Places To Visit In Coorg

Coorg, which is often called the Scotland of India, is nestled amid emerald hills that dot the southernmost tip of Karnataka. Lying serenely among high mountains, its landscape stays misty throughout the year. It is very rich in biodiversity which makes it a great place for naturalists. The best time to visit Coorg is between October to May and the peak season for this hill station is within February to May. A place with a rich history and beautiful scenery is always popular among tourists and Coorg is no exception. The hill station includes several attractions that captivate one’s eyes and heart. Situated in the heart of Karnataka, Coorg and the places near Coorg to visit are nothing short of 'Heaven on Earth'.

The popular tourist attractions in Coorg include Bhagamandala, Talakaveri, Nisargadhama, Dubare, Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, The Raja’s Seat, Madikeri Fort, Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple and Kote Betta. Pushpagiri and Brahmagiri in Coorg are ideal for trekking. Coorg is home to the famous Namdroling monastery, also called the Golden temple on account of the gold work done on every painting. The place offers countless streams, rich flora & fauna, lush forests and breathtaking views. It is a tourist's paradise. It has an abundance of opportunities to make one’s holidays enjoyable and provides a calming effect to the visitors. Being an important leisure destination, Coorg is well-connected to other major cities of the country by air, road and rail.

 

Here’s a list of all the places you can visit in Coorg:

 

S.No	Place	Description
1	Bhagamandala	A popular tourist destination located near Coorg. Known for its scenic beauty and religious significance. The place is famous for its hot water springs and the confluence of the Cauvery and the Bhagirathi rivers.
2	Talakaveri	A beautiful hill station and a popular tourist destination in Coorg. It is believed to be the source of the Cauvery River and is home to several temples, including the Talakaveri Temple.
3	Nisargadhama	An island formed by the Cauvery river in Coorg. It is a popular tourist destination and offers activities like boating, elephant rides, and spice plantation tours.
4	Dubare	A scenic village located on the banks of the Cauvery river. It is famous for its elephant camps and offers opportunities for elephant riding, bathing, and feeding.
5	Abbey Falls	A beautiful waterfall located near Madikeri in Coorg. It is a popular tourist destination and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding greenery.
6	Iruppu Falls	A scenic waterfall located near Rajquera in Coorg. It is a popular tourist destination and offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
7	The Raja’s Seat	A scenic viewpoint located in Madikeri, Coorg. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys and is a popular tourist destination for couples.
8	Madikeri Fort	A historical fort located in Madikeri, Coorg. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys and is a popular tourist destination for history enthusiasts.
9	Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple	A beautiful temple located in Bylakuppe, near Coorg. It is famous for its gold work and offers peaceful surroundings and spiritual enlightenment.
10	Kote Betta	A scenic hill located near Gonikoppal in Coorg. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys and is a popular tourist destination for trekking.
11	Pushpagiri and Brahmagiri	Ideal destinations for trekking in Coorg. Pushpagiri offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys, while Brahmagiri is famous for its spiritual significance.

• Bhagamandala

Bhagamandala or the abode of Lord Bhagandeshwara is located 133 km south-east of Mangalore. There are temples for Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva or Bhagandeshwara, Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Vishnu. The temple is very serene and peaceful. Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka state of South India. Mount Thavoor is a peak overlooking Bhagamandala and Mt. Koppatti, which may be considered its twin peak, is nearby and both these serve as trekking routes for the Shola forest range.

 

 

• Talakaveri

Talakaveri is the source of the river Kaveri, located on the Brahmagiri hill near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka. It is believed that the river originates as a spring feeding a tank or a Kundike and then flows underground to re-emerge as Kaveri some distance away. The place has a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kaveriamma located next to the tank and bathing in it on special occasions is considered holy. If one visits Talakaveri during the rainy season, one will be greeted by the mesmerising sight of the origin of the Kaveri River.

 

 

• Nisargadhama

Nisargadhama is a breathtaking and beautiful island that is located 2 km from Kushalnagar and around 30 km from Madikeri. This fantastic island is formed by the river Kaveri and spreads over 64 acres. The picturesque picnic spot is adorned with lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, teak trees and sandalwood, with lovely riverside cottages. Elephant rides and boating are some of the other popular attractions here. Nisargadhama also has a forest department run guest house and treetop bamboo cottages.

 

 

• Dubare

This delta island is naturally created by Cauvery River and is surrounded by lush-green thick forest. The Forest Department of Karnataka oversees the administration of this wildlife center. It is home to the famous Asiatic Black Elephants. The Dubare Elephant Camp is a must-experience for the elephant lover in you. Karnataka’s history with elephants goes a long way back and currently the state’s Forest Department has about 150 elephants in various camps.

 

 

• Abbey Falls

Abbey Falls, located near Madikeri, is a perfect place to visit in Coorg not only for nature enthusiasts but for shutterbugs as well. The sight of water falling from a cliff with a height of 70 feet, surrounded by lush greenery is indeed a sight that will behold everyone’s attention. The waterfall is a combination of many streams that come together and fall into a pool of water that flows and merges into River Kaveri. The scenic grandeur of Abbey Falls increases by many folds in monsoon. During Monsoon, the stream of water becomes thicker with a louder roar. Adding to it is the richer greenery around, which does create a sight of a lifetime.

 

 

• Iruppu Falls

Iruppu Falls is one of the best tourist destinations of South India, a best place in Coorg and a popular trekking site in Karnataka for a plethora of gems the place has in its store. It is a cascading waterfall that flows down the Bramhagiri hills nestled amidst the woodlands in the Coorg district of Karnataka. Iruppu Falls is also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls as it originates as the tributary of River Cauvery under the same name.

 

 

• The Raja's Seat

Raja’s Seat or the Seat of the Kings is a popular tourist destination of Madikeri. It is named so as in the past, the place has been visited by the kings of Coorg. Raja’s seat offers a panoramic view of the surrounding region consisting of green valleys, towering hills and paddy fields. The atmosphere of the place is quite refreshing and it is one of the best Coorg attractions. 

 

 

• Madikeri Fort

Madikeri Fort is one of the interesting places for sightseeing in Coorg. As you enter the fort, you will see two life-sized elephants made of mortar. Inside the inner fort, there was a temple dedicated to Virabhadra which was removed by the British in the year of 1855 so as to build an Anglican Church in its place. The Church presents beautiful architecture with Gothic style. Now it has been converted into a museum and offers tourists with varied kinds of antiques related to the land of Coorg.

 

 

• Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple

The Tiny Tibetan colony in Coorg is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The enclosed calm and the spiritual ambiance of the place welcomes all the visitors. The Tibetan Monastery is located around 6 km from Kushalnagar. The major attraction of this place is the forty feet tall golden Buddha statues. The serene atmosphere of the place takes you to another world. There are so many shopping centres in and around the monastery where you will get traditional Tibetan items.

 

 

•  Kote Betta

Kote Betta, the third highest peak in Coorg at 1620 m above sea level, is situated in Hattihole locality, 15 km from Madikeri region. Kote Betta, which literally means Fort Hill. It has a mythical story that locals narrate. It is believed that the famous Pandavas of Mahabharata have spent a considerable period of their exile at this place and built several stone houses that stand till date. An ideal place for trekking, the trail takes visitors through villages, undulating terrain of coffee estates, spice plantations, and jackfruit gardens. As one travels deeper, one remains enraptured at the picturesque dense forests and mighty Western Ghats.