Presently known as Kodagu, Coorg is a district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Nestled in the Western Ghats, this region is well known for its large expanse of coffee plantations. Its dominant physical feature is the Kaveri River that originates at Talakaveri and flows through Coorg. The beautiful paddy fields, valleys of coffee plantations and abundant wildlife make Coorg an interesting place of visit. The festivals in Coorg are also worth a mention. Kailpodhu is a harvest festival celebrated in the month of September. You would enjoy traditional dishes at the restaurants during this time. Kaveri Sankramana is another prominent festival in Coorg district that is associated with worshipping of River Kaveri, as an important source of water for the people and animal life. Many tourists visit during the festival months. Coorg is well connected by road and railways with Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore and Hassan and has emerged as a popular weekend getaway for honeymoon couples and leisure travelers.





Top Tourist Places in Coorg
The top tourist places in Coorg are mostly the natural attractions. There are several wildlife parks ideal for safaris and trekking. Check out the top places of visit here:

Talakaveri � River Kaveri originates from here. The water flow is visible only during the monsoon months of July and August when the area around the Brahmagiri Hills receive heavy rainfall. There is also a small temple on the river banks that has Goddess Caveriamma as the principal deity. A tank is kept on the banks that collect water from the swelling Kaveri during the rainy season. This water is considered holy to bathe on special occasions. Thousands of pilgrims flock at Talakaveri on Tulasankramana or Kaveri Sankramana. Talakaveri also offers panoramic view to visitors and you can meet the amicable people of the Kadagu region.

Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary � This wildlife park in Coorg is located 243 km away from the city of Bangalore. Covering 181 square kilometer, this sanctuary features evergreen forest, grasslands, plant species and wildlife. It is a natural habitat for the lion-tailed macaque, common langur, barking deer, python and the king cobra. You will also come across a number of bird species such as the black bulbul, Malabar trogon and the emerald dove.



Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary � This sanctuary is well known for its large variety of flora and fauna species and covers around 105 square kilometer. Elephant, tiger, jackal, wild pig and sloth bear are some of the species bred here. Few cardamom and coffee plantations are also part of this sanctuary. Trekking and safari are popular activities here.

Rajiv Gandhi National Park � Also known as, the Nagarhole National Park, this sanctuary is at a distance of 94 km. This sanctuary has an evergreen forest cover and acts a natural habitat for tigers and the Indian bison. There are the rosewood, teak and sandalwood trees found in plenty here.

Iruppu Falls � Situated in southern Coorg, The Iruppu Falls is also popular as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls. It is one of the major tourist attraction and a pilgrimage site for the Ramaeshwara Temple here. This Shiva temple has pilgrims visiting during the eve of Shivaratri.



Madikeri Fort � Built in the later half of the 17th century, the Madikeri Fort was commissioned by Mudduraja. The palace inside the fort was renovated in 1814 and the British occupied it in 1834. It is a great work of architecture. It is one of the most significant among the tourist attractions in Coorg and should not be missed out on a tour of Coorg. It was formerly built of mud and later on replaced by a concrete stone by Tipu Sultan. The palace of the Lingayat rulers is located inside the fort walls. It is an imposing fort and hardly there is any other fort that matches its grandeur.

Omkareshwara Temple � There is another lure for the tourists who are religious by heart and it is the Omkareshwara Temple. It was built in commemoration of both Shiva and Vishnu and is almost 200 years old. The stunning feature of this temple is that it is an amazing blend of Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture.

Raja's Seat � Surrounded by exquisite greenery, Raja�s Seat (Seat of the Kings) was the place for the royal family to enjoy panoramic views of the Kodagu district. 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 sweep 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 every evening. Nowadays, it has been developed into a public garden and is frequented by large number of tourists.

If you have come away to enjoy the natural beauty in Coorg, come to Raja's Seat, a favourite spot of the kings from where one can see the sweep of the mist-covered blue hills and valleys with green fields. The kings used to sit here every evening enjoying the sunset and beauty of Coorg. Today, the area around Raja's Seat has been developed into a public garden.

Abbey Falls - Located at a distance of 8 km from Madikeri, the charming Abbey Falls is a perfect place for picnics. It is advised that the tourists should make their own arrangements to reach this place before they embark on a tour. It is one of the finest among the tourist attractions in Coorg and should not be missed out at any cost

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