Baba Budangiri

Range / Baba Budan Giri Range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, Dattagiri/ Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine which is a place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims.

Peaks in the Dattagiri / Baba Budan Giri Range are the Mullayanagiri and Dattagiri/Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m).

Mullayanagiri also spelt Mullayangiri or Mullainagiri is the highest peak in the Baba Budan Giri Range. With a height of 1930 m (6317 ft.), it is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris.

Location

Dattagiri is located 25 km north of Chikmagalur town and 250+ km away from Bangalore[1]. Mullayangiri can be reached around 15+ km distance from the Chikmagalur town on the way to Baba Budan Giri.

Dattagiri/Baba Budangiri is the location of a small Sufi shrine devoted to the saint Baba Budan and Guru Dattatreya. They were revered by both Muslims and Hindus. Its origin appears to be a syncretization of reverence for an 11th century Sufi, Dada Hayath (Abdul Azeez Macci); for the 17th century Sufi Baba Budan, said to have brought coffee to India; and for Dattatreya, an incarnation of Shiva. It has been controversial due to political and religious tension over its status as a syncretic shrine.Baba Budan was a 17th century Sufi, revered by both Muslims and Hindus, whose shrine is at Baba Budangiri, Karnataka, India. According to legend, he introduced coffee to India by bringing beans from the port of Mocha, Yemen.[3].Stewart Lee Allen (The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History), Mark Pendergrast [4]Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World, and Antony Wild (Coffee: A Dark History)[5] relate that legend attributes Baba Budan -- an Indian Sufi whose real name was Hazrat Shah Jamer Allah Mazarabi (Allen) -- with breaking the Arab monopoly over the coffee trade around 1600. Apparently, when on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he brought out seven live coffee beans, via Yemen back to India to plant in the Baba Budangiri mountain ranges.

Near by places of interest

Caves: Three large caves said to have been sanctified by three (3) siddhas contain their icons and gaddiges (tombs) and an annual 'jatra' (fair) is held here in their honour. The enthralling scenery around makes this a much frequented pilgrim centre.
Seethala contains a 'matha' and the dual shrine temple of 'Seethala-Mallikarjuna'.
Waterfalls:A short distance from here are the three waterfalls with epic associations, namely Gada Theertha, Nallikayi Theertha and Kamana Theertha.
Gada Theertha, according to a myth was created by the pandava prince, Bheema with his 'gada', the club, to quench the thirst of his mother during their exile.
Pilgrims who bathe in the Nellikayi Theertha formed by Manikya Dhara waterfall, leave behind one item of their clothing as per a local belief.

Manikyadhara Falls
Manikyadhara falls

Manikyadhara Falls is situated near Kemmangundi of Chikmagalur district. It is located on the Baba Budan Giri HIlls, which is a sacred place for both Muslims and Hindus. It is one of the main attractions of Baba Budan Giri or Dattapeeta.

Location: It is located approximately 40 km from the chickmagalur town.

Baba Budan Giri Range

Dattagiri Hills or Baba Budan Giri Range is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The range, originally known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, takes its current name from the Dattapeeta Cave and 17th century Sufi saint Baba Budan. The Dattagiri or Baba Budan Giri Range includes the highest peaks of Karnataka. Unique mountain flowers called Kurinji blooms in these hill ranges once in every 12 years and the last time this spectacle happened here was in 2006.

Peaks in the Dattagiri Hills/Baba Budan Giri Range include:
Mullayanagiri (height 1930 m)
Dattagiri/Baba Budan Giri (height 1895 m)