Chikkamagalur-Malnad

Chikkamagaluru is a district in the state of Karnataka. Coffee was first cultivated in India in Chikkamagaluru.The mountains in Chikkamagaluru which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers likeTungaand Bhadra.Mullayanagiri, which isthe highest peak in Karnataka is located in the district. It is alternatively spelt as Chickmagalur or Chikmagalur. Chikkamagaluru literally means "The town of the younger daughter"in the native Kannada language. Coffee was introduced into India through the Chikkamagaluru district when the first coffee crop was grown in the Baba Budan Giri Hills during 1670 AD. Chikkamagaluru, the headquarters of Chikkamagaluru district, is 251 km from the state capital of Bangalore, and is surrounded by the Chandra Dronha hills and dense forests. The district is between 12° 54´ 42´´ and 13° 53´ 53´´ north latitude and between 75° 04´ 46´´ and 76° 21´ 50´´ east longitude. Its greatest length from east to west is about 138.4 kilometers and from north to south 88.5 kilometers. The district receives normal average rainfall of 1925 mm. The highest point in this district is Mullayanagiri, 1926 mts. above sea level which is also the highest point in the state of Karnataka. 30% of the district (2108.62 km²) is covered with forests. Agriculture is the economical back bone of the Chikkamagaluru district with coffee cultivation forming the major part of it. Agricultural production in the district is spread over three seasons — namely Kharif,Rabiand Summer.