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Travel Guide » Asia » Coorg
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Coorg
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(Karnataka)


Coffee Country

Forget the alarm clocks and watches. Vacation is not the time for them! Smile, for here at Coorg, you have Mother Nature waking you up to the gentle chirping of birds. Look out over yonder with a cuppa coffee and stretch your legs. This small, hilly region within Karnataka, is surrounded by lush green forests, undulating paddy fields, neat trim coffee plantations stretched out in row for as far as eyes can see. The thick pleasant mist rolling down the woods, a lovely blue sky, gurgling brooks and streams, it is no wonder that the region is called Scotland of the East. Nirvana! If this is not it then what is?

Coorg promises to cater to your whims and fancy. A lazy morning walk or an adventurous outing! Be it a walk in the rain or the aroma of the damp earth which surrounds you with a feeling of sublime peace and tranquility, you just enter a time wrap here. It takes you back to your bygone childhood. It takes you back to your carefree days. That, my friend is what Coorg is all about!
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Getting There
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To See & Do
Must See, Must Do
  • Smell the coffee. Coorg grows the best coffee in India in its numerous coffee estates. For those that live, breathe and die coffee, this is the closest they will come to being in paradise.
  • A trip to Coorg is incomplete without sampling the rice dumplings and pork curry, called kadambuttu. If you are here during the monsoon season, then the bamboo shoot curry with akki, or rice roti is a de rigueur.
  • Visit the Horticulture Research Centre. The best months for a visit are March and April as it is coffee blossom time. Stretches of these white flowers is an unforgettable sight.

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Historical Places
  Raja's Seat Aptly titled since this is where the kings of Kodagu spent their evenings watching glorious sunsets. The place offers a panoramic view of the yawning valley, lush green fields, and the magnificent Western Ghats. Madikeri Fort Close to the Raja's Seat, we have a 19th-century fort, guarded by two stone elephants. Tipu Sultan gained control over it in 1781 and called it Jaffarabad. The fort now holds a small museum, government offices and a chapel. Kakkabe About 50 km from Coorg, the place holds the honour of being the largest producer of honey in Southeast Asia. The most important temple of the Kodavas, the Padi Iguthappa Temple is situated here. One can also visit honey farms and the beautiful palace-cum-hunting lodge, Nalnad Palace (5 km from Kakkabe). Kakkabe has also become a popular base for people seeking rainforest treks.

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Coffee Country
  Somwarpet The heart of the coffee land, an early morning trip is suggested to the finest of the finest coffee estates one can come across. About 42 km from Madikeri, the estates have magnificent and towering trees that shade the coffee plants from the harsh heat of the sun. Cardamom and pepper plantations are spread around as well. Another famous hotspot in Somwarpet is the Basappa Club. An old boy's tavern, coffee planters frequent it a lot. A game of table tennis or snooker, loads of warm coffee and hot gossip keeps the wheels running here. Chikka Basappa Club Tel: 08276-82145 Sunticoppa About 10 km from Madikeri town is Sunticoppa. Rolling coffee estates and small streams off the road make this a trekker's paradise. There are many homes here which provide homestays. You can stay with a family as a member and get to know the life of the locals. Chettali Orange and Coffee Research Station About 24 km from Madikeri, the station is run by the government. It is on the Mercara, Siddapur-Virajpet Road.

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Other Attractions
  Abbey Falls About 10 km from Madikeri, deep inside a coffee estate, the falls offers a spectacular view and is a favoured picnic destination. Abbey is at its glorious best during the monsoon season. Dubare Elephant Camp Renowned for training elephants, the camp offers elephant rides. You can watch the animals being washed and fed, trained and then going about their daily routine. It is about 15 km away on the Siddapur highway. For Adventure and Sport Enthusiasts The Kodagu region is full of trekking trails. The best season to trek is between October and February. To stay on the trail you would have to follow the lines that mark the scattered shrines and stick to areas surrounding rivers and streams or waterfall areas so you can pick up a lost trail. The Brahmagiri Ranges in southern Kodagu make for an excellent trekking trail. Here, a forest trail leads from Iruppu Falls to the Brahmagiri peak. Another one leads to Pushpagiri, Kodagu's second highest peak. Overnight accommodations are usually provided for in schools or local houses as proper facilities are limited. Some trails require the permission of the Forest Authorities. Check with the tourism office for details. Angling Valnur Fishing Camp is a prime location for angling or sport-fishing. The banks are abundant in mahaseer fish, many of which weigh up to a cool 46 kg. You can hook ladyfish and mahaseer, only you have to release the mahaseer back into the waters. The ladyfish you can take home. But remember that angling requires permit. The Coorg Wildlife Association in Madikeri provides information on fishing license and guides for mahaseer fishing. Also, fishing licenses are not issued during the monsoons as this is the breeding time for most species of fish Coorg Wildlife Society PB No. 111, Near Chain Gate, Madikeri, Kodagu 571 201 Tel: 08272-223505 Golfing Keen golfers can head Virajpet's way. Its Golf Links is a 9-hole, 3,000 yards, par 35 course. It has a restaurant too. Two other courses are at Madikeri and Polibetta. Madikeri has a smooth 9-hole golf course spread amidst green fields. Polibetta in South Kodagu has a beautiful undulating 9-hole course.

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Religious Places
  Bhagamandala and Talacauvery Three rivers converge here to form the Triveni Sangama, Kaveri, Sujyothi and Kanike. The famous Bhangandeshwara Temple here has a distinct touch of Kerala to it. One needs to take permission from the temple authorities before taking a dip at the Sangam. Tulasankranama (17 October) sees a sea of humanity come here to bathe in the holy waters and offer prayers. The source of this long river is atop a hill called Brahmagiri. There are steps leading up to the Brahmagiri peak, from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Kodagu. Tibetan Monasteries Byleguppe is where two of the largest Tibetan settlements in south India are located. The most important are Sera Jhe and Sera Me. The Mahayana Buddhist University is located in Sera Jhe. The A third significant monastery is the Tashi Lhumpo, the seat of the Panchen Lama. The Namdroling Monastery with its 40 ft high idols of the Buddha and his disciples also sees frequent visitors. Omkareshwara Temple This was built in 1820 by Lingarajendra, a local ruler, to redeem himself of the sin killing an honest Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions. The temple combines Gothic, Islamic and Dravidian styles of architecture.

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Festivals
  The traditional festivals of Coorg are associated with either the agricultural or the military nature of its people. Keilpoldu/ Keilmurta (September) Keilpoldu, or the festival of arms, is the day when all the weapons and arms are removed, polished, worshipped and taken up once again, since the agricultural season is over and people have time for fun and games. The occasion is marked by festivities that include a great feast followed by a gathering in the village for sports and games. Races are conducted and competitions of marksmanship held. Kaveri Sankaramana (October) This festival is a celebration of the River Kaveri, the lifeline of the Kodavas. It is believed that on this auspicious day, at a predetermined time, Kaveri springs like a fountain in a small tank in Talacauvery, fills a bigger holy tank, grows from a trickle to a torrent and flows down the hills to the plains. People throng to Talacauvery on this holy day take a dip in the tank. Puthari also called Huthari (November/December) This is the traditional harvest festival of Kodagu and famous for the folk songs and dances that are displayed. Each village puts on show the best of its sportsmanship and dances, and annual fairs are held at the temples.
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