Rolling hills, coffee plantations, waterfalls and vivid green landscape–the district of Coorg is the perfect little tropical paradise that offers a welcome break from the craziness that is now Bangalore. The best way to get here is by a car/taxi or multiple bus services on offer by travel operators and the state transport services from Bangalore.
Here is our list of 7 things to do when you get there :
1. Lodging at a homestay
Being a popular weekend destination, the area is full of hotels and resorts. If you want the true Western Ghat experience, then I recommend staying at a homestay. Coorg is spotted with charming and quaint homestays which are often run by coffee plantation owners, offering bed and board.
Palace Estate, Coorg District
Depending on the size of the estate, you may get your own room, cottage or villa and most of them serve homemade meals that you get to sit and share with the owners. This is the perfect way to sample local cuisine and get to experience their way of life. We stayed at Palace estate, a mid-sized homestay at the foot of the highest peak of Coorg “Thadiyandamol”. The Palace Estate comes with its own private 50 foot waterfall, hiking trails and tours of the coffee plantation. It’s a great place to make base camp if you plan to trek up Thadiyandamol.
Bonus historical site: Palace estate also oversees Nalkand Place, the austere residence of the last King of Coorg, before he was taken captive by the British.
2. Take a tour of a Coffee Plantation
Coffee Beans
Photo by Rachel Clark on Unsplash
Coorg District is a major coffee producer and the hills are lush with coffee plantations. If your homestay or resort is on a coffee plantation, then chances are that they offer tours on the site. The other option is to book yourself on a tour now available through travel companies like Thrillophila.
3.Hike to Abbey Falls
Abbey Falls
The word ‘Abbey’ in Kodava literally means falls. Abbey Falls are a local attraction and are located a few kilometers from the town of Madekeri on a private estate. The hiking path is open to the public and meanders through a lovely coffee and cardamom plantation. If you are into bird-watching, then carrying binoculars is recommended as this hike offers an opportunity to spot local birds like Treepie, Kingfisher and the orange-headed thrush.
4. Watching Elephants in the wild @ Dubare
The Dubare Elephant camp is managed by the Karnataka Forest department and is considered a rest camp for elephants. The camp allows the regular public to watch and interact with elephants under the supervision of trained naturalists. If you are traveling with kids, then a visit to this place is going to be enjoyable for the whole family.
5. Sunset at Raja’s Seat
As you can tell from the name, Raja’s Seat is literally the place where kings of yesteryear sat and watched sunset with their consorts. You have a bird’s eye view of the western ghats. In recent years, a children’s train has been introduced so this makes it another spot to bring the kids out to.
View from Rajas Seat
6. Visit a Tibetan Monastery
The south of India is an usual place to find a Tibetan Monastery, but this is what you have here. The Namdroling Monastery or the Golden Temple is, in fact, the largest Tibetan monastery in India. Located near Kushalnagar, the Monastery occupies a large campus and all the buildings are constructed in the beautiful traditional Tibetan style and definitely worth checking out.
7. Rest, enjoy the view and read a book
In the heart of the western ghats, there is a sense of calm that is so hard to find in urban India. Take some time to enjoy the comforts of your home stay. Grab a coffee, enjoy the view, read a book – do whatever rocks your boat.
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