Our Recommendations
Car Pool
Unfortunately, there are very poor options for public transport for the last 20 kms to our venue between Chikkamagaluru town and Mallanduru. Therefore, try and form a group of family and friends and car-pool to the event. Not only can you share your Malnad Ultra experience with your friends, but it will also help you find more choices with your accommodation if you are in a group.
Book Accommodation Early
The most convenient homestays around our event get booked out within 2-3 weeks after we open registrations in July. In order to get the best quality and location, we recommend that you book early and pay a small advance to ensure that your room is not given away to someone else. The homestay owners also inflate prices in the final weeks leading up to our event because of the demand.
International Participants
We will assist international runners in making their itinerary, room reservations and with local transfers. Please start an email conversation with us.
Recommended Itinerary
For the best experience, plan on arriving in Mallanduru on Friday, 21st. Collect your Bib at the Estate Cafe and sleep early to prepare for an early start on race day. Finish your run on 22nd and plan your return on 23rd, Sunday.
Where to Book Accommodation?
Almost all the accommodation options around Mallanduru offer shared rooms with 3/4/5/6/10/20 beds in a room. This is because they offer a package inclusive of all food and monetise better by charging per person. So, if you are in a group, you can search for a homestay with a configuration suitable for your group within 2-5 kms of Mallanduru.
If you are travelling solo or as a couple, we recommend that you stay in Chikkamagaluru town. Affiliate members of Cricket and Golf associations can also find rooms in Chikkamagaluru club. Plan on a 45 minute drive to our start point if you are staying in Chikkamagaluru.
How to Reach?
(click on the mode of transport for more information)
Local Travel
If you do not have your own vehicle, you will have to depend on local 3-wheeler autos or cabs for local transfers.
If you are arriving by public transport in Chikkamagalur, you can find autos and cabs outside the bus stand. You can try to contact the following to book in advance.
3-Wheeler Auto
Naveed: +91 98804 06119
Praveen: +91 81054 44364
Cab (Car or Jeep)
Krishna: +91 94485 54959
Autos and Cabs are available in Mallanduru at “Mallanduru Circle”, the main junction in Mallanduru town.
Public Transport
Road (carpool please)
Mallanduru (Map) is about 260 kms by road from Bengaluru (a.k.a Bangalore) and it takes about 5 hours to get there with 1-2 breaks.
Suggested Route from Bangalore:
-
- Bangalore to Hassan on NH 75 (about 180 kms, 3 hours driving time)
- Take Hassan Bypass to Chikkamagalur via Belur on SH 373 (about 60 kms, 75 mins driving time)
- Chikkamagalur to Joladalu (about 10 kms, 25 minutes driving time)
- Joladalu to Mallanduru (about 10 kms, 25 minutes driving time)
- Mallanduru to Event Parking is around 2 kms and will take another 15 minutes on race day due to traffic congestion. We will place signage to Car Parking and Start Area on Event Day.
Mobile networks are patchy and you should not expect network around Mallanduru. Please download Google Map and have it handy for offline access.
Train
For participants coming from other parts of India by rail, the nearest railway station is Kadur (Station Code DRU). If you are taking an express train that does not stop at Kadur, your next best option is Birur Junction (Station Code RRB). There is good connectivity from most parts of India to Birur.
Mallanduru is about 65 kms by road from Birur and you will have to organise local taxis to cover this distance. Taxis are available outside the Railway Station.
The travel time from Kadur/Birur to Mallanduru is about 1.5 hours. Please review Road travel information provided here to help you plan further.
Air
Bengaluru International Airport (Airport Code BLR), also called KIAL, is about 280 kms (5.5 hours) from Mallanduru. We recommend that you organise a cab or self-drive rental from Bangalore airport and plan on keeping the car until you return after the event. Please review Road travel information provided here to help you plan further.
Mangaluru International Airport (Airport Code IXE) is about 165 kms from Mallanduru. However, it takes 4.5 hours by road to get to our event from here and there are far fewer flight options as compared to Bengaluru.
International
International participants can plan on flying into Bengaluru International Airport (Airport Code BLR). There are direct flights from most big cities across Asia and Europe.
We recommend international participants to get in touch with us via email in advance. We can help you plan your itinerary, local transfers and accomodation.
We are delighted to be part of Asia Trail Master series and will be happy to go the extra mile to help you and all international participants with your planning.
Where to Stay?
There are plenty of homestays that offer shared rooms within a few kilometeres from our start area. Most of them offer a standard package consisting of 3-meals and a bed and have rooms that have anywhere from 3 to 20 beds! These packages cost in the range of INR 1500-3500/night/person.
For participants looking for solo accommodation or couple-friendly rooms, we suggest that you stay in Chikkamagalur town.
Please note that camping is not allowed near the Start Area or on our course.
We will add a list of convenient homestays here before we open registrations.