Chickmagalur district was called Kadur district till 1947. It is situated roughly in the south-western part of Karnataka state. A large area of this district is 'malnad', i.e., a largely forested hilly region of heavy rainfall. The district takes its name from the headquarters town of Chikkamagaluru which literally means younger daughter's town - Chikka+Magala+Ooru-(in Kannada).