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Coorg also known
as Kodagu is a place said to haunt you forever with its timeless
beauty. It is popularly dubbed as “Southern Kashmir”
and “Scotland of India”.
The name "Kodagu" is derived from the local name
“Kodavu” and the people of Kodagu, who are known
as Kodavas. However, there are many stories explaining the
origin of the name. According to the Puranas for instance,
the land of initial settlement was called Krodadesa which
later became Kodagu.
The British administered
Kodagu between 1839-1941 as a separate State. Consequently
Kodagu is home to many relics and remains of epic, historic
and archaelogical significance.
Coorg
Map
Click Thumbnail to Enlarge
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Coorg is located
in the south-western part of Karnataka bordering Kerala.
Its spread over a length of 96 km (north-south) and
breadth of 64 km (east-west). The area of the district
is 4102.3 sq. km. The population is an estimated 5 lakhs.
Coorg's Landscape
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The prominent peaks in Coorg are Kote
Betta, Pushpagiri, Nishani Motte, Tumbe Male. Tadiyandamol
(1750 m), Soma Male and Brahmagiri. The main crops being
Coffee, Pepper, Cardamom, Orange, Paddy and Anthurium
flower.
Coorg offers you a fascinating past, captivating natural
beauty, great cuisine and aromas of the coffee plantations,
oranges and honey.
Places to visit in other parts
of coorg
Raja's Seat| Madikeri |
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According to legend, the kings of
Kodagu spent their evenings here. This small pavilion
at the western end of Madikeri has breathtaking views
of the valley through which the road descends to Mangalore.
It is an ideal place to explore the exquisiteness of
Coorg and was one of the most favorite spots of the
Raja’s for enjoying the panoramic beauty of the
mist-covered blue hills and valleys with green fields.
It is this place where the kings used to relish the
sunset and beauty of Coorg. Nowadays, it has been developed
into a public garden and is frequented by large number
of tourists. But what's unforgettable about Raja's seat
is the spectacular sunset that one can enjoy from here.
Sri Omkareshwara Temple | Madikeri |
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Just 1 km from Madikeri town is this
beautiful Shiva temple built by the King Lingaraja II
in 1820 to appease the spirit of a Brahmin who was killed
by the king. The structure is a quaint mix of Islamic
and gothic styles of architecture with a dome and four
turrets at the corners. The installed “Shivalinga”
is specially brought from Kashi.
The main attraction is the holy pond in front of the
temple.
Madikeri Fort Palace | Madikeri |
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The fort crowning the town built in
1681, with an imposing structure built in European style.
Inside is an English church in plain gothic style. The
palace within the fort rebuilt by Tippu Sultan in 1790
and again Lingaraja during 1820. Two life size Elephant,
made of mortar with majesty, catches one’s eye
on entering. Presently houses few Government offices,
public library and a Museum of historical relics which
is not to be missed.
Gaddige | Madikeri |
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The tombs of Raja’s dynasty
with high Domes, built in Islamic style and minarets
with gold coating built in Indo Sarsenic style. The
memorable grave is a tribute the King Virarajendra and
his wife Mahadevi Amma. The other two are the graves
of Lingarajendra and of Rudrappa, Guru to Virarajendra.
Abbey Falls | Madikeri |
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A 70ft waterfall, formerly named as
Jessee Falls in honor of the daughter of first Chaplain
of Mercara. An admiring beauty spot for picnic. Bathing
and swimming in the deep waters is unsafe here.
Tibetan Golden Temple | Kushalnagar |
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A recently built “Namdrolling
Monastry”, a famous Tibetan Golden Temple, is
a feast to the eyes in Bylukuppe. The Golden Temple
adorned with a 60 ft Buddha statue and the recent addition
of Zamdong Palri the copper coloured mountain is an
exotic tourist attraction. Fascinating shopping marts
selling ethnic Tibetan artefacts and modern fashion
wares is a place to be visited. It is also the second
largest Tibetan settlement in India.
Cauvery Nisargadama | Kushalnagar |
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A beautiful, picturesque picnic spot,
where the river Cauvery splits forming an island with
a bamboo forest of 65 acres. There is a hanging bridge,
Deer Park, Boating, Tree House, Elephant safari are
worth going to. Ecofriendly cottages are available here.
It is at a distance of 27 kms from Madikeri.
Harangi Dam | Kushalnagar |
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The only reservoir in Kodagu built
across the tributary of Cauvery with a height of 47
mtrs and 846 mtrs wide. It is a real picnic spot where
you can admire the gushing backwaters and natural beauty.
Dubare Elephant Camp | Kushalnagar |
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It is a natural island with an elephant
training camp on the banks of river Cauvery. People
visitng the place enjoy the unusual experience of bathing,
feeding and taming the elephants. Fishing and elephant
safari is an wonderful experience here in Dubare. A
journey of about 15 kms from Kushalnagar.
Bhagandeshwara Temple | Bhagamandala |
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This is a shrine of Bhagandeshwara
. The name is derived from Bhaganda Maharshi who installed
a Shivalinga here. It is also the “Thriveni Sangama”
of the sacred rivers of Coorg Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyothi,
a sub-terrain stream. It has an important piligrimage
centre called Bhagandeshwarea Kshethra, where piligrims
take bath, offer oblations to their departed ancestors,
then ascend the hills for a holy bath at Talacauvery.
Talacauvery |
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The worshipping deity of Kodagu, River
Cauvery takes her origin as a spring in Talacauvery
situated on the slopes of Brahmagiri Hills. On the auspicious
day of “Tula Sankramana” which generally
falls in October 17th every year, the holy Cauvery appears
by sudden upsurge of water in the Kundike – The
Pond. It is an ideal place for a visit by any tourist
for its natural beauty. Lakhs of people throng every
year for a ‘holy dip’.
Irrupu Falls
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The river Lakshmana Theertha runs
down 60 feet from a hill to form this waterfall. This
waterfall is situated in Kurchi village of South Coorg.
There is also a shiva temple dedicated by Lord Sri Rama
on the banks of this river where pilgrims congregate
on “Mahashivarathri”. The natural beauty
is a treat to the eyes.
Sri Paadi Igguthappa Temple & Nalknad Palace
| Napoklu |
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A two-storeyed Palace built by King
Dodda Veera Rajendra in 1792 at the feet of the highest
peak of Kodagu “The Thadiyandamol”. This
peak is an irresistible challenge to trekkers. Paadi
Igguthappa temple is a deviation from Kakkabe on the
way to this palace. This temple was built by King Lingarajendra
during 1810. To visit "Paadi Igguthappa" temple
one needs to take a deviation on the way to Nalknad
Palace from Kakkabe village.
Chelavara Water falls | Virajpet |
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A mesmerizing waterfall, this is close
to a little village called "Cheyandane". This
too is a perfect picnic spot for nature lovers. The
river here flows through a tree-covered valley, splitting
and merging and splitting again around the greenery.
There are towering trees and boulder-strewn out crops
which are covered only when the river is in spate during
the monsoon.
Nagarahole National Park | Makutta |
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The Rajiv Gandhi National Park was
constituted in 1955. It extends over 650 Sq.Mtrs and
is a well-maintained sanctuary. A large quantity of
teak wood, rose wood and sandal wood is extensively
grown here. It povides an excellent opportunity to watch
wild animals like elephants, tigers, deer, bison, and
peacocks in the vehicle safari.
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Travel
Destinations from Madikeri
Kushalnagar
Virajpet
Somwarpet
Subramanya
Kasaragodu
Cannanore
Tallcherry
Hassan
Mysore
Dharmastala |
31
kms
32 kms
40 kms
87 kms
106 kms
110 kms
110 kms
120 kms
122 kms
135 kms
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Mangalore
Calicut
Chickmagalur
Trivandrum
Sulthan Bathery
Bangalore
Ooty
Cochin
Goa |
180
kms
180 kms
207 kms
207 kms
230 kms
252 kms
260 kms
400 kms
525 kms |
Nearest stations
Railway
Hassan
Mysore
Arasikere
Mangalore
Bangalore
Tallcherry
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Airport
Mangalore
Bangalore
Cannanore
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