kilometre; taxis are scarce.
See and do
Known for
- Male Mahadeshwara Hill pilgrimage trek
- Hogenakal Waterfalls
- Gundal Dam
- Local coconut and sugarcane farms
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Male Mahadeshwara Hill | Bus from Kollegal bus station, ~2 h; then walk up 5 km (3.1 mi) to the templeBus from Kollegal bus station, ~2 h; then walk up 3.1 mi (5 km) to the temple | ≈3 h round‑trip |
| Hogenakal Waterfalls | Local bus or shared taxi, ~1 h each way | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Nandini Lodge
- Opposite bus station, ₹600 per night
- Vijayalakshmi Lodge
- Opposite bus station, ₹550 per night
- BDL Bhavana Lodge
- Opposite bus station, ₹350 per night; basic amenities
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿkshamisi |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavaadagalu |
| How much is this? | ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು?idu eshtu? |
| Can I pay by card? | ಕಾರ್ಡ್ ಮೂಲಕ ಪಾವತಿಸಬಹುದೇ?kaard moolaka paavatisabahude? |
| Where is the bus station? | ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿ?bus nildana elli? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited medical facilities – carry basic supplies.
- Mobile coverage mainly via BSNL; other networks may be spotty.
Kollegal is generally safe; stay aware of traffic on rural roads and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kollegal yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Male Mahadeshwara Hill pilgrimage trek
- Hogenakal Waterfalls
- Gundal Dam
- Local coconut and sugarcane farms
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kollegal, revision 5300710 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5300710
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kollegal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.