Interesting things to do in Coorg

Coorg

Officially known as Kodagu, is considered as the Scotland of India. It is a quaint little hill destination that receives thousands of travelers and nature lovers every year. Nestled amidst everlasting landscape; Coorg is covered in dense forest and narrow streams cutting through the edges and beautifully cascading to the valley. Imagine waking up to the aroma coming from the coffee estate. Known for a fantastic quality of coffee plantation, Coorg offers a perfect opportunity to wake up to the lush green hills and breath-taking sceneries of spice and coffee plantation. This exotic hill station also offers fascinating treks, inspiring nature hikes, thrilling coracle rides, and rivers rafting in the right season, and breathtakingly beautiful locations to stay.

This scenic destination can be explored further by going to these locations. Witnessing the beautiful Abbey Falls, visiting and playing with elephants at Dubare Elephant Camp, indulge in Tibetan culture at their place of worship at Golden Temple, capture the mesmerising landscape from Raja’s Seat, take a dip in Iruppu Falls, the refreshing waters here will leave you rejuvenated. Let us look at some of our top interesting things to do in Coorg:

Top Things to do in Coorg

River rafting in Coorg

White water rafting in Coorg is one of the fascinating experiences for adventure seekers. This exciting adventure is possible only in the months from mid-July to September when the monsoon hits the lands and the Barapole river is thriving. The river becomes frothy with lovely rapids and gushing water. River rafting is organized in the Upper Barapole river where there is a fabulous spot of 4 km stretch with a rapid grade of 4-5. With a fantastic backdrop of the Western Ghats and Deccan Plateau, Coorg is a fantastic destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers.

Visit Elephant camp in Dubare

This elephant camp is one of the most special places near Coorg. Once upon a time, it was a training center of elephants for Dasara celebration in Mysore. It later becomes an important camp center for the Karnataka forest department; however, the Dubare elephant camp has been taken over by the private players. It is a unique spot to experience co-existence with trained elephants for tourists. It is a perfect center to learn about history, biology, and ecology of the elephants. It is also one of the largest centers for Asiatic elephants to roam around nature peacefully.

Camping in Coorg

Coorg is one of the most sought after destinations in Karnataka, especially for the crowd coming from Bangalore and Mysore, Coorg is one of the ideal destinations for weekend trips near Bangalore. With so much to offer, right from adventure to nature retreats, Coorg is all in all a fantastic destination for the young and happening crowd. What makes Coorg even more special is the fact that Coorg has some wonderful campsites with fabulous activities such as boating, trekking, river rafting, kayaking, rifle shooting, and a campfire. These campsites are known for fantastic service, engaging activities, and mouth-watering food.

Visit Tala Kaveri

Often considered to be the source of the river Kaveri, Tala Kaveri is a holy place for many Hindus. It is also a popular tourist spot one must visit in Coorg. Standing tall at the height of 1276 m above sea level, Tala Kaveri offers a spectacular viewpoint. One must climb 400 odd steps to the top of the hill to get a bird’s eye view of lush green forests and mesmerizing hills of Coorg. Tala Kaveri is situated on the Bhramagiri hills in Kodagu district of Karnataka. The locals are also known as Kodavas erected a tank on this hill, which is now considered to be the origin point of the river Kaveri. The place also has a small temple dedicated to the river goddess Kaveriamma next to the tank. Do visit this wonderful place to witness a beautiful landscape.

Exciting treks near Coorg

Coorg as a nature destination offers some wonderful treks for adventure lovers. Several trekking trails are leading through some of the most beautiful paths to breath-taking viewpoints and valleys. One these enchanting trek, the trails lead you to mesmerizing sceneries, exceptionally beautiful landscapes, and waterfalls. One can also indulge in camping and hiking on this trail.

Some of the best treks in Coorg are:

Kotebetta peak trek – A popular trail in Coorg. Kotebetta peak is also known as hill fort trek, known for scenic landscapes along the route.

Iruppu Falls Trek – The trek takes up 4-5 hours, leading through narrow pathway amidst greenwood. The trek offers a gorgeous view of the waterfall.

Tadiandamol peak – It is the most popular trekking trail in Coorg.  It is a beautiful trail of 4.5 km leading to a beautiful sky, refreshing waterfall and picturesque peak.

Walking in Coffee plantation

Coorg is a fantastic place for coffee lovers. One of the must-do things in Coorg should be walking through a coffee plantation estates. Known for coffee, spices and tea plantations, you will come across several acres of green meadows with a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop of misty hills.

Visit Golden temple of Coorg

Also known as Namdroling Monastery, situated at a distance of 30 km from Coorg is a popular tourist spot near Coorg. It is also one of the largest teaching centers for the school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a beautiful representation of Tibetan architecture and its artwork. It houses a hospital, educational institute, and homes to over 5000 members. You will come across some wonderful paintings depicting Tibetan mythology, Golden state of Guru, and monks praying; it is a perfect place to find tranquillity.

Don’t miss Abbey falls

Abbey falls is possibly the most popular tourist attraction in Coorg. Located at a distance of 10 km away from the town of Madikeri, Abbey falls is a personification of what gushing water should look like. Cascading from a cliff that is residing at a height of 70 feet, Abbey falls provides a scenic opportunity for nature lovers. Nestled amidst lush greenery, the waterfall is located between private coffee plantations and pepper vines. Abbey falls is simply one of the most scenic attractions one must not miss in Coorg

Visit Raja’s seat in Coorg

Located in Madikeri in the district of Coorg, Raja’s seat is a popular tourist attraction that is a garden spread with beautiful flowers and an artificial fountain. It is said that this garden was one of the most favorite places for the kings of Kodagu to hangout in the region. Visit Raja’s seat to experience pure rejuvenation while witnessing some of the best sunsets you will ever see in your life. Raja’s seat is a specific point that is built on the elevated ground that overlooks at the breath-taking valley. 

Stop for divine blessings from Omkareshwar temple in Coorg

This beautiful temple is built in the 19^th century by the king Lingarajendra is considered to be a popular place amongst the locals who come to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. The most interesting part of this temple is the fact that the architecture style is a unique blend of the Gothic-Islamic style of architecture. You will also come across a small water tank within the temple premises where people come sit for a while to look at the beautiful fish and spend quality time with family.

Best time to visit Coorg – September to February

Coorg is one of the most beautiful hills stations in Karnataka that receives thousands of tourists and weekenders every year. The weather remains pleasant throughout the year. However, there are some particular seasons, where one can enjoy activities in the beautiful hills of Coorg.

Summer that begins in March and goes on till June remains pleasant with bright sun beaming during the day and clear skies at night. It is a perfect time to escape the heat in cities and take shelter in nature. Post-summer, the rolling hills welcome the monsoon rains that rejuvenate the land. With fresh air blowing and heavy rainfall results in beautiful waterfalls and gushing rivers & lakes. The rains last till mid-August and make a perfect opportunity for river rafting. The best time according to us is when the Autumn starts in September. September to February is widely considered to be the best time to witness the mesmerizing landscapes and valleys. Winters are quite chilly and a perfect time to visit the rolling hills. It is perfect weather to enjoy the mesmerizing nature this place has to offer.

How to reach Coorg

Nestled in the western ghats of Karnataka, Coorg is one of the fabulous places known for its perfect weather, perfect the night sky, perfect coffee plantations, and perfect rolling hills. Located at a the distance of 250 km from Bangalore and 110 km from Mysore, Coorg is very accessible to tourists and nature lovers.

The nearest airport being Mysore, Mysore has a decent number of flights connecting especially from Bangalore. One can always hire a taxi from Mysore or Bangalore to reach Coorg.

Coorg doesn’t have its railway station, thus Mysore is the closest railway station one must get to. From Mysore railway station, one can hire a taxi or take a state bus to Coorg

Several state-owned buses are plying to Coorg every day from Mysore and Bangalore via-Mysore. One can reach Coorg by road in 4 hours from Mysore. The roads are decently well maintained with adequate Dhabhas for short breaks.