Coorg is often referred to as the ‘Scotland of India’ and for pretty good reasons. Set amidst the beauty and calmness of hills, vegetation, and deep valleys, Coorg is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The hill station attracts travelers from different parts of the country and even from abroad.
Travel Options
By Air:
The nearest domestic airport is the Mangalore International Airport, about 160 kms away. The nearest international airport is in Bengalore, which is approximately 265 kms away.
By Bus:
If you want to take the bus, there are K.S.R.T.C deluxe buses, which run daily from Bengalore, Mysore and Mangalore.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is in Mysore, which is about 95 kms away.
By Car:
The journey from Bengalore to Coorg is a smooth drive that takes about four and a half hours.
The best place to stay is in Madikeri but many also opt to stay in Kushalnagar. The Dubare Elephant Camp is near to Kushalnagar but all other major tourist spots are in Madikeri.
Following are some of the places we visited in our 2 days trip in the district:
Nisargadhama: We started early on Saturday morning and visited first Nisargadhama on our way to our home stay in Madikeri. On entering this place with an entrance fee of Rs 10 per person, you will be greeted by a hanging bridge, which a prime location of selfies at this spot. Nisargadhama includes a deer park, a village themed park, treetop bamboo cottages, some activities like boating and zip lining. Visitors are allowed to get into water at a few shallow and safe points along the river.
Talakaveri: Post lunch, we visited the source of river Kaveri. It is located by Brahmagiri hill near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka. There is a temple of Lord Shiva at the top of the source.
Mandalpatti Trek: On our day 2, we visited Mandalpatti Trek early in morning. This is one of the must-visit places in this region. The view from up top is absolutely breath taking. The jeep ride for 22 kms costed us Rs.1800 and it is worth it.
Though the locals say that we cannot drive there ourselves, I have seen people with SUVs driving to the spot. There are trails of differing difficulty and based on our experience we can chose the appropriate one.
Top Tip: If you are a trekking buff, you should take the Kumara Parvatha Trek in Coorg.
Abbey Falls: Abbey Falls is a popular waterfalls, in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats, in Karnataka. This is 8 kms far from Madikeri. We hoped to bath here but on reaching, we found out that this falls is closed for bathing. And the once beautiful hanging bridge, is also closed for visitors. None the less, this spot attracts lot of tourists.
Sri Omkareshwar Temple: This is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva. The center of attraction of Sri Omkareshwar temple is a small fish pond right in front of its entrance. As soon as you stop to admire the pond, you will be greeted by Koi fishes and Indian Spot Billed ducks happily swimming around.
Raja’s Seat: Post lunch, we visited Raja’s Seat which offers some fantastic views of the Kodagu valley, with mountains and greenery and clouds. It costs Rs 5 for entrance. There is a nearby Toy Train station which is a lovely addition to the attractions of Coorg. The 2 mins Toy Train ride will certainly bring back your childhood memories.
Namdroling Monastery: Our last day in Coorg ended with a visit to the Golden Temple in Namdroling Monastery. The monastery is home to a Sangha community of over five thousand lamas (both monks and nuns), a junior high school named Yeshe Wodsal Sherab Raldri Ling, a religious college and hospital. We were lucky to be able to observe a prayer session of the students, in silence.
With a heavy heart, we came back to Bangalore and to our busy lives. After coming back, I learned about the Dubare Elephant Camp which is very near to Kushalnagar. You can observed the various activities in the camp and stay at the Jungle lodges in the midst of nature.
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