Coorg

Coorg or Kodagu as it is known now, is an astonishing land in the heart of the southern Indian peninsula. This unspoilt “country of million hills”, situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats, is India' s coffee bowl.

The tiny district in the state of Karnataka is the biggest producer of coffee. Madikeri or Mercara as it was known when it was once ruled by the British, is the district headquarters and situated at an elevation of 1,140m. Dotted with red-tiled bungalows, the town has an old world charm about it. The British who colonized Coorg and set up coffee plantations prior to Independence, compared Coorg to Scotland as both the places had grand and regal highlands with a sturdy mountain-dwelling race.

Coorg is a tourist paradise for nature lovers. No doubt, it has been often called the Kashmir of the south. 

Sightseeing in Coorg -

Pushpagiri wildlife sanctuary - is located in Somwarpet taluka of Coorg district and is one of 21 wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka. This sanctuary is home to rare and endangered birds and hence, is designated as one of the important bird areas of the world. Within Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, there is Kumara Parvat peak, which is the highest peak. This sanctuary is joined with the Bisle reserve forest in north and Kukke Subramanya forest range in west.

Bylakuppe- Bylakuppe, which is situated on the state highway 88, is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. This settlement came up in 1960s, when a large number of Tibetan refugees settled here due to Chinese aggression. The area is dotted with monasteries, out of which Great Gompa of Sera Je and Sera Mey are the most significant. Major attractions of the town are Namdroling Monastery, Ingalakere Lake, Rangaswamy temple, Ganapathi temple and several Buddhist monasteries. This town is connected by bus facilities from major towns like Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore, Chennai and Panaji.

Raja's Seat - Raja's Seat is a seasonal garden of flowers and artificial fountains, which is one of the major tourist attractions in Coorg District. Surrounded by several high and low-rise mountains, this garden was once the favourite place of the King of Kodagu. He used to spend time with his queen in the garden, watching the setting sun.

Bhagamandala -  the sacred place for Hindus, is situated at the confluence of Cauvery River and Kanika River. Another river called Sujyothi is believed to join the confluence underground. As per Hindu rituals, pilgrims dip in the river and perform rituals for their ancestors. From there, pilgrims ascend to Talacauvery, which is the birthplace of Cauvery River. Near the concurrence, a Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple has been built in Kerala style and contains idols of Bhagandeshwara (Ishwara), Subramanya, Mahavishnu and Ganapati.  During the reign of Tippu Sultan, this temple was named as Afesalabad from Bhagamandala. In 1790, King Dodda Virarajendra made this temple part of the independent Coorg. Located about 33 km away from Madikeri, Bhagamandala can be accessed by government and private buses.

Chelavara Falls - Chelavara Falls is one of the most beautiful falls in Coorg, which is located about 26 km away from Madikeri. This fall is popularly known as the Embepare, which means Tortoise Rock in the colloquial language. From the waterfall, visitors can view the water gushing through the green coffee plantation. Tourists visiting Chelavara Falls can also visit Choma Kund hill, which is just 2 km away from the falls.

Thadiyandamol - Thadiyandamol, located 40 km away from Madikeri, is the highest peak in Coorg. Standing 5730 feet high, this peak is the second highest in entire Karnataka. This peak is popular among trekkers as it can be climbed within 2 to 3 hours. Palace Estate is the base camp for trekking and is located at the foot of the Thadiyandamol Peak.

Nalknad Palace - Nalknad Palace is located on the foot of Tadiyandamol Hills, which is the highest peak in Madikeri. Built by Dodda Virarajendra in 1792, this palace originally was property of Hindu King Langaraja. This double storied building served as a hunting lodge for the Kodava kings. With intricate wood carvings, low slung conical roof, crested dome and pillared facade, the palace is an architectural wonder. The courtyard of the palace is decorated with statues of four bulls. The entire palace is decorated with ancient paintings attracting tourists. Located in Kakkabe, this palace can be accessed by buses, jeeps and cabs from Madikeri and Virajpet, in Coorg.

Madikeri Fort - Madikeri Fort was built in the last quarter of the 17th century by Muddu Raja. Originally made of mud, this fort was rebuilt in granite by Tippu Sultan, who rechristened it as Jaffarabad. Later in 1812-1814, the fort was reconstructed in mortar and brick by Linga Rajendra Wodeyar II. Today, the palace inside the fort serves as the office of district collector. The palace features a stone formation of a tortoise, which has initials of King Vijayarajendra engraved on it. The north-east corner of the entrance of the palace is marked by two life-sized stone replicas of the royal elephants that were killed by King Veera Raja. Towards the south-east corner, visitors can find a church that was built by British in 1855. Built in gothic style, this Anglican Church is known as the St. Mark's Church, which has been converted into a museum by the Archaeological Department. The museum houses historical artefacts, along with a section dedicated to Field Marshal Cariappa. Besides museum, this fort also houses a district prison, the Kote Maha Ganapathi Temple and the Mahatma Gandhi Public Library.

Cauvery Nisargadhama - is an island created by a cluster of islets formed by Cauvery River. Situated 30 km away from Madikeri, this island is a popular picnic spot that features lush foliage of bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees. Spread over an area of 2, 58,998 sq. m, this island also features deer park, rabbit park, peacock park and orchidarium.

How to Reach-

Coorg does not have a railway station but is well connected to Mysore (120 km) and Mangalore (135 km), the nearest cities to the destination. Tourists can take a flight to Mangalore, the nearest airport to reach Coorg, and then head to Madikeri by bus or taxi. Mysore is the nearest railhead and is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from Coorg.