Coorg: unseen 7th Heaven

Coorg is a one-stop destination for nature lovers, adrenaline junkies, Buddhism followers, Elephants calf wilderness habitat, and sneakiness into coffee and wine plantation.

Kodagu is an administrative district in Karnataka, India. It occupies an area of 4,102 square kilometers (1,584 sq mi) in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.

How to Reach Coorg by Air

Mangalore Airport, located about 160 km away, is the nearest airport to Coorg. The airport has scheduled flights to major Indian cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad

 

 How to Reach Coorg by Road

KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) provides deluxe buses to Coorg, on a regular basis from cities like Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore.
 
 

How to Reach Coorg by Rail
 
Mysore Junction, located around 95 km away is the nearest railway station to Coorg. 

Kodagu is located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Here is a list of places to visit while your stay in Coorg-

Dubare Elephant Camp 

is known for its elephant camp, a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. It is an important base for the Karnataka Forest Department’s elephants. This place gives a feels of what it might feel to be in the Jurassic era surrounded by a diverse group of reptiles Dinosaurs.

The elephants for the Mysore Dussehra were trained at the Dubare elephant camp. At present, after logging operations have ceased,

The elephants have been practically retired except for giving some rides to tourists.you can ride on elephant back, feed them, shower water from their trunk, even pose with them.

There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides, fishing, and river rafting. The Forest Department also conducts some treks along well-defined routes.

The moist deciduous forests of Dubare are home to many wild animals and birds. Sightings of wild Asiatic elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar, the spotted deer, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and gaur. The forests are also home to many reptiles and non-venomous snakes.

Before reaching the Elephant Camp there are local people who will provide you the joy of still water rafting. From the place you bought tickets to the bank Jeeps, Auto (with two-way rides )and otherwise walking to the camp is available.

This is a glaring example of crowd management, Here people were managing and helping themselves, making way for each other

Abbey Falls (also spelled Abbi Falls and Abbe Falls)

(Kannada: ಅಬ್ಬೆ ಜಲಪಾತ Abbe jalaphatha) is in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from the Madikeri

The river is part of the early reaches of the river Kaveri. Flow is much higher during the monsoon season

The waterfall is located between private coffee plantations with stocky coffee bushes and spice estates with trees entwined with pepper vines. A hanging bridge constructed just opposite the falls.

Talakaveri 

is the place that is generally considered to be the source of the river Kaveri. The clamorous sound of the river is audible from long distance and during the monsoon season that became louder. A tank or kundike has been erected on a hillside by Kodavas, at the place that is said to be the origin.

It is also marked by a small temple, and the area is frequented by pilgrims mainly it is the worship place of Kodavas. The river originates as a spring feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days. The waters are then said to flow underground to emerge as the Kaveri river some distance away. The temple has been renovated extensively by the state government recently

Brahmagiri (hill):

Brahmagiri is a mountain range in the Western Ghats of south India. It is situated on the border between Kodagu district in Karnataka state in the north and Wayanad district of Kerala state on the south. Brahmagiri Hill, at 1608 m height, is a scenic tourist attraction. The top of Brahmagiri Hill is well forested and has a lot of wildlife.

The Harangi Reservoir 

is located near Hudgur village, Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district in the Indian state of Karnataka, The reservoir is formed by a masonry dam built across the river Harangi, a tributary of the Kaveri, The dam is located about 9 km away from the heart of Kushalnagar town.

The Harangi

originates in the Pushpagiri Hills of Western Ghats in Kodagu, KarnatakaHeavy rainfall from the south-west monsoon is the source of water in the catchment area of Harangi river which is about 717 km2. The length of the Harangi from its origin to the confluence with the Kaveri river is 50 km, The Harangi joins the Kaveri near Kudige in Somwarpet taluk.

Bhagamandala

is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches. At this place, the Kaveri is joined by two tributaries, the Kannike, and the mythical Sujyothi river. It is considered sacred as a river confluence (kudala or Triveni Sangam, in Kannada and Sanskrit respectively). Bhagamandala is located 133 km south-east of Mangalore. It has an average elevation of 898 m (2,946 ft)

It is a common practice for pilgrims to take a dip in the Triveni Sangam and perform rituals to their ancestors before proceeding to Talakaveri, the birthplace of Kaveri. A temple of Lord Supremo Shiva in the name of Bhagandeshwara embellishes the place, it is the local belief that Kaveri revered as Dakshina Ganga comes out of the matted hair locks of Shiva here. During Tula Sankramana which falls on October 17 or 18th, pilgrims assemble here in large numbers.

Mt.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.

Namdroling Monastery

The entire monastery is overflowing with festive spirit and bright hues that adorn the walls and houses. Golden Temple, thanks to the three glittering gold statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Buddha Amitayu, and the Padmasambhava.

The largest teaching center of Nyingma lineage of Buddhist Teachings in the Coorg, Namdroling Monastery at Bylakuppe should definitely be on your list of must-visit places. The place is exuberating mini-Tibet vibes on an ordinary day, but wait till you visit it during one of their premier festivals, Losar or the Tibetan New Year.

The Kodavas were the earliest inhabitants and agriculturists in Kodagu, having lived there for centuries. Being a warrior community as well, they carried arms during times of war and had their own chieftains. The Haleri dynasty, an offshoot of the Keladi Nayakas, ruled Kodagu between 1600 and 1834. Later the British ruled Kodagu from 1834, after the Coorg War, until India’s independence in 1947.