10 Amazing Places To Visit In Coorg

Coorg – also known as Kodagu – is a tranquil rural district cradled in the Western Ghats in southern Karnataka. The hill station is blessed with a great tropical climate and is pleasant, all year long. Located just about two seventy kilometres away from the city of Bangalore, hundred and eighteen kilometres from Mysore and about one fifty kilometres from Mangalore; Coorg finds itself accessible from almost all your major cities.

Apart from that, the town is also famous for well-known coffee plantations, varied wildlife, and Kodavas, the ethnic warrior people of Coorg.

Here is a list of ten amazing places to visit in Coorg:

1. Abbey Falls

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Abbey Falls

Located 1 km from the town of Madikeri, the waterfall is located between coffee plantations and spice estates. Abbey falls is a waterfall that runs perennially throughout the year. To reach there, you have to climb down a series of stairs made from the mountain itself which is surrounded by forest on both ends. It is beautiful to walk through the forest and then reach the magnificent falls. The best time to visit this fall is in November and December, just after monsoons.

2. Namdroling Monastery

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Namdroling Monastery

It is a must-see place on your way to Coorg. It is known as the largest teaching centre of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. It is Located in Bylakuppe, part of the Kodagu district in the state of Karnataka.

Here are a few things that I think is the best about this place.

• Beautiful, magical, relaxing and serene place to visit on your way to Coorg.
• You can witness the Buddhist culture without an entry fee.
• The architecture, statues, and ambiance are all amazing.
• Although often crowded by tourists but the place itself has a positive aura.
• You will feel like you are in mini Tibet.
• This is the place where monks stay. The prayers offered by them at the monastery is one of the main events to witness.
• You can also buy souvenirs but they are a bit overpriced as usual.

3. Cauvery Nisargadhama

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Nisargadhama

Cauvery Nisargadhama is a delta – also called an island by locals – formed by river Cauvery. It also offers multiple experiences of varied sorts.

You can reach there through a wooden bridge built over the river and it leads to the forest full of trees. You can feel the forest ambience with dense foliage of bamboos, teak trees, and even sandalwood trees and a small river creek where the public is allowed to enter. There is also an ensemble of wildlife including deers, stags, rabbits, peacocks, etc for you to experience.

There is a micro zip-line (for a distance of approx 100-150 meters) within the forest, to enjoy. There are numerous forest towers to climb on with steps made from wooden logs. If you have a sharp eye then you can also observe artistically painted trees. You can also relish cucumber feeding to deer and stags with hand. Boating and elephant rides are also available here. Though the place is not very well maintained, it is still thoroughly enjoyable for adults and kids. With Rs. 10 entry fee and a large parking lot outside this is a good place for family.

4. Dubare Elephant

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Mahaut with his Elephant

Dubare is known for its elephant camp, a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. It is usually open for visitors in the morning from 9.30 am to 11.30 am and in the evening from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm. We reached there around 5:00 pm and luckily got the last boat to the elephant camp. Although I had seen elephants many a time before, this was the first time I was experiencing the mammoths up close. Seeing those elephants stroll through peacefully and enjoying their natural habitat was a new experience for us. You can see that the mahouts trained in handling those majestic creatures are ever-present throughout the camp.

Every year there is a huge celebration in Mysuru during Dussera, and the elephants in the event were once trained at Dubare Elephant Camp.

5. Raja’s Seat

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Coorg raja’s seat view

Raja’s Seat is a seasonal garden of flowers and artificial fountains. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in Coorg. Historically this garden was a favourite venue to rejuvenate for the Kings of Kodagu. This was their spot to watch the sunset and spend some memorable time with their queens. It’s a picturesque location that gives you a panoramic and breathtaking view of the valley.

The park gives a wide valley view and if you time it right, both sunrise and sunset can be seen from here. The garden is full of beautiful flowers and skillfully designed artificial fountains. There is also a toy train for your little ones to enjoy.

6. Nagarhole National Park

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Nagarhole National Park

Established in 1955 and made into a national park in 1988, Nagarhole National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. The park stretches over 643 square kilometres between the Coorg and Mysore districts in the southern state of Karnataka and forms a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Park is currently being considered by UNESCO for selection as a World Heritage Site.

Nagarhole National Park is open for public entry all the way through the year but the best time to visit the Park is from April to May when the waterholes are dry and the animals come out to visit the lake.

7. Tadiandamol Peak

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Tadiandamol Peak

This place is one of the most sought after Coorg destinations, especially among trekkers. Situated at an elevation of 1748 meters, Tadiandamol Peak is the highest mountain peak in Coorg. It is also the second-highest peak in the state of Karnataka. There are moderate and difficult trekking routes here, but the view from the top is simply breathtaking. With its green hills and misty weather, low-rise mountains surrounded by milky clouds, it is a heaven for nature lovers.

8. Iruppu Falls

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Iruppu Falls

One of the most popular places in Coorg, Iruppa Falls totally deserves to be on your bucket list. River Lakshmana Tirtha takes a 60 feet plunge amidst the green mountains to turn into these falls. The picturesque view of the ferns along with the gushing sound of the falls makes for a memorable experience.

9. Madikeri Fort

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Madikeri Fort, Coorg

Presently, Madikeri fort comprises the office of the Deputy Commissioner along with life-sized elephants at the entrance and a museum comprising rare collections and artefacts. You can visit this fort if you want a little break from waterfalls and coffee plantations.

Madikeri Fort was commissioned by king Muddu Raja in the seventeenth century. The king also declared the construction of Madikeri Fort which was later captured by numerous rulers, including Tipu Sultan. The basic structure of this fort underwent numerous changes and the massive ones were made by the British during imperialism.

10. Somwarpet

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Somwarpet

If you want to try some local delicacies such as pork curry and Kadubittu, chicken curry and Akki Roti then Somwarpet is the place for you. Located in the northeast part of Coorg, the main town of Somwarpet Taluk is one of the top places to visit in Coorg. The area is known for its fine quality crops including coffee, pepper, ginger, and cardamom.

Conclusion

Coorg is a nice and peaceful hill station near Bengaluru and is a good candidate for a road trip and weekend getaway. It offers a lot to its visitors. If you want to pick coffee berries on tour around a coffee plantation and want to witness lush greenery and spectacular landscapes, then Coorg is the right place to go.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with RRE Studios and ShowCase Events.