Coorg Tourism

Coorg is referred to as “Scotland of India.”  Coorg is a famous holiday destination nestled in the lap of nature in Karnataka state. Coorg is also known as Kodagu and Madikeri.  It is located at the edge of the Western Ghats and is famous for its coffee plantations, this hill station makes an ideal holiday destination.

Coorg can be your weekend gateway from Bangalore and other neighboring cities and can be visited in two days’ time, which let you resume to your routine before the new week starts.

Best time to visit Coorg

Coorg bears a tropical weather creating it a perfect vacation destination.  Throughout the year, the climate remains pleasant to visit. Actually, the best time to visit this hill station depends on the motive of your holiday.

If you are on a high mood of adventure and outdoor activities, then Summer would be the best time to visit and if you just want a relaxing holiday to breathe in nature away from the hustle, then any season would do equally good to it.

But, the most preferred time to be here and explore the places around this hill station is from October to March when the climate is quite pleasant.

How to reach Coorg

Rail

As Coorg does not have any railway network, the visitors will have to arrive at the stations closest to this hill station. The nearest stations are Mysore, Mangalore, and Hassan. There a lot of trains connected to these places from different parts of India.

Road

Reaching Coorg if you are staying in the neighboring cities or states is not a difficult task. The hill station is very well connected with the cities like Mysore (118 km), Mangalore (139 km) and Bangalore (255 km). You can either hire a taxi or travel through state bus to reach this hill station.

Accommodations in Coorg

Some of the best places to stay during your trip to Coorg are:

• Coorg Jungle camp
• Heritage Resort
• Old Kent Estates and Spa Resorts
• Orange County Coorg
• Evolveback.
• The Tamara.
• The Veerabhoomi Resort.

Top Best places to visit in Coorg

The following are the must-visit places in Coorg.

1.  Abbey falls

Abbey falls also known as Abbi falls is a water cascade coming down from the cliff from a height of 70ft providing a spectacular scene to behold. Nestled within the lush greenery, the waterfalls attract hundreds and thousands of people throughout the year. Especially those who love and admire nature, call it a heaven for photographers.

There is an over-bridge that hangs opposite to the falls, where the most panoramic views of the scenery can be captured with white foams gushing down the ridge. Wait for some time there on the bridge and you will have a significant amount of water spray on you from the fall.

• Distance – 25 km from Coorg
• Timings – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (All days of the week)
• Cost – INR 15/- per person.

Take Away: Do not carry plastic as the area is eco-friendly, and also follow the guidelines of the sanctuary

2.  Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary

Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary has got its name from the Brahmagiri peak, which is the highest peak with a height of 1608 m. It covers an area of 181 square km and is one of the beautiful sites to enjoy the natural beauty and take a relaxing walk.

It stands as the famous tourist attraction that is visited through the year and is famous among the professional trekker community as well.

• Distance – 74 km from Coorg
• Timings – 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Cost – Adults INR 50/-, children INR 150/-

Take Away: Do not carry plastic as the area is eco-friendly, and also follow the guidelines of the sanctuary.

3.  Dubare Elephant Camp

Offering a unique adventure to the visitors, the Dubare Elephant Camp allows the visitors to experience the living in co-existence with the trained elephants on-site. It is an ideal destination to learn about the various aspects of ecology, history, the biology of elephants and many other natural habitats.

Not just the elephants, the visitors to this site are also privy to the incredible biodiversity of Coorg and have an opportunity of viewing different species of birds.

• Distance – 30kms from Coorg
• Timings – (8:30 am – 11:00 am), (4:30 pm – 5:30 pm)
• Cost:
• Boat to the main camp – INR 20/-
• Day Visit inclusive of camp activities lunch, tea/coffee – INR 1310/- (Indians) | INR 2250/- (Foreigners)
• Elephant Camp Activities – INR 670/- (Indians) | INR 1447/- (Foreigners)

Take Away: Avoid bright colors, prefer muted shades and also avoid plastic inside as the area is eco-friendly.

4.  Iruppu Falls

Iruppu falls, a picturesque-waterfalls cascading along the Brahmagiri Mountain range is the most beautiful tourist attractions in Coorg. This waterfall is also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha falls that has its roots back to the epic Ramayana.

Iruppu is the most popular waterfall not just because of its mesmerizing beauty but also because of its religious importance. People come here to admire and enjoy the blissful vicinity of nature, grandeur of the falls and for seeking spiritual peace.

• Distance – 65 km from Coorg
• Timings – 6:00 am – 6:00 pm (All days of the week)
• Cost – INR 50/- per person

Take Away: Since it is an uphill climb, the steep road is slippery; so prefer wearing sturdy shoes to climb easily and protect your feet from hurting.

5.  Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park boasts the rich wildlife that includes both flora and fauna. This stunning parkland is packed with the bounty of raw nature in its best type.  Bestowed with the best of wildlife and varied topography, this wildlife sanctuary offers gushing streams, lush green forests, gentle slopes, and shallow valleys.

This place can be considered as a paradise for the nature lovers and those who are seeking solitude.

• Distance – 75 km from Coorg
• Timings – 6:00 am – 9:00 am, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm (All days of the week)
• Cost – Indian (Adult) – INR 50/-, Foreigner – INR 150/-, For still camera – INR 50/-

Take Away: Carry your own eatables and water bottles. Camping isn’t allowed in the park area.

6.  Raja’s Seat

It is a garden with skillfully designed artificial fountains and beautiful flowering plants. This garden was the favorite venue of the kings to rejuvenate and spend some quality time with their queens watching the breath-taking view of the sun setting.

This sunset view is breath-taking even today and the sun setting into the undulated mountains is mesmerizing. The garden adorned with a multitude of flowers is a treat for the nature lovers and makes a preferred picnic spot for the locals. Visiting this place is an excellent way to get a glimpse into the lifestyle of the royal indulgence in Coorg.

• Distance – 2km from Coorg
• Timings – Garden (5:30 am – 7:30 pm), Musical fountain (7:00 pm onwards) weekdays, (6:45 pm – 7:20 pm) weekends.
• Cost – Garden – INR 5/-, Toy Train – INR 20/-

Take Away: Reach early to get a better view of the sunset and musical fountain. Paid parking is available and plastic is not allowed inside the garden.

7.  Mandalpatti View Point

Overlooking the grassy knots of Pushpagiri forests, the Mandalpatti viewpoint is a spectacular, admirable and unique vantage point in Coorg. Huddled at a height of 1800m, this viewpoint mesmerizes all the visitors.

This place is also known as “Muguli-Peth”, whose relentless tranquillity and the inexhaustible wonder will soothe you and make you crave for more.

• Distance – 34 km from Coorg
• Timings – 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Cost – INR 25/-

Take Away: Do not travel with infants, stay close to your friends and other trek companions.

8.  Golden Temple

Also known as the Namdroling Monastery, the Golden temple is known to be the largest teaching center of the school of Tibetan Buddhism known as Nyingmapa. It is a home to over 5,000 monks and nuns and holds an excellent example of the Tibetan architecture and artwork.

• Distance – 34 km from Coorg
• Timings – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Cost – Free

Take Away: The prayer rituals are conducted around 1 pm and the prayer wheels and shrines should be circled only in clockwise directional circles. Washroom facility is available for the visitors. Cameras are allowed in the monastery; pets and footwear aren’t allowed. The shopping centers around let you take back some traditional memories from this place.

9.  Talacauvery

Talacauvery is the origin of river Kaveri and is located on the Brahmagiri hills. You can climb up the 407 steps to the top of the hill towards the clouds and breathe in the serene pure air.

The most interesting fact about the hills is that even when you are on the top of the hills, you can still hear the bells of the temple ringing below.

• Distance – 43 km from Coorg
• Timings – 6:00 am – 8:30 pm
• Cost – Free

Take Away: Carry enough food items and try not to walk down the temple road after the nightfall. Swimming is strictly prohibited in the tank water.

10.  Kutta

Kutta, a small town in Karnataka and a region in Coorg serves as a gateway and connects you to several tourist attractions. The heavenly beauty of the dense and thick forest is a must-see view.

• Cost – Free

Take Away: Do not litter around, and do follow the guidelines when visiting the wildlife sanctuaries in this place.

11.  Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary

Make sure to visit this national park, which is also a proposed World Heritage site. It is one among the 21 wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka and is home to many rare and endangered species of birds.

• Distance – 78 km from Coorg
• Timings – 7:00 am – 6:00 pm (All days of the week)
• Cost – Free

Take Away: Eating options are next to nothing, so prefer carrying your own eatables.

12.  Burude falls

Burude falls, located a few kilometers away from the quaint town Siddapur is popularly known because of its breath-taking beauty and mesmerizing surrounding, which consists of lush green forests and offers a stunning panoramic view from the top of Western Ghats.

• Timings – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Cost – Free

Take Away: Wear appropriate trekking gear, also apply some calcium and lime on your legs before trekking as the area is full of leeches. Carry enough snacks, water, and first-aid kit as well for the trip.

12.  Mallalli falls

Mallalli Falls is located on the south-western region of Karnataka. These stunning milky white waterfalls surrounded by the scenery lush green forests and clear white waters falling from the origin to deep down is a marvelous sight never to be missed.

• Distance – 73 km from Coorg
• Timings – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Cost – Free

Take Away: Carry enough water, snacks, spare clothes, and a first-aid kit. Wear appropriate trekking gear.

13.  Honey Valley – Nilakandi falls

How about a waterfall shower under a picturesque and serene waterfall? Stay at a base camp in Honey valley resort and explore the dense tropical forests in Coorg surrounding the Nilakandi falls.

• Cost – Free

Take Away: Experience a thrilling waterfall here with an ascending peak trekking. Carry a proper gear for trekking and also a first-aid kit.

14.  Bhagamandala

Bhagamandala is a sacred confluence of the three rivers Kaveri, Kannike, and Sujyoti, and thus it is popularly called the “Triveni Sangam”. A bath in the holy waters of Bhagamandala is considered sacred and is also very much spiritually uplifting and gives extreme cleansing experiences.

• Distance – 35 km from Coorg
• Cost – Free

Take Away: Explore the bee rearing center known as Madhuvana and also learn the objects related to beekeeping here.

15.  Nisargadhama

Nisargadhama is a beautiful island which is situated off the State Highway, 2 kilometer away from Kushalanagar city and 28 km from Madikeri.  The 64-acre island, enclosed by the Cauvery stream, will be accessed by walking across a dangling bridge, which connects the island and helps travelers to cross the Cauvery river.

 

If you are looking out for accommodations in Cauvery Nisargadhama, there are guest house and and treetop bamboo cottages which are maintained by Forest Department.  Overall, the resort has 10-15 cottages and 5 bamboo cottages which is ideal place to spend the vacation in the nature along river bank.

Nisargadhama Timings

• Monday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 p.m.

Top Best Activities to do in Coorg

• Rafting

Barapole river is the popular white river rafting destination in Coorg. Experience the thrill of adventure as the white frothy river with choppy waters and rapids toss you about, flowing through the beautiful landscapes while the wind rushes through your hair and makes it an ideal River rafting experience.

Price: Starts from INR 750/-

• Trekking

There are a lot of wildlife sanctuaries and waterfall areas where you are allowed trekking with proper care. You can go for a professionally arranged trek into the lush green forests or just wander around on your own too, both will make equally enjoyable experiences.

Price: For professionally arranged – starts from INR 2800/-

• Fishing

River Cauvery has a lot of fishing camps and Valnur, a village near Coorg, which is famous for fishing camps is where you get to trap some fishes from. But you need to have a license to fish that can be issued at the Coorg Wildlife Society in Madikeri. Also, you need to be a little careful about the rules and principles of the areas you are fishing in.

Valnur follows the “Catch and release” principle where you are supposed to release the fish you catch back into the waters. This principle is a part of conservation drive in this region.

• City shopping

The hill station of Coorg with its cool and gentle breeze, laden with the aroma of fresh berries of coffee plantation and rich spices will lure you to settle in the serenity forever. But, fortunately, you don’t have to sulk back home with anything in hands as Coorg offers you the bounty on a platter you can take home from freshly plucked oranges to the gorgeous silk and all sensory and materialistic pleasure.

Things you need to have on your checklist back home from Coorg

• Coffee
• Organic spices and dry fruits
• Exotic home-made wines
• Honey and Oranges
• Hand-made chocolates and local delicacies
• Silk Sarees

Some of the popular markets you can get these from at the best value are the KushalNagar market famous for spices, coffee, wines, and pickles, and Tibetan Flea market famous from gifts and Souvenirs.

• Bird watching

With all the lush greenery around, Coorg is home to over 300 different species of birds. Some of the best places for bird watching are Nagarhole National Park and Anekad Reserve forest.

Conclusion

With lot more to admire, and a lot more to love and visit, Coorg is a never ending crave for the nature lovers. One can never get over its mesmerizing beauty of lush green and gushing white waters down the ridges. It is a must-visit destination for those who seek solitude and enjoy the tranquility of nature.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to this place before your boring week starts and you get back to your hectic schedule. Take some me-time out for yourself and admire your co-existence here in Coorg.