The Best Places to visit in Coorg
Coorg is the older name of Kodagu, a district in the state of Karnataka. In Coorg, the local people are known as the Kodavas and they are traditionally land-owning agriculturists with martial customs. Did you know that the Kodavas are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license? Interesting right? The coffee destination is blessed with stunning natural beauty, a colorful culture, and attracts travelers around the world looking to cover all the best places to visit in Coorg!
Coorg is an extremely popular holiday destination that is dotted with expansive coffee and spice plantations, the Western Ghats, and beautiful homestays in scenic settings. If you are looking to planning a holiday to Coorg, then check out our list of places to visit in Coorg.
The Golden Temple or Namdroling Monastery
The best of all places to visit in Coorg is definitely the Bylacuppe monastery. The Namdroling Monastery is the largest teaching center of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world and is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in the world. In fact, it’s the largest after Tibet and Dharamsala. You can drive down to Bylacuppe from Madikeri in just about an hour. The monastery is also known as the Golden Temple due to the golden work that adorns the gompas and the paintings found everywhere in the monastery.
Mandalpatti
Second, on our list of places to visit in Coorg is a towering hill located further away from Madikeri. For bikers and off-road enthusiasts, there is a crazy off-road track located in Mandalpatti hills. From Madikeri town, you will have to drive for about an hour and a half till you reach the gate of Mandalpatti hill. From the main entrance of Mandalpatti, you will either need to travel on motorcycles or in a 4*4 vehicle to reach the viewpoint. If you don’t have a vehicle, you can hire a jeep from Madikeri to visit the hill. Pls, note that if you decide to go into Mandalpatti in a normal vehicle, you risk serious damage to the under chassis part!
Abbey Falls
Located in the verdant landscapes of Coorg, is one of the most popular falls of the region, Abbey Falls. The waterfall is located in rugged terrain and drops from a height of almost 70 feet. To get to the falls, you will have to walk around 200 steps from the main entrance, through coffee, pepper, and cardamom estates. You can drive to a distance near the falls but the rest needs to be covered on foot.
Tala Cauvery
This is an immensely popular destination and often quite crowded during the weekends. It is said to be the origin of the Cauvery river and is situated in the Brahmagiri Hill range near Bhagamandala. During Cauvery changrandi (a local festival), tons of people head to the stream to witness the rise of the spring’s fountainhead, when the river water gushes up. From there, you can climb 400 steps to a hillock that provides panoramic views of the surrounding regions. Since this is one of the topmost places to visit in Coorg we suggest you go there early morning or on weekdays.
Madikeri Fort
Constructed in the 17th century, this mud fort was commissioned by the ruler Muddu Raja, who then declared Madikeri as the capital of the Coorg region. The fort is located in the center of the town and is an important part of Kodava’s heritage. Presently, the Madikeri Fort houses the office of Madikeri’s Deputy Commissioner, as well as other objects of interest to the visitors. Madikeri Fort doesn’t feature high on the tourist spots but since it’s offbeat, we rank it as one of the best places to visit in Coorg.
How to reach Coorg
By Air: The nearest airport to Coorg lies at Mangalore, about 135 km away. The second nearest airport is in Bangalore about 250 km from Coorg.
By Rail: The nearest railway station from Coorg is at Mysore, about 120 km away. Mysore is well connected to major cities in India by an extensive rail network. The rail stations in Mangalore and Hassan can also be conveniently used for reaching Coorg.
By Road: Coorg is well connected by road with all major cities in Karnataka. Cities like Mysore (120 km), Mangalore (135 km), Bangalore (260 km), and Hassan (115 km) are linked by excellent roadways with Coorg. The drive from Bangalore is very scenic and if you are going by your own vehicle then you can easily cover all the best places to visit in Coorg.
The best time to visit Coorg
Owing to its location in the stunning Western Ghats, Coorg doesn’t experience any extreme weather at all. The weather ranges from 15 degrees to 30 degrees for the most part of the year and that’s why Coorg is a year-round destination. In peak summers, it can get a little hot if you are out but there is plenty of greenery and shade all around!
However, if you enjoy spending time outdoors, then October to May is the best time to go there as during the monsoons you won’t be able to venture out much. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to September and Coorg can experience flooding and landslides during this time. However, the beauty of Coorg is certainly enhanced during this period! But if you want to cover all the best places to visit in Coorg then the months of October to March are highly recommended.