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India » Coorg
 City Guide
 
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Coorg is a region of scattered villages and hamlets, with a few townships standing out. Postcard pretty with their red-tiled cottages and purple flowering shrubs, the Kodagu towns have an old-world charm about them. Madikeri is a little hill station and the headquarters of this beautiful district. The city houses the historic Madikeri Fort, the Omkareshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu, and some beautiful viewpoints such as Raja s Seat. Around Madikeri, there are many recreational and pilgrimages such as Abbey and Irupu Falls.
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Road
Coorg is well linked by road from all the major tourist cities including Bangalore, Mysore, Ooty and Hassan. The Karnataka Tourism development Corporation has buses running from Bangalore several times a day.
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Area
25,5854,102 sq. km
Population
25,585
Languages
Kannada, Malayalam, English
STD Code
08272
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Rajas Seat
This notable spot at Madikeri is just 1 km from the Bus Stand. Kings of Kodagu spent their evenings to watch the golden moments of the sun set. It also offers a thrilling panoramic view of flowing valleys, lush fields and Western Ghats. You can see mountain ranges towering over one another all the way to the horizon.
Bhagamandala
This place is a temple town situated 30 kms from Madikeri. Here Cauvery is at its confluence with river Kannike and Sujyothi. The temple is built in the multi-roofed Kerala style, resembling temples of distant Nepal.
Talacauvery
This sacred place is situated at a distance of 7 kms from Bhagamandala. This is the birth place of the river Cauvery and a spot of immense religious significance. Legend has it that Goddess Cauvery makes her appearance once a year during Tulamasa, when thousands gather to take a sacred dip. There are steps leading to Bramhagiri Hills, at a height of 300 ft. from where, Kudremukh, Chamundi Hills, Wynad and Nilgiris are visible.
Cauvery Nisarga Dhama
Situated at a distance of 2 kms from Kushalnagar on the Mysore-Madikeri Road, this picnic spot was established in 1988. This is a man-made island with an area of 65 acres. The entrance to this spot is through a hanging bridge. Machans (tree top shelters) and Pargola (wall less shelters) are found here. Tourists can stay in brick cottages or log cabins. There is a canteen, pedal boating, elephant riding and deer park are added attractions to this place.
Abbi Falls
This beautiful waterfall is situated at a distance of 5 km from Madikeri in a private coffee estate. Abbi in Kodava dialect means "falls". This majestic stream falls is much admired and is frequently visited.
Irupu Falls
This refreshing cascade of water is situated at a distance of 48 kms from Virajpet on the way to Nagarhole. It is also a place of pilgrimage. The Shiva temple here is said to have been dedicated by Lord Rama himself on the banks of River Lakshmanatheertha a tributary to the river Cauvery.
Omkareshwara Temple
Built by Kodagu King Lingaraja in 1820, this temple is remarkable for its square shape in the Mohammedan style, with an impressive dome in the centre and four minarets - like tumets at the corners, surrounded by Basavas or sacred Bulls. On the top of the dome is a guilded ball, with a weather clock. All window frames are tastefully sculpted blocks with solid brass bars. A large tank in front of the temple gives it a serene atmosphere.
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Chettali Orange & Coffee Research Station (24 Km/15 mile)
Run by the Government, many interesting experiments and research on the production of coffee are conducted here. It is on the Mercara, Siddapur-Virajpet road. Enroute to the farm is the Coffee Board.
Bhagamandala (35 Km/21 mile)
It is here that the river Cauvery merges with the Kannike. There are three important temples above the confluence of the rivers dedicated to Bhagamandaleswara, Subramanya and Vishnu. During an annual festival which falls in October/November the temple is illuminated by thousands of oil lamps. A Central Apiary located here, is a unique centre for demonstration and research-cum-training in modern methods of bee keeping.
Karangi(38 Km/23 mile)
A reservoir and dam located here, make it a popular picnic spot.
Kudige(40 Km/25 mile)
A model agricultural farm with a basic Training College for teachers.
Talakaveri(44 Km/27 mile)
It is the source of the River Cauvery situated on the slopes of the Brahmagiri Hill, 4187 ft. above sea level. On the auspicious Tula Sankaramana(usually on 17th October every year) as the sun enters Libra, water gushes out from a Chondike. According to legend, Goddess Cauvery makes her appearance in this form of a gushing spring. This region is also associated with the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata.
Nagarhole(80 Km/50 mile)
The Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 284 sq.km. with tropical and deciduous forests and belts of swampy ground at the head of small streams. It derives its name from it s snake like winding streams. The place gives an excellent opportunity to the visitors to see wild animals.
Irupu(91 Km/57 mile)
A well known pilgrim centre, associated with Rama, hero of the great epic Ramayana. There is a Shiva Temple here on the banks of the river Ramathirtha, said to have been built by Rama. On Mahashivarathri, thousands of pilgrims gather here to take a holy bath.
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Coffee and Coorg honey, especially wild honey sold on the way to Talacauvery.
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