The Coorg region is known for its coffee,spice and tea plantations, forests, verdant mountains and waterfalls. It is often called as the Scotland of India and is known for its picturesque views and sights. The mighty Cauvery river originates from the hills here and creates a number of stunning waterfalls on the way. The Coorg region is also one of the largest coffee producing areas in India and receives a good amount of rainfall in the monsoons. Perched at a decent altitude, temperature in Coorg remains moderate almost the year thereby attracting people from other cities who want to relax and take a break from their hectic lives. Coorg is an ideal weekend getaway from Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. There are also a number of beautiful places in and around Coorg.
History
Coorg was the summer retreat of the British and the was originally called Kodagu. Kodavas are the original inhabitants of this place and were farmers. The Kodavas also belonged to the warrior clan and were famous for their martial arts. Coorg was ruled by a king and during the Coorg war the Kodavas displayed great bravery and fought the British. The Haleri Dynasty ruled over Coorg initially but then the British took control and ruled over this place for quite some time till Independence.
How to Reach
Coorg is best accessible by road. There are a number of buses and cars operating between Coorg and other major cities like Mysore, Bangalore and Mangalore. Coorg to Mysore distance of 115 kilometres can be easily be covered by road. The nearest railway station is also situated at Mysore. It takes about 6 hours to reach Coorg from Bangalore. The nearest airport is at Mangalore located 140 kilometres away.
Places to Visit in Coorg
Sightseeing in Coorg would include visits to place like the Abbey and Iruppu Falls.The Abbey Falls is one of the most picturesque falls in the Coorg region and is located amidst lush green forests and coffee plantations. The Iruppu Falls is equally beautiful. Bylakuppe which is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet has beautiful monasteries with Namdroling Monastery being the most prominent one. Nagarhole National Park, Nisargadhama and Mercara Fort are some of the other points for sightseeing in Coorg. Raja’s seat which is a viewpoint, provides beautiful panoramic views of the entire region and the lush green mountains. Talacauvery which is located in the outskirts of Coorg is the point of origination of the river Cauvery and houses a temple dedicated to Goddess Cauvery. One has to climb around 400 stairs to reach the temple and stunning views of the entire landscape can be seen from here.
Adventures to explore
Coorg is also a great place for adventure activities like river rafting,ziplining, trekking and hiking. It is home to a number of beautiful treks like the Brahmagiri and Tadiandamol Trek. River rafting in Coorg is a recommended activity. Rafting through the waters of Barapole river is something anyone would totally love. The river has a number of rapids of different levels of difficulty. The rafting is done under the supervision of experts as well and all safety precautions are therefore taken
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Coorg October to May. Coorg weather remains the best during the winter and spring months. It attracts the maximum number of tourists during the months starting from February to May.The region receives a good amount of rainfall in monsoons which turn the entire landscape green. The waterfalls and the rivers flow with full force during this time as well. The temperatures rise during the peak summer months and it does become a little hot.
