Namita SawantCoorg Karnataka, famously known as the Scotland of India, is a popular hill station in India. Well, firstly it is a fascinating hill station with breathtaking views and secondly, it is best known for coffee plantations in India. Coorg weather is the most pleasant between October and March, and hence that’s the best time to visit this hill station.
A few years back I visited this picturesque hill station and was awed with its beauty. I think, we all have visited a one such place in our lifetime where we felt we should settle after retirement. For me, that place is Coorg. I would so want to shift to this quaint hill station, right away and settle there for good. I mean, who can wait until retirement? But then if only we could act this fast to our wises.
How to reach Coorg Karnataka – First stop – Mumbai to Mangalore
Coorg Karnataka is one of the most popular hill stations in South India, so reaching here from any part of the world is not a problem. We traveled through the scenic route of Mangalore through railways. Mumbai to Mangalore is hardly a 16-hour train journey and throughout the way, you get to gorge on yummy south Indian cuisine, banana bhajiyas. Perhaps, one of the reasons why we choose trains over flights. Of course, it is light on the pocket too, if you travel by sleeper or 3AC.
We stayed at an OYO in Mangalore for a night, mainly as we wanted to explore the pristine beaches of Mangalore. Boarding the airy, local buses of Mangalore, we traveled to the Panambur Beach, showcasing blue waters and breathtaking views. Ola was a little heavy on the pocket and communicating with local auto rickshaws in English or Hindi was indeed a task. So, traveling by the local transport was the best option.
After visiting several beaches in India, this tops the list for its cleanliness and blue waters. There were a number of things to do on the beach and the best part was it was not very crowded. Therefore, my daughter had a gala time flying kites, and playing in the sun and the golden sand.
Mangalore to Coorg
From Mangalore to Coorg, the distance is approx. 138 km. You can easily cover the distance in approx. four hours, unless you stop at the beautiful churches or gardens that come in the way. We did halt at different spots and so our drive was more than six hours.
Club Mahindra Madikeri Resort in Coorg
Our first stop in Coorg Karnataka was the luxurious and full of amenities – Club Mahindra Madikeri Resort. This is one of my favorite resorts of Club Mahindra after Goa Varca resort. This is an ideal resort for families traveling with kids, as there are multiple fun activities and gardens to play along. We spent our days amid scenic hills and nights enjoying the varied recreational facilities planned at the resort. Luckily, we stayed at the resort around end of October and could enjoy the Halloween night celebrations in its full glory.
3 Must-visit Places in Madikeri, Coorg Karnataka
Like any other tourist spot, this place offers many tourist destinations too. Here are my top three favorite Coorg places to visit.
1. Abbey Falls
Abbey Falls is a popular waterfall among tourists. Located in Kodagu, the drive from Madikeri to this fall is lined with coffee plantations and several other spice plantations. Wear comfortable shoes, as it’s quite a walk to reach the falls. Also, carry water and some snacks.
2. Namdroling Monastery or the ‘Golden Temple’
The Namdroling Monastery is a spellbinding place for all who love Tibetan architecture & artwork. Its always overwhelming for me to visit a Monastery and observe the simplicity with which Monks choose to spend their lives. The temple is in a huge vicinity that has many auxiliary structures, including an institution and hospital. The peaceful ambience of this place is advanced by the well-maintained gardens, full of myriad flowers and leaves.
Things to remember while visiting this Namdroling Monastery:
- Wear clothes in sync with the temple culture
- Cell phones and shoes are not allowed inside the main hall
- You can carry your camera inside the monastery
- Maintain silence and never disturb a monk
3. Dubare Elephant Camp Coorg
The Dubare Elephant Camp is a famous tourist destination in Coorg. Here, you will find crowds of people turning up to see these gigantic animals in their natural habitat. A small boat ride and we reached the point where we saw several elephants in their natural habitat. You get a chance to observe them up and close, even bathe them, feed them or take an elephant ride. For kids, this is one of the highlights places to visit in Coorg.
There are several reasons why Coorg is a popular place in Karnataka. I am sure I will visit Coorg again and next time stay for more time.
