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Voykit pocket guide · India
Tarikere
Half a day is enough: see the Amritheshwara Temple and the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary entrance, then move on to Chikmagalur or Kemmannagundi.
Tarikere is a small taluk town in Karnataka's Chikmagalur district, best known as a gateway to Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kemmannagundi hill station and the Hoysala-era Amritheshwara Temple. Most travellers use it as a lunch stop or a quick detour between Chikmagalur and Shimoga. The town itself has a few temples and tank-side walks, but the real draw is the surrounding countryside.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat), Jul–Sep (heavy monsoon, leeches in the sanctuary)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 ₹800–1,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,500–3,000 excl. bed · High ₹3,000+ 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 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- 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.
Get in
By air
- RJI · Shivamogga Airport
- About 40 km (25 mi); taxi or train to TarikereAbout 25 mi (40 km); taxi or train to Tarikere
- BLR · Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
- About 240 km (149 mi); 5–6 h by car or busAbout 149 mi (240 km); 5–6 h by car or bus
Typical fares
- Auto-rickshaw within town
- ₹50–150 (check)
- Taxi Tarikere → Amritheshwara Temple
- ₹400–600 (check)
- Bus Tarikere → Chikmagalur
- ₹40–60 (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
Auto-rickshaws and taxis are available but don't use meters: agree on a fare before you ride. Buses connect Tarikere to Chikmagalur, Shimoga and nearby villages.
See and do
Known for
- Amritheshwara Temple (Hoysala architecture)
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kemmannagundi hill station access
- Large water tanks (Chikkere, Doddakere)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kemmannagundi | Taxi or bus from Tarikere, about 25 km (16 mi) uphillTaxi or bus from Tarikere, about 16 mi (25 km) uphill | About 1 h |
| Amritheshwara Temple | Auto-rickshaw or taxi, about 15 km (9.3 mi)Auto-rickshaw or taxi, about 9.3 mi (15 km) | About 30 min |
| Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary | Taxi, about 20 km (12 mi)Taxi, about 12 mi (20 km) | About 40 min |
| Sringeri | Taxi or bus via Bhadravathi, about 80 km (50 mi)Taxi or bus via Bhadravathi, about 50 mi (80 km) | About 2 h |
| Horanadu | Taxi, about 50 km (31 mi)Taxi, about 31 mi (50 km) | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Tarikere town centre
- A few budget lodges near the bus stand and railway station; basic, fine for one night.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Forest department guesthouses and private resorts inside or near the sanctuary; book ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ಎಷ್ಟು?eshtu? |
| Too expensive | ತುಂಬಾ ದುಬಾರಿtumba dubaari |
| Where is the bus stand? | ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?bus nildhaana ellide? |
| I need a taxi | ನನಗೆ ಟ್ಯಾಕ್ಸಿ ಬೇಕುnanage taksi beku |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavaadagalu |
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
- Auto-rickshaw drivers quote high: bargain firmly.
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is closed for monsoon (check dates); entry requires a permit.
- ATMs are limited in town; carry enough cash.
- Amritheshwara Temple may have restricted hours during pujas.
Tarikere is safe for tourists. Standard precautions: avoid isolated areas after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and agree on taxi fares upfront.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tarikere yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Amritheshwara Temple (Hoysala architecture)
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kemmannagundi hill station access
- Large water tanks (Chikkere, Doddakere)
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: Tarikere, revision 5286754 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5286754
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tarikere). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.