Located amidst imposing mountains in Karnataka with a perpetually misty landscape, Coorg is a popular coffee-producing hill station. It is popular for its beautiful green hills and the streams cutting right through them. It also stands as a popular destination because of its culture and people. The Kodavas, a local clan specializing in martial arts, are especially notable for their keen hospitality.
Coorg, officially known as Kodagu, is the most affluent hill station in Karnataka. It is well known for its breathtakingly exotic scenery and lush greenery. Forest-covered hills and spice and coffee plantations only add to the landscape. Madikeri is the region’s center point with all transportation for getting around starting from here. On a visit to Coorg, cover the beautiful towns like Virajpet, Kushalnagar, Gonikoppal, Pollibetta, and Somwarpet, and experience the beautiful concept of “homestays” to make your experience more memorable!
Top 5 places to Visit in Coorg
1. Abbey Falls, Coorg
Abbey falls or Abbi Falls has situated 1 km from the town of Madikeri. This waterfall is famous for its natural beauty. This is a famous picnic spot and is called Jesse falls in the olden days.
Abbey falls located between the natural greenery of coffee plantations and spice estates are blessed with stunning beauty and serene calm. The falls have a wild beauty. Water cascades over rocks into the pool. The roaring sound of the waterfalls can be heard from the road.
During Monsoon the water flow is very high and in dry seasons the flow is low. There is a hanging bridge here providing the amazing sight of this waterfalls. The best time to visit Abbey falls is early
- Location: Western Ghats in Karnataka
- Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm;every day
2. Chiklihole Reservoir
Chiklihole Reservoir is place to be visited if your time permits. The place is away from the usual crowd at popular tourist spots and offers some calm and peace to its visitors. The water of the dam flowing beautifully and the lushness of area around create a refreshing atmosphere.
The Chiklihole Reservoir, pronounced as ‘Chikli-holey’, is located between the towns of Madikeri and Kushalnagar of Coorg district. The reservoir is at a distance of approximately 15 km from Kushalnagar and Madikeri and is nearest to the town of Nanjarayapattana.
On one of the tributaries of the River Cauvery, the reservoir offer tourists with seclusion and privacy unlike other tourist spots. The dense forest along with the rich flora and fauna add on to the charm of the place. It is a great picnic spot and thus perfect for family outing as well. The place with amazing scenic beauty is nothing less than paradise for photographers. Sunset view is mesmerizing from here and an experience in itself.
The place has no shops nearby and thus tourists are required to carry all the basic amenities with them while visiting the reservoir. The best time to visit the place is during the month of June to March that is in the monsoon and winter season.
The reservoir is located quite close to the Dubare forest reserve which is just few kilometers away. One can visit the forest reserve as well which offers good opportunities for trekking and nature walks.
- Location: The nearest railway station is located at Mysore. Tourists can avail of the state buses or book a Mysore to Coorg car rental for a hassle-free trip.
- Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; every day
3. Dubare Elephant Camp
Dubare Elephant Camp is situated on the banks of River Kaveri in the Coorg district of Karnataka state. A popular tourist spot, the camp attracts tourists, especially wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world. It presents tourists with an opportunity to be close to elephants and engage in various activities related to them.
Elephant Camp at Dubare is a project undertaken by the forest department and jungle lodges and resorts. Not just interacting with elephants, tourists also get mesmerizing natural settings consisting of lush greenery and a refreshing environment to spend some memorable days.
Earlier at this place elephants used to be trained for Mysore Dussehra but now they are mostly used for jungle rides and other purposes. They are trained under naturalists. These trained naturalists assist tourists with details on Elephant history, ecology, and biology. What makes this camp unique is the fact that tourists can participate in various activities with elephants which are three-hour elephant interactions.
They can indulge in activities like 45 minute bath where they are allowed to give bath to elephants in River Cauvery, feeding them with ragi, jaggery, sugarcane, bananas, and coconuts. After this, they can go on a 45-minutes elephant ride into the jungle.
Elephant rides for tourists are scheduled between 10 am to 12 noon and in the evening from 4 pm to 5 pm. Interested ones can stay here as well at the cottages which are part of Jungle lodges & resorts. These cottages offer a comfortable stay amidst lush greenery and wild nature.
- Location: Chiklihole Reservoir, Attur Forest, Karnataka
- Timings: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; every day