Agumbe

Agumbe is a small village in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district at 643 meters on the western edge of the Western Ghats. Often called the “Cherrapunji of South India,” it receives over 7,000 mm of rain annually, making it one of the wettest places on earth. The village sits within the densest surviving stretch of tropical rainforest in the southern Western Ghats, forming part of the Kudremukh National Park region. It is also internationally known for the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, a major attraction established by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker in 2005 as India’s first dedicated rainforest research facility, especially focused on the King Cobra. This adds strong appeal for nature-focused Agumbe trip itineraries. Agumbe is also culturally significant as the filming location for the 1980s Malgudi Days TV series, and the original Malgudi House, now a homestay, remains a nostalgic stop for visitors during Agumbe sightseeing. Key top attractions in Agumbe include Sunset Point, Onake Abbi Falls, and monsoon walking trails through the rainforest, making it a deeply atmospheric destination for holidays in South India.