Incredible India Karnataka COORG Great Holiday Destination : 6 Major Tourist Attractions

Kodagu, also called Coorg , is a district in Karnataka State

Coorg is known for its hospitability of people and beautiful scenery. This is one of the best destinations for nature lover in India. Tourists get fascinated by colourful scenery, wooded slopes, undulating landscape and quaint villages of Coorg. There are endless mountain ranges which attract thousands of tourists every year.

Get in
The nearest railway station is Mysore, some 100 kms away. But buses are frequent and connect Kodagu to nearby Karnataka cities such as Mysore and Mangalore, among others. The bus journey is about 4-5 hours away. Be prepared for a rough, winding and inexpensive ride. If you are coming from Bangalore/Mysore, it is better to rent a cab from either city. This is recommended as public transport is not very effective in coorg district and the tourist attractions are spread across the district. Taking a cab from the city will help you get better rates as it is always difficult to bargain in tourist spots. If travelling from Bangalore/Mysore, you should plan to cover Bylanakuppe (Tibet monastery), as it is en route. ABBI Falls, Thalakveri, Raja Seat, Golden Temple, DUBARE Elephant Camp.

Raja's Seat Legend says that the local rajas used to watch the sun set from here. There is a nice garden and a beautiful panoramic view to the valley. In the middle of Madikeri, ask for directions from the point you are in and walk (or take a rickshaw). It's a fantastic scene during sun rise or sunset.
Madikeri Fort This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Doddavira Rajendra took control of the fort. The British who added to the fort in 1834. The palace was renovated by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1812-1814. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner.
Omkareshwara Temple In the middle of Medikeri, built in a Mohammedan style.
Abbey Falls Beautiful falls 7-9 km from Madikeri (depends where you are). Abbey means "falls" in Kannada. The falls are inside a coffee plantation. Abbey Falls is a breathtaking waterfall where the Kaveri river cascades down a rockface. A hanging bridge has now been built across the gorge here offering a good view of the falls. A rickshaw to the falls and back with half an hour stop is Rs 150, but if you would like to take a swim at the pool, then a longer stay is advised. Negotiat the price beforehand, aim for around Rs 200 for a 2 hr stay.
Talakaveri (42 km from Madikeri) The source of the Cauvery river. The river is famous for annually over flowing the banks here on 17 or 18 October. It is an important pilgrimage site for Hindu people. You can see a very beautiful view of western ghats by climbing the Brahmagiri Hill. Can be reached by bus.
Bhagamandala Temple (36 km from Madikeri). This temple is built at the confluence of three rivers; Cauvery, Kannika and Sujyothi. The temple is built in the Kerala style.
Nisargadhama 3 km from Kushalnagar, there's a beautiful picnic spot called Nisargadhama. Park is not too great, has some bamboo "machans" on trees, but the best part of it is the river is on the back-side. If you want to go for elephant ride at Nisarga Dhama, please remember to buy ride-tickets along with your entry-ticket before you get in. They do not sell ride-tickets inside; it is a 0.5 km walk back to ticket counter if you forget.
Dubbare Elephant camp (Accessed from the road connecting Madikeri and Kushalnaga, turn off 3 km from Kushal Nagar and then travel 10 km on that deviation) The road in passes through scenic rice fields and coffee estates. Activities include boat rides, rafting and the cauvery. Crossing the river to take you to the camp is quite adventurous.
Kushal Nagar The largest Tibetan Settlement in Southern India and monastery locally called "Golden Temple", in Bylakuppe, near Kushal Nagar. There are 2 monasteries now nearby, one old and the other is new. Don't miss the new, on the way, while going towards old one. You can shop for Tibetan handicrafts, decorative and religious items. Please note that as a refugee camp, foreigners are not allowed inside without a special permit. However, usually the police allow foreigners to breifly visit the Golden Temple during the day. You will have to find accommodation somewhere outside of the Tibetan refugee settlement proper.