Coorg Trip - The Scotland of India
After planning for a long long time, finally decided to go to Coorg and Wayanad for our first marriage anniversary. Searching through the travel logs and travel blogs gave us some idea of what was there in store for us. Thankful to Sahas for giving me the complete details of the trip.
24-12:6:30AM
Started from Bangalore, took the new NICE ring road till Mysore road. After having a quick breakfast at the new Kamat uphar headed towards Srirangapatna. Took the Mysore bypass towards Hunsur. Drove from Virajpet to Gonikoppal to kakabbe. The road from Gonikoppal to kakabbe was single lane and full of potholes.
24-12:11:30AM
We were booked at Misty Woods Resort. It is in such a beautiful surroundings that once you reach the resort, it takes away all the strain of the travel. They have only 12 cottages and not much of crowd. The food is also delicious, but you will have to inform them of your preferences before hand. We spent the day in the resort and later visited the Kakkabe palace and the private water fall in the evening. The Kakkabe palace is a hideout place built for the coorg rajas to hide from the Britishers. It still has some beautiful paintings in the royal rooms. The resort property has a natural waterfalls where no outsiders are allowed. Imagine its only you in that secure place in front of the waterfalls. Its a very rare opportunity you will have ever.
25-12:11:30AM
Next day we headed towards Madikeri city where we stayed at Gowri Nivas home stay which is maintained by an old lady, Ms Daisy, her son Boppana and his wife Muttu. Ms. Muttu has personally renovated their century old home into a well decorated, authentic Coorg heritage home. It gives you an ambiance which blends perfectly into the history of Coorg.
25-12:1:30PM
We headed towards the Nyingmapa Tibetan monastery in Bylekuppe. Its on the Kushalnagar highway. Once you take the diversion towards the monastery the landscape changes dramatically. You will see a lot of colorful long pieces of cloths hanging all around. The sign boards changes to Tibetan language. Once you reach the monastery, you are greeted by Buddhist chants from the students of the monastery. Its really a small world in itself. On the ways back stopped at Kaveri Nisarga Dhama which is a garden on the banks of Kaveri river. Its worth a miss.
25-12:7:30PM
We spend the evening at Raja's Seat. They have musical fountain show in the evening. Don't miss the spicy chaat at the same place. It has a fantastic view of the coorg valley, which is a best to be seen early in the morning. You realize why the Kings used to sit there watching the beautiful valley below. There is also a train ride in the adjacent park if you are interested.
26-12:8:30AM
Next day Morning we went to Dubare Elephant Camp. You will have to start early in the morning and reach there by at least 8:00AM to see the entire heard of elephants. You will have to cross a river to reach the place where the elephants are trained. There are boats which cross the river. You can also cross the river on foot, if the level of water is not high.
26-12:2:30PM
The same day evening went to Abbey falls. The drive to Abbey falls is very narrow and not that safe. If its heavily crowded it becomes difficult to drive on those roads. You have to visit the falls before the day dawns. You can not touch the water there but watch it from the hanging bridge. Not that a spectacular view.
26:12:6:30PM
Madikeri fort is an important historical place which was the seat of power in coorg. There are two big elephants made of clay inside the fort. The legend goes that the favorite pass time of one of the king was to make people run from one place till the elephants and shoot at them. If they reach the elephant alive they are spared else they have to loose their life.
27-12:11:30AM
Early morning we visited the Omkareshwara temple. Its a thousand year old temple built by a Raja of Coorg after bringing the Shivaling from Kashi. This is the reason why this temple is called the Kashi of south. The legend goes that Raja Lingarajendra to seeking redemption for his sin of killing a Brahmin who refused to marry his daughter to the king, built this temple.
27-12:2:30PM
There is Irpu Falls is on the way to Wayanad from Coorg. You need to drive around 10 kms from the highway towards the wildlife sanctuary which has the waterfalls. At the parking there is a small restaurant. The food is good and clean. Its a 400 mts walk into the sanctuary. You can take a bath at the waterfalls. From here the route till the highway is very narrow and full of potholes.
24-12:6:30AMStarted from Bangalore, took the new NICE ring road till Mysore road. After having a quick breakfast at the new Kamat uphar headed towards Srirangapatna. Took the Mysore bypass towards Hunsur. Drove from Virajpet to Gonikoppal to kakabbe. The road from Gonikoppal to kakabbe was single lane and full of potholes.
24-12:11:30AM We were booked at Misty Woods Resort. It is in such a beautiful surroundings that once you reach the resort, it takes away all the strain of the travel. They have only 12 cottages and not much of crowd. The food is also delicious, but you will have to inform them of your preferences before hand. We spent the day in the resort and later visited the Kakkabe palace and the private water fall in the evening. The Kakkabe palace is a hideout place built for the coorg rajas to hide from the Britishers. It still has some beautiful paintings in the royal rooms. The resort property has a natural waterfalls where no outsiders are allowed. Imagine its only you in that secure place in front of the waterfalls. Its a very rare opportunity you will have ever.
25-12:11:30AM
Next day we headed towards Madikeri city where we stayed at Gowri Nivas home stay which is maintained by an old lady, Ms Daisy, her son Boppana and his wife Muttu. Ms. Muttu has personally renovated their century old home into a well decorated, authentic Coorg heritage home. It gives you an ambiance which blends perfectly into the history of Coorg.
25-12:1:30PM We headed towards the Nyingmapa Tibetan monastery in Bylekuppe. Its on the Kushalnagar highway. Once you take the diversion towards the monastery the landscape changes dramatically. You will see a lot of colorful long pieces of cloths hanging all around. The sign boards changes to Tibetan language. Once you reach the monastery, you are greeted by Buddhist chants from the students of the monastery. Its really a small world in itself. On the ways back stopped at Kaveri Nisarga Dhama which is a garden on the banks of Kaveri river. Its worth a miss.
25-12:7:30PM
We spend the evening at Raja's Seat. They have musical fountain show in the evening. Don't miss the spicy chaat at the same place. It has a fantastic view of the coorg valley, which is a best to be seen early in the morning. You realize why the Kings used to sit there watching the beautiful valley below. There is also a train ride in the adjacent park if you are interested.
26-12:8:30AM Next day Morning we went to Dubare Elephant Camp. You will have to start early in the morning and reach there by at least 8:00AM to see the entire heard of elephants. You will have to cross a river to reach the place where the elephants are trained. There are boats which cross the river. You can also cross the river on foot, if the level of water is not high.
26-12:2:30PM The same day evening went to Abbey falls. The drive to Abbey falls is very narrow and not that safe. If its heavily crowded it becomes difficult to drive on those roads. You have to visit the falls before the day dawns. You can not touch the water there but watch it from the hanging bridge. Not that a spectacular view.
26:12:6:30PM Madikeri fort is an important historical place which was the seat of power in coorg. There are two big elephants made of clay inside the fort. The legend goes that the favorite pass time of one of the king was to make people run from one place till the elephants and shoot at them. If they reach the elephant alive they are spared else they have to loose their life.
27-12:11:30AM
Early morning we visited the Omkareshwara temple. Its a thousand year old temple built by a Raja of Coorg after bringing the Shivaling from Kashi. This is the reason why this temple is called the Kashi of south. The legend goes that Raja Lingarajendra to seeking redemption for his sin of killing a Brahmin who refused to marry his daughter to the king, built this temple.
27-12:2:30PMThere is Irpu Falls is on the way to Wayanad from Coorg. You need to drive around 10 kms from the highway towards the wildlife sanctuary which has the waterfalls. At the parking there is a small restaurant. The food is good and clean. Its a 400 mts walk into the sanctuary. You can take a bath at the waterfalls. From here the route till the highway is very narrow and full of potholes.
Comments