Coorg or Kodagu (originally called Kodaimalenadu) means 'dense forest on steep hill'. Dubbed as the Scotland of India, this town has a lot to offer to the tourist. Misty hills, lush forest, acres and acres of tea and coffee plantation, orange groves, undulating streets and breathtaking views are what make Madikeri an unforgettable holiday destination. Coorg is on the Western Ghats. Set amidst verdant valleys, imposing mountains and teak wood forests, this is one of the most beautiful hill stations you can visit. It lies on Karnataka's southwestern end, covering an area of 4,102 sq km.The wooded slopes, quaint villages, colorful scenery and undulating landscape has fascinated tourists until today. Endless mountain ranges, ridge after ridge of grassy and forest clad slopes raising to the sky, give Coorg its unique & irreplaceable character.
The best thing about this scenic paradise is its people. Coorgs or Kodavas as the local clan is known, belong to a martial race and are famous for their hospitality. One should not miss a Coorg wedding which is unique. Coorg is a tourist paradise for nature lovers. No doubt, it has been often called the Kashmir of the south. November to May are the ideal months to visit Coorg when the weather is pleasant. The South-West monsoon sets over the hills in June and the monsoon lasts for three to four months. Some of the famous tourist spots are the Raja’s Seat in Madikeri town, which commands a view of beautiful green hills and valleys, and Talcauvery, (picture of talaCauvery) 44 km from Madikeri, a pilgrimage center where the mighty Cauvery river takes its birth. The Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarhole) is a wildlife sanctuary that is a must see for the tourists. The Park is located on the southern tip of Coorg. From Madikeri, the park is good three hours drive on serpentine roads, along lush fields and gurgling rivulets.
Some must see places on a Coorg visit are:
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, a landlocked country, is not connected by train or air. It should be noted that Coorg is only a name of the district and there is no town by the name of Coorg. The only way to reach this nature’s guarded resort is to motor down from Mysore, Mangalore or Hassan towns, all in the state of Karnataka or from Cannanore or Tellicherry in Kerala state. Madikeri is 120 km from Mysore and 260 km from Bangalore.
Kushalnagar is an amazing place to visit in Coorg and a great picnic spot too. The climate in Kushalnagar is completely different from other places in Coorg. The humidity level is much higher compared to Madikeri. There are lots of picnic spots in and around Kushalnagar, some of them are Veerabhoomi, Nisargadhama, Tibetian Monastery, Golden Temple and Harangi Dam.
There is a sacred place called Iruppu in south Coorg on the Brahmagiri range of hills. River Lakshmana-tirtha flows nearby. According to legends Rama and Lakshmana, passed this way in search of Sita. Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri hills and brought into being the river Lakshmana tirtha when Rama asked him to fetch some water. The river descends into a water fall known as the Irupu Falls. This place is said to possess the power to cleanse one's sins and is visited by thousands of devotees on Shivaratri day.
Just 7 kilometers from Madikeri town are the Abbi Falls, as remarkable and striking a sight as you would see anywhere. The narrow road to Abbi Falls is a combination of steep ups and downs, twists and turns, wriggling through the green and dense foliage of surrounding coffee plantations. Situated on private property, a narrow pathway leads you downward to where the waterfall can be seen.As various streams congregate in the mountains above, they swell with the monsoon rains and force their way down the mountain slope. Splashing hard against the huge boulders of rock, unmindful of the crevices and hollows, the water drops at enormous speed accompanied by gushing sounds. This white wall of water creates a misty cloud with its moisture-like spray and descends into a flowing stream to perhaps join with the River Cauvery somewhere in the vicinity.
If you can get off to an early start and if the sky is beautiful with the clouds, take the road to Somwarpet. This 42-kilometer, one-and-half hour drive will surely perk you up. This is the coffee heartland of Coorg. You will pass through some of the finest coffee estates you will ever see. Magnificent trees reaching up to the skies, casting much wanted masses of shade to the coffee plants. It's one great spread of continuous foliage very gloriously prepared in an extraordinary operation by Nature. Mingled with cardamom and pepper as well. Big, medium or small, they add to the already beautiful and fabulous landscape all around.
Though the name literally means Snake River in Kannada, there aren’t too many snakes around. Created from a former raja’s hunting grounds, Nagarahole is one of the best game sanctuaries in South India, providing a natural living conditions to several wild animals like elephants, tigers, panthers, rhinos and wild elephants, but one is more likely to see smaller game like gaur, deer, wild dogs and langur. Pleasantly cool round the year, it is a little difficult to reach, which makes it quieter than other parks. This in turn makes it a great place to relax. Jungle safaris are available as elephant rides.