Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, India
Chikkamagaluru
(also known as Chikmagalur) is a town in Chikkamagaluru district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range, Chikkamagaluru is famous for coffee and is known as the 'coffee land' of Karnataka. National Highway 173 (India) passes through the city.
Chikkamagaluru district was called Kadur district until 1947. It is situated roughly in the south-western part of Karnataka state. A large area of this district is Malenadu, i.e., a largely forested hilly region of heavy rainfall. Chikkamagaluru takes its name from the word "Chikkamagala Uru" which literally means younger daughter's town. It is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna. Another part of the town bestowed on the elder daughter is known as Hiremagalur. Some old inscriptions reveals that these two places were known as Kiriya-muguli and Piriya-muguli. In a fertile valley south of the Baba-Budan hill range is the headquarters town of the district.Center government have approved the request to rename the city in October 2014 and Chikkamagaluru is renamed (along with other 12 cities) to "Chikkamagaluru" on November 1, 2014.