Things to do and places to visit in Coorg

Coorg is referred to as the “Scotland of India” because of its undulating green hills and year-round dazzling blue skies. There is much more to do and see in Coorg than just drinking the high-quality coffee that the scenic area is famous for. 

Every tourist will find intriguing things to do in Coorg, including nature lovers, cuisine aficionados, photographers, adventure seekers, and cultural vultures. Many of Coorg’s tourist places in Karnataka are also free to visit!

How to Reach Coorg?

By Air

Mangalore Airport is located 160km away from the Coorg, which is the nearest airport to the city. Board a bus or hail a cab from the airport to reach Coorg.

By Train

Board a train to Mysore Railway Station from any Indian railway station, which is 107km away from Coorg. Board a bus or hail a cab from the station to reach Coorg.

By Road

You can commute via State Transport to reach the city and rickshaws, autos, and cabs, to reach anywhere within the city.

15 tourist places to visit in Coorg

Dubare Elephant Camp

Source: Pinterest

Dubare Elephant Camp is home to numerous elephants and provides visitors with the chance to see, bathe, feed, and enjoy spending time with these magnificent animals. It is situated along the banks of the Kaveri River. 

There are cabins inside the camp if you intend to stay overnight. During your visit, you may also take part in campfires, jeep excursions, wildlife film screenings and nature walks. A day trip is another option for those with limited time.

Distance: 29km

Best Time to Visit: September to March

Timings: 08:30 AM to 11:00 AM; 04:30 PM to 05:30 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 30 (Boat to Main Camp), Rs 20(per head), elephant bathing(Rs 100),  (Rs 885) elephant interaction

Ticket price(Day Visit): Rs 690- Rs 1330 (for Indians); Rs 1467- Rs 2270 (for Foreigners)

Things to do: Elephant riding, elephant feeding and bathing, birdwatching, rafting, adventure activities, and fishing.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or cab to reach the river from Coorg and take a boat to reach the Dubare Camp.

Kaveri River Rafting

Source: Pinterest

If you are an adventure seeker, then this is for you. Enjoy the rafting in this calm Kaveri river that promises the adrenaline rush. It’s one of the only places in Coorg to enjoy river rafting.

Distance: 17.9km

Best Time to Visit: Avoid Monsoons

Timings: 30th September to 15th July (Still Water Rafting)

Entry Fee: Depends on the rafting service you are going to associate yourself with.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or cab to reach the river from Coorg or ask the hotel or service that will provide you transportation to the rafting start point along with rafting.

Fishing at the Kaveri River

Source: Pinterest

There are many lakes and rivers abound in Coorg. In reality, the river Kaveri, which has a rich aquatic ecosystem and is perfect for fishing, has its source in Talakaveri, close to Madikeri. Fishing is among the finest things to do in Coorg in June since the rivers are stocked with food for such fish throughout the monsoon season. It is also among the Coorg places to visit in May.

Distance: 23.6km

Best Time to Visit: September to March(Avoid Monsoons) 

Best Fishing Destination: Valnur

Entry Fee: Depends on the equipment type you are going to buy or rent from the shop.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or cab to reach the river from Coorg or ask the hotel or service that will provide you transportation to the river and fishing equipment.

Bylakuppe and Namdroling Monastery

Source: Pinterest

In Coorg, there are many temples, but this is quite lovely. The sole Tibetan population in Southern India is at Coorg. A beautiful Tibetan temple, the Namdroling Monastery, is also referred to as the Golden Temple locally. 

It’s a wonderful method to expose kids to various cultures. Tibetan cuisine like momos and thukpa are also available at nearby vendors! Undoubtedly, one of the nicest things to do in Coorg is to visit Bylakuppe. 

Distance: 5.5km

Best Time to Visit: February or March for Tibetan festival

Timings: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 15 per head and Rs 10-15 for parking

How to Reach:  One can hail a bus to Kushalnagar, which is 5.1k  away from the monastery.  From there, you can opt to take a bus or cab to reach the monastery.. 

Abbey Falls

Source: Pinterest

One of several finest things to do in Coorg is to take pictures of the abundance of nature with which the region is gifted. One of Coorg’s most well-known waterfalls is this one. The milky waterfall amid a beautiful coffee and spice farm makes for the ideal backdrop for an Instagram shot. So stop worrying about places to see in Coorg and simply go to Abbey Falls! 

Distance: 34.8km

Best Time to Visit: July-October

Hiking: 10-15 minutes

Timings: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM

How to Reach: Take a bus or cab to reach the falls. From the entrance, 200 steps will take nearly 15-20 minutes to reach the falls.

Raja’s Seat

Source: Pinterest

Raja’s Seat is a lovely park with flowers, rich vegetation, and man-made fountains that were formerly the preferred pleasure area for the Rajas of the area. The area offers a spectacular view of the valleys and mountains that encircle it. 

To experience the sunset, visit the location in the evenings, much like the former Rajas did. To keep your kids entertained, there is a toy railway here.

 

Distance: 1.5km

Best Time to Visit: Sunrise and sunset

Timings: Garden: 05:30 AM – 07:30 PM,

Musical Fountain: Weekdays – 07:00 PM onwards, Weekends – 06:45 PM – 07:20 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 5 per head(Garden) and Rs 20 for toy train

How to Reach:  Take an auto or rickshaw or stroll to reach this beautiful place.

Virajpet Day Trip

Source: Pinterest

When you’ve had your fill of the Coorg tourist places, consider scheduling a half-day excursion to Virajpet. It is a town that is about 33 kilometres away from Coorg. 

The town is a nice spot to drive to because of its surrounding beautiful greenery. One may take a half-day sightseeing excursion to this lovely town by hiring a vehicle or cab.

Distance: 32.8km

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Places to Visit: Shiva Temple, Ayappa Temple, Madikeri Festival, Chelavara Falls, and many more.

How to Reach:  Use any public transport or private cabs to reach Virajpet.

Whitewater Rafting at Barapole River

Source: Pinterest

Coorg is a fantastic location for whitewater rafting, particularly during the monsoon season. The Barapole River offers guests the best adventurous encounter with rapid grades spanning from I to V. You should include river rafting in Coorg on your list of items to do in Coorg in August.

Distance: 69.6km

Best Time to Visit: Avoid Monsoons

Timings: 15th July to 30th September (White Water Rafting)

Entry Fee: INR 1200. Although it depends on the rafting service, you are going to associate yourself with.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or cab to reach the river from Coorg or ask the hotel or service that will provide you transportation to the rafting start point along with rafting.

Homestays at Coorg

Source: Pinterest

In Coorg, homestays are a popular kind of lodging. Colonial bungalows are common on coffee and spice plantations, and their proprietors have converted most of them into homestays. Here, you may sample Coorgi culture and eat home-cooked food. 

Distance: 17.7km

Best Time to Visit: November

Entry Fee: Depends on the type of homestay you are opting for.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or cab to reach the Madikeri Homestays at Stuart Hills.

Madikeri Fort

Source: Pinterest

An intriguing historic structure in Coorg, Madikeri Fort, was constructed in the mid-1700s. Within the walls of the fort is a palace. The fort was originally erected by Mudduraja, but Tipu Sultan and the British repaired and refurbished it. The fort now has a park, a museum, and a clock tower on its grounds. One of the greatest family activities in Coorg is taking a stroll in this fort if you plan to travel with your parents.

Distance: 900 metres

Best Time to Visit: October-March

Timings: 10:00 AM – 05:30 PM, Monday closed

Entry Fee: None

How to Reach:  Take an auto or rickshaw or stroll to reach this beautiful place.

Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary

Source: Pinterest

A visit to Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary ought to be on any checklist to do in Coorg, regardless of whether you enjoy hiking, bird watching, or nature. The sanctuary is home to various rare and endangered bird species and is surrounded by the Kukke Subramanya Forest Range and Bisle Forest Range. It is favoured by trekkers due to the Kote Betta and Pushpagiri Peak paths.

Distance: 57.3km

Best Time to Visit: November-March

Timings: 06:00 AM – 06:00 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 10

How to Reach:  Take a bus or hail a cab to reach this sanctuary.

Bird watching- Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary

Source: Pinterest

The mountain here, which occurs to be the tallest peak in the area, gave rise to the name Pushpagiri Sanctuary. The sanctuary is one of India’s 21 officially designated sanctuaries. The sanctuary also includes the Kadamakal Forest Reserve. Numerous threatened extinction bird species may be found in the region’s wooded and lush highlands. Explore this area on a birding trip to discover some unusual flying animals.

Distance: 57.3km

Best Time to Visit: November-March

Timings: 06:00 AM – 06:00 PM

Entry Fee: Rs 10

How to Reach:  Take a bus or hail a cab to reach this sanctuary.

Talacauvry/ Talakaveri- Holy Bath

Source: Pinterest

One of India’s most well-known rivers, the Kaveri or the Cauvery, runs through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The beginning or source of this sacred river is said to be Talakaveri. Hindu worshipers travel there because they believe it to be holy. They go here to use the public bath. This location’s beauty also draws a large number of visitors from throughout the world.

Distance: 43.5km

Best Time to Visit: July-September and October for Festival.

Timings: 06:00 AM – 08:30 PM

Entry Fee: None

How to Reach:  Take a bus or hail a cab to reach this holy place.

Rappelling at Waterfall

Source: Pinterest

In Coorg, among the most daring activities is waterfall rappelling. Enjoy this exhilarating activity in the Chelavara Waterfalls, one of the most beautiful sites. With the aid of a harness, you can descend the waterfall’s stony surface throughout this activity. This one is not for the faint of heart, although safety measures will be taken.

Distance: 36.6km

Destination: Chelavara Waterfalls

Best Time to Visit: Monsoon

Timings: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Entry Fee: waterfall rappelling depends on the company.

How to Reach:  Take a bus or hail a cab to reach this sanctuary.

Must-Try Kodava Food 

Source: Pinterest

If you visit Coorg, you ought to eat like a Kodava. You may indulge in a variety of delectable delicacies, such as their popular Pandi Curry (pork), Kadamuttu (rice ball), and Akki Roti (rice roti), as well as Bamboo Shoot Curry, Noolputtu (string hoppers), and Kommu Curry (mushroom curry). Don’t forget to finish it off with a cup of flavorful, homegrown coffee.

FAQs

What makes Coorg special?

Along with having coffee and spice farms, Coorg is renowned for its delicious pulpy oranges. Oranges from Coorg are distinctive because they are simple to peel and have a slight citrus taste and sweetness to them. Here, there is also a focus on regional wines and sweets.

Which month is the ideal time to visit Coorg?

Summertime, between March and June, is the ideal time to explore Coorg.