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Coorg is a misty little hill station in Karnataka that is hidden away in the mighty Western Ghats and endowed with spellbinding natural beauty. Why spend a ton of money traveling to European countries like Scotland when you are getting to experience something similar in the picture-perfect Coorg? Dubbed the ‘Scotland of the East’, the landscape of Coorg is blessed with lush green valleys, thick woods, frothy waterfalls, gushing rivers, majestic hills, endless coffee plantations, and fragrant spice gardens.
Also known as Kodagu, this place attracts all types of travelers, be it adventure junkies, nature enthusiasts, foodies, photographers, or animal lovers. In fact, Coorg is an ideal vacation destination whether you want to travel solo or with your family and friends. Want to make the most of your time in Coorg? Here are 9 fun things to do in Coorg to make your trip unforgettable.
Instead of spending money on hotels and inns, consider staying in homestays while you are in Coorg. In fact, in recent times, several homestay options have cropped up around Coorg and grown massively popular. The owners of many spice gardens and coffee plantations who owned colonial mansions have turned them into homestays for tourists.
Staying at homestays in Coorg not only gives you an insight into the daily lives of the locals, but you also get a chance to gorge on the delicious home-cooked meals that they specially prepare for you. If you’re particularly lucky, your hosts might even invite you to attend a wedding in their family and you’ll be able to observe their traditions more intimately.
Also Read: Best Homestays In Coorg
Located in the nearby Kushalnagar, spending an afternoon in the Dubare Elephant Camp will leave your heart overjoyed. Home to more than 150 elephants, the camp is run by the Forest Department of Karnataka and it offers a chance to the visitors to connect with these loving animals. By participating in the numerous activities that revolve around playing and caring for the elephants, you’ll surely have an experience of a lifetime.
The visitors are taken around the camp by a naturalist who not only lets them observe the elephants but also teaches them to interact with these giants. The Dubare Elephant Camp is located on the banks of the Kaveri River which tends to be an ideal grooming location for the elephants. As they lie down in the cool waters, you actually get a chance to scrub and bathe them.
After that, you are shown how the food for the elephants is prepared and then you can feed these adorable creatures with your own hands. The best part about this entire experience is that you leave with a sense of satisfaction as well as a sense of responsibility to do your part for the protection of elephants.
Also Read: Coorg Travel Guide
Coffee is an indispensable part of many of your lives! How cool would it be if you could know more about the journey of your coffee beans before they made it to your mug? Well, the good news is that you can actually do this if you visit Coorg. Popularly called the ‘Coffee Bowl of India’, Coorg is filled with endless coffee plantations. When you visit the coffee plantations of Coorg, you can actually walk through the verdant shrubs and learn about the process of coffee production.
Once you’re at the plantations, the locals will tell you to hop into their vehicles and take you on a ride across the coffee plantations. Here, you’ll get a chance to learn about the cultivation of coffee plants and how topographical features like the amount of moisture, terrain, soil, etc., play a role in it. Not only will you be given an opportunity to pluck the ripened coffee beans, but they will also take you through the process of drying, roasting, and grinding the coffee beans. Finally, you’ll be taken to a coffee tasting session where you will be taught to differentiate between various types of coffee. Isn’t that fun?
The Kaveri River is the heart and soul of Coorg as so many of the things to do in Coorg are associated with this river. On the Brahmagiri hill, near Bhagamandala in Coorg, lies Talacauvery, the source of the charming Kaveri River. The Kaveri River is thought to have started off as a spring in a Kund (tank-like structure) that was built by the members of the Kodava community. The river then runs underground after the Kund and bursts out again at another point. Kund is considered to be sacred and people consider bathing in the Kund on special days extremely auspicious.
Being a famed pilgrimage site, Talacauvery is naturally flocked with visitors from all sides of the country. That’s because of the temple which has been erected near the Kund which seats the Goddess Kaveriamma. The temple celebrates the Tulasankaramma festival (in October) with great pomp and ends up attracting several pilgrims. Even if you’re a non-believer, do consider visiting Talacauvery as it offers you a spectacular view of the green valleys, dense forests, and the rolling hills of Coorg.
The Kodava culture has undoubtedly had a huge influence on the cuisine of Coorg. While vacationing here, you shouldn’t miss out on trying out the local cuisine because what the locals of Coorg eat is quite distinct from the cuisine of Karnataka. The people of Coorg are mainly into agriculture because of which their recipes mostly use fresh local ingredients.
Indigenous local ingredients like bamboo shoots, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, spices, coffee, meat, rice, etc. are what the food of Coorg is mostly about. Known as a haven for non-vegetarians, tourists generally love the authentic pandi curry (pork), chicken curry, and mutton curry that’s prepared by the locals. Meanwhile, Noolputtu, Akki Roti, and Koovaleputtu are some of the vegetarian options that are must-try foods in Coorg for everyone.
Coorg is full of enchanting waterfalls that leave one mesmerized and the Iruppu Falls is the finest example of that. Hidden away in the Brahmagiri Mountain Range, this picture-perfect waterfall is not just a gorgeous picnic spot, but also a holy pilgrimage site to visit in Coorg.
According to the Hindu legend, Lord Ram was feeling extremely thirsty while searching for his wife Sita. His devoted brother Lakshman then shot an arrow at the Brahmagiri Hills which led to a stream of water splashing out of the hill. That’s how Iruppu falls came into existence and gained a second name which is the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls.
To reach the waterfall and pray at the temple that has been erected here, you’ll have to hike through a hauntingly beautiful forest trail. Owing to the previously mentioned legend, people believe that bathing in this beautiful waterfall cleanses you of all your sins. That’s why many people tend to go for a swim in the waterfall. If you want to avoid the crowd, consider visiting Iruppu Falls during the off-season (June to September) when there are no tourists around and you can enjoy a peaceful afternoon all by yourself.
Along with being famous for spices, coffee, and herbal teas, Coorg is one of the most sought-after places by those who seek authentic Ayurvedic treatment. Dotted with multiple Ayurvedic centers, this hill station offers all vacationers a chance to rejuvenate, relax and shrug off all their stress.
Choosing to get an Ayurvedic treatment helps you to detoxify your body. Not only this, but the certified professionals offer you a variety of treatments like Shirodhara and Abhyanga which comprise of massages that put you in a deep state of relaxation.
Do remember that booking a treatment at a reputed center is important. That’s because the good centers employ knowledgeable Ayurvedic experts. Under their guidance, you’ll be taught about meditation, yoga, Ayurvedic nutrition along with various different elements that comprise a comprehensive Ayurvedic treatment.
Nature enthusiasts from all over the country as well as the world travel to Coorg in order to visit the Nagarhole National Park which is one of the best national parks in India. Located in the north-western part of the Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole boasts of housing a wild variety of flora and fauna. This Park is the dwelling ground of the majestic Bengal Tigers along with Asiatic elephants, Indian bison, spotted deer (chital), sambhar, hyenas, wild dogs, sloth bears, leopards, four-horned antelopes, striped hyenas, etc.
Are you a bird lover? Then visiting Nagarhole must be on your list of things to do in Coorg! The Park is also a paradise for avid bird watchers as it houses more than 250 species of rare and endangered birds like the Nilgiri wood-pigeon, oriental white-backed vulture, and the greater spotted eagle. In addition to all this, the park is also famed for being home to a variety of reptiles like Russell’s viper, Indian rock python, wolf snakes, bamboo bat viper, vine snakes, rat snakes, and crocodiles.
The best part is that you can choose to go on a jeep safari and catch a glimpse of all these animals going about their daily routine in their natural habitats. The jeep safari happens roughly four times during the day so make sure that you book a slot according to your convenience and reach the park on time.
Does spending a night in a tent beneath the stars, surrounded by undulated valleys and dense woods sound appealing to you? If yes, then you couldn’t be luckier. Several gorgeous camping sites have cropped up in and around Coorg which has led to the popularity of camping here in recent years. Unwinding in the heart of nature, hearing the chitter-chatter of the birds, and waking up to a mesmerizing sunrise are some of the things that attract people to camping in Coorg.
This region is filled with some excellent campsites and you can choose the one you like. If you’re looking for good camping sites in Coorg, you should know that Madikeri, Dubare Elephant Camp, Kushalnagar, and Gopikoppa have some of the best camping spots in the region. The one thing that makes camping in Coorg stand out is that you have a choice to choose from a variety of campsites including coffee farms, riverside farms, fishing farms, and natural farms.
Why Is Coorg Called Scotland Of India?
Coorg is known as the ‘Scotland of India’ due to the obvious parallels between the two areas in terms of their topography, geography, climate, weather, architecture, and abundant freshwater sources.
What Would You Do If You Wanted To Enjoy Nature In Coorg?
Coorg is situated in the heart of nature so there are plenty of things you can do and numerous places you can visit to be closer to nature. Here are some of the places you must visit in order to enjoy nature in Coorg:
What Are The Activities Available In Coorg?
Coorg is a hub of adventure activities and you can always choose the activity of your liking. Here are some of the adventure sports that will make your trip to Coorg memorable.
Is Coorg And Madikeri The Same?
Located about 265 km away from Bangalore and about 117 km from Mysore, Coorg or Kodagu is one of the most gorgeous places you can visit. You should know that Coorg is actually a district in Karnataka. On the contrary, Madikeri is a city that’s located within Coorg and is the district headquarter.
Which Is Better, Ooty Or Coorg?
Coorg and Ooty are both hill stations that are blessed with picturesque landscapes. While Coorg is known for its breath-taking coffee plantations, Ooty is famed for its charming tea estates. While Coorg certainly is more commercialized and is filled with several tourist spots, Ooty compensates for it with its natural beauty and amazing weather. Which place is the best actually depends on your own preferences about how you like to vacation.
Are 2 Days Enough For Coorg?
Just 2 days in Coorg are certainly not enough because there are several things to do and see in Coorg. Packing everything in a 2-day trip would get very hectic. You’ll feel rushed constantly and you won’t be able to soak in the beauty of Coorg in a relaxed manner. If you ask us, we suggest that anywhere between 4-7 days are enough for a holiday in Coorg.
How Far Is Coorg From Ooty?
Coorg is 239 km from Ooty by road.
How far is Coorg from Mysore?
Coorg is 112 km from Mysore by road.
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