Places to Visit in Coorg | Coorg Tourism | Coorg Hill Station

Kodagu is an administrative district in Karnataka State in southern India. It is also known by its anglicised former name of Coorg. It occupies an area of 4,102 square kilometres (1,584 sq mi) of land in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. As of 2001, the population was 548,561, with some 13.74% of the population residing in the district's urban centres.

Madikeri is the headquarters of the Kodagu district. The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, the Kannur District of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad District of Kerala to the south.

Coorg Mudduraja, the Kodagu King had Mudduraja Keri as his capital.In the year 1681 he renamed it as Madikeri. It is the headquarters of Kodagu District at a height of 1170 meters.It is about 100 km from Mysore. Makikeri is famous for its coffee and oranges. It is famous as birthplace of the most famous river of Karnataka Cauvery.This place is famous for its scenic beauty. The fabulous paddy fields,coffee bushes and the morning mist form a sketch of some unforgettable memories for the tourists.

Coorg is famous for oranges and coffee plantation. This region also is famous for spices. pepper, cardamoms etc can be seen.The coffee plantations in Madikeri alone accounts for almost half of Karnataka' s coffee production. Karnataka is known to be India' s largest producer of coffee even today.

History of Kodagu / Coorg:

The Kodavas were the earliest agriculturists in Kodagu, living in that place for centuries. Over centuries several South Indian dynasties, like the Kadambas, the Gangas, the Cholas, the Chalukyas, the Rastrakutas, the Hoysalas and the Vijaynagar Rayas ruled over Kodagu.

Coorg Weather:

View Detailed 9 Day Weather Forecasts for Mysore, webcams, weather maps & more at Weather-Forecast.com

Coorg Information:

Best time to visit coorg:

October to April.

Division:

Mysore Division

Location:

Western Ghats, Karnataka.

Main Attraction at Coorg:

River Cauvery, Coffee Plantations

Altitude:

Uneven surface- average height around 1170 meters

Coorg Climate:

Moderate climate- pleasant Winters, warm summers, heavy monsoons

Average Temperature:

-13°Celcius To 26°Celcius.

Temperature of Coorg:

Summer : 28.6 °C (83.5 °F)
Winter : 14.2 °C (57.6 °F)

Warmest Months:

March To May.

Coolest Months:

-December To February

Rainfall:

-2725.5-mm annually

Languages:

Kodava-Thak, Kannada, Maliyalam, Tamil, Hindi, English

STD Code:

08272(Madikeri), 08274 (Virajpet), 08276 (Somwarpet)

Coorg's Landscape:

The prominent peaks ain Coorg are Kote Betta, Pushpagiri, Nishani Motte, Tumbe Male. Tadiyandamol (1750 m), Soma Male and Brahmagiri.

Geography of Coorg:

Kodagu is located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. It has a geographical area of 4,102 km2 (1,584 sq mi). The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, the Kannur District of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad District of Kerala to the south. It is a hilly district with the lowest elevation in the district at 900 metres (3,000 ft) above sea-level. The highest peak, Tadiandamol, rises to 1,750 metres (5,740 ft), with Pushpagiri, the second highest, at 1,715 metres (5,627 ft). The main river in Kodagu is the Kaveri (Cauvery). The Kaveri starts at Talakaveri, located on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, and with its tributaries, drains the greater part of Kodagu.

In July and August, rainfall is intense, and there are often showers into November. Yearly rainfall may exceed 4,000 millimetres (160 in) in some areas. In dense jungle tracts, rainfall reaches 3,000 to 3,800 millimetres (120 to 150 in) and 1,500 to 2,500 millimetres (59 to 98 in) in the bamboo district to the west. Kodagu has an average temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), ranging from 11 to 28 °C (52 to 82 °F), with the highest temperatures occurring in April and May. The principal town, and district capital, is Madikeri, or Mercara, with a population of around 30,000. Other significant towns include Virajpet (Virarajendrapet), Kushalnagar, and Somwarpet. The district is divided into the three administrative talukas (divisions) of Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet.

How To Reach Coorg:

Kodagu is not connected with Train or an Airline. But it is well connected with all season motorable roads. It is well connected by K.S.R.T.C buses from all over Karnataka, particularly from Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore & Hassan.

By Road:

There is a good set of road connections to the east and west. Tellicheery-Coorg road links Kodagu to Malabar region of the neighbouring state Kerala

By Rail:

The nearest railway stations are Thalassery, Mysore and Hassan.

By Air:

The nearest airport is Mysore Airport which is 90 KM away and Mangalore International Airport around 180 km away.Kannur International Airport at Mattannoor in Kerala,expected to be completed in 2012, is 55 km away from Virajpet.

Distance between Major cities from Coorg:

FROM	TO Madikeri	Journey Hours
Bangalore to Coorg	260 KMS	6 hours
Mysore to Coorg	120 KMS	3 hours
Mangalore to Coorg	120 KMS	4 hours
Hassan to Coorg	125 KMS	4 hours
Tellicheri to Coorg	135 KMS	4 hours

Places to Visit in Coorg:

Fort and the Palace:

Coorgfort The 19th century fort in the centre of the Madikeri town visualised some of the most ferocious battles of its time. From the fort the entire Coorg town is visible.The fort now contains a small museum having some historical paintings,arms,armours and possessions of the past rulers, the prison.The fort also contains a small palace.

Omkareshwara Temple:

This historical temple for Lord Shiva, was built in 1820 by the then King of Coorg. This temple is unique for its architectural beauty which is a combination of Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. Every year at the end of November, a colourful temple festival is held here.On the top of the dome of the temple is a guilded ball, with a weather clock.

Abbi Falls:

Abbi Falls is 6 Kms from Madikeri, where the Madikeri or Muttaramutta stream naturally falls from a precipice at a height of 70 feet in between huge boulders to a rocky valley. 'Abbi' in Kodava language means a waterfall. The British called it the Jessy waterfalls in memory of Jessy the daughter of Madikeri's first chaplain. To reach the falls one has to go down from the road amidst coffee estate. This is a favourite spot for tourists.

Raja's Seat:

Kings of Kodagu spent their evenings to watch the unforgettable scenes of the sun set. From this point thrilling view of valleys, lush green fields and Western Ghats can be viewed.

Irupu Falls:

Irupu Falls This fresh water cascade is at a distance of 48 kms from Virajpet on the way to Nagarhole. This is a very famous picnic spot as well as a very good pilgrimage. On the banks of the river Lakshmanatheertha a tributary to the river Cauvery lies a very famous Shiva temple which is believed to have been dedicated by Lord Rama himself. A sacred spot in south Kodagu in the Brahmagiri hill range. The Lakshmana Tirtha River flows nearby.

Igguthappa Devara Betta:

Igguthappadevara betta, in the proximity of the Aiyengeri forest near Kakkabbe , is a lofty peak and is a pilgrim centre for the Coorgs in particular and other Hindus in general. Worshippers from all over the district congregate at the shrine and offer poojas and sometimes "Tulabhara", weighing oneself with rice or coconuts and offering the same to the deity along with some money. The place is highly venerated for the presiding deity Subramanya, the patron God of Coorg.

Kakkabbe is at a distance of 45kms from Madikeri. Private buses ply from Madikeri & Virajpet.

Dubare:

Dubare mainly an elephant-capturing and training camp of the Forest Department at the edge of Dubare forest; on the bank of the river Kaveri along the Kushalanagara - Siddapur road.

Bhagamandala:

Bhagamandala is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Kaveri and the Kanika. A third river, the Sujyothi, is said to join from underground. This place is 30 km from Coorg. It is famous for temples and is known as the temple town of this region.This place also has significance as here Cauvery is at its confluence with river Sujyothi and Kannike.

Dargah Sharief of Yemmemadu:

Dargah Sharief, the Holy Tomb, of Yemmemadu is one of the most sacred shrines for Muslims in Kodagu district. (35 km from Madikeri; Madikeri-Bettageri-Napoklu-Hale Taluku-Yemmemadu)

Mandalapatti:

28 km from Madikeri. On the way to Abbey Falls, before 3 km from Abbey Falls take right, from there 25 km.

Talakaveri:

Talakaveri the place where the River Kaveri originates. The temple on the riverbanks here is dedicated to lord Brahma, and is one of only two temples dedicated to Brahma in India and Southeast Asia.

Flora and fauna of Coorg:

Kodagu is considered rich with wildlife and has three wildlife sanctuaries and one national park: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarahole or Rajiv Gandhi National Park. The flora of the jungle includes Michelia champaca (Champak), Mesua (Ironwood), Diospyros (Ebony and other species), Toona ciliata (Indian mahogany), Chukrasia tabularis, Calophyllum angustifolium (Poon spar), Canarium strictum (Black Dammar), Artocarpus, Dipterocarpus, Garcinia, Euonymus, Cinnamomum, Myristica, Vaccinium, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, Rubus (three species) and a rose. In the undergrowth are found cardamom, Areca, plantains, canes, wild black pepper, tree and other ferns, and arums. In the forest of the less thickly-wooded bamboo country in the west of Kodagu the most common trees are the Dalbergia latifolia (Black wood), Pterocarpus marsupium (Kino tree), Terminalia tomentosa (Matthi), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Benteak), Anogeissus latifolia (Dindul), Bassia latifolia, Butea monosperma, Nauclea parvifiora, and several species of acacia. Teak and sandalwood also grow in the eastern part of the district. The fauna include: the Asian elephant, tiger, leopard, dhole, gaur, boar, and several species of deer.