Coorg Karnataka Travel Guide
Coorg or locally known as Kodagu proves to be a perfect holiday location in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The main advantage of this hill station is that it is not crowded by many tourists and all generation people will like the place. Coorg district is famous for its coffee plantation along with cardamom, pepper and beetelnut estates. The place more offers on its land to be explored.
The place can be chosen for a stay as it is distinct than nearby similar destinations like Ooty, Kodaikanal or Munnar. Kodagu is situated 150 km from Mysore being part of Western Ghats with unspoiled trekking trails, picnic spots, waterfalls, wildlife, forest and the beautiful valleys. The south Indian cuisine is mouth-watering and easily available. Madikeri or Mercara is the district capital of Coorg and is situated at a height of 1,525 metres above the sea level. The bazaar or local market and the old-fashioned houses add to the beauty of nature.
Namdroling Monastery
This monastery locally known as Golden Temple was built in 1963 by Buddhists is a place to be visited. It is located 30 km away from the town of Madikeri. It is one of the largest settlements of Buddhists and the enchanting views of Pagodas will surely give pleasure to your eyes. Your mind will pass on to a spiritual level once you enter into the monastery.
The large golden statues of the Buddha and Tara will be a nice view to your eyes and you will have to admire the sculpture work. The intricate murals and Tangkha paintings are another works that can be seen in the monastery. The authentic Tibetan food is also available here. The place was originally named as Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling and Dalailama renamed it to the present.
Destinations
The places you can visit in Kodagu are following.
Abbey Falls
A walk down through the dense forest with coffee bushes line the way and the mesmerizing Abbey falls will show up. It is nice to take a dip in the cool water and you will refresh from the walk. The waterfall is dangerous and had claimed some lives in the past. So make sure the safety before taking a bath.
Iruppu Falls
This is another beautiful waterfall situated about 80 km away from Madikeri.
Nagarhole National Park
The park also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park is a wildlife reserve. It is situated next to Iruppu Falls and famous for safari and elephants.
Dubare Forest
One and half hour drive from Madikeri will get you to the forests of Dubare. An elephant camp is situated here and a ferry across the river will get you in to the camp where you can see the pachyderms being bathed and fed. A ride on the elephant through the forest is available here.
Talacauvery
From this place the river Cauvery begins its flow and a temple is situated here. The river is the main source of water for parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. An hour drive from the capital of Coorg will take to reach Talacauvery.
Bhagamandala
The three rivers Cauvery, Kanika, and Sujyothi confluences at this spot and flows further into the various parts of Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala with the tributaries. The place is near to Talacauvery.
Tadiyendamol
This is the tallest peak in Kodagu and gives an enchanting and mesmerizing view of the entire Coorg district. Lot of beautiful butterflies can be here and toddlers can chase it.
Naalkunaadu Palace
This palace was built by Kodagu king Dodda Raja Veerendra in 1792 and shows the old architecture and culture.
Home stay
Coorg offers plenty of hotels and resorts as well as home stays. Hotels and resorts range from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 25000 per day in the season time while home stays in Madikeri range from Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000 per day. The best option is home stay because you can have the taste of authentic Coorgi food while resting there.
The tourism season is actually from October to March but monsoon season is also good in Coorg. The weather is pleasant and you will be welcomed by the cool breeze from the hills of Kodagu.
How to reach:
You can reach there by bus or car from Mysore and the distance is 150 km. The nearest airport is 260 km away in Bangalore. The airport in Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu is another alternative and the distance from Coimbathore to Coorg is 310 km long.
Cost: Around 35-40 home stays are available in Madikeri town of Coorg ranging Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000 per day.
