Misty green hills, tea and coffee plantations, and thick forests of teakwood and sandalwood make Kodagu or Coorg a region of amazing beauty and charm. Kodagu is a region of scattered villages of unmatched beauty at an altitude of 900 meters to 1,750 meters. Located on the eastern slopes of the Sahyadri, Kodagu is the right region for trekking, angling and white-water rafting. Keil Poldu (worship of weapons), Cauvery Shankaramana (return of the river goddess) and the Huttari (harvest), its festivals, lure tourists on a large scale. Madikeri (Mercara) is the district headquarters of Kodagu.

Prominent peaks

The prominent peaks in the Kodagu region are Kote Betta, Nishani Motte, Pushpagiri, Tumbe Male, Soma Male, Tadiyandamol (1750 m), and Brahmagiri. The region’s main crops are coffee, pepper, cardamom, orange, paddy and anthurium flower.

Spots of tourist interest

Kodagu is a top hill station destination. Some of its tourist attractions are: Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls, Dubare, Nagarahole National Park, Iruppu Falls, and the Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple. The Kaveri River originates at Talakaveri. There is a Brahma temple on the riverbank. It is one of the few Brahma temples. Bhagamandala is located on the confluence of the Kaveri and the Kanika. Iruppu Falls is a sacred spot in the Brahmagiri hill range. The Lakshmana Tirtha has a waterfall and a Rameshwara Temple.

Shrines and waterfalls

There is a training camp to capture elephants at the edge of Dubare forest on the bank of the Kaveri. Nagarahole national park and wildlife resort and Nisargadhama, a man-made island, are picnic spots near Kushalanagara. The beautiful Omkareshwara temple is built in the Indo-Sarcenic style. It is constructed in a mix of Gothic and Islamic styles.The scenic Abbey Falls is 5 km from Madikeri. The Mallalli falls is 25 km from Somwarpet, down the Pushpagiri hills. The Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple is at Bylakuppe near Kushalnagar, in the refugee settlement for Tibetans.

Fishing spot

Valanoor, a pleasant hamlet, has forests on all sides and the Kaveri flowing through it. It is a popular destination for nature lovers and people fond of fishing. Raja’s Seat is a sunset point in Madikeri. The Madikeri Fort is a historical landmark. It stands at the centre of the town, a witness to the bygone era. Some elevated structures in the fort present great views of surrounding areas.

Easily accessible

The nearest airport for Kodagu is Mangalore (160 km). The nearest international airport is Bengaluru (265 km). The nearest railway station is Mysore (95 km). Karnataka state buses run daily from Bengaluru, Mysore and Mangalore to Kodagu. People can drive to Coorg and enjoy the experience greatly. The Bengaluru-Coorg journey takes about five hours.

Not too cold

The winter temperatures in Kodagu vary from 8°C to 20°C. The summer temperatures vary from 15°C to 35°C. The months of April and May are filled with the stimulating aroma of the coffee blossoms. The rainfall in monsoon is heavy. The average annual rainfall is 300 cm. Families visiting Kodagu or Coorg can look for not only winter jackets for men online but also for kids and women winter clothes online. These should be adequate for providing protection here.