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Sitting in the lap of the Western ghats, Coorg is the anglicised name of Kodagu, a district blessed with coffee plantations, waterfalls, misty hills and cozy homestays. Home to the warrior clan of the Kodavas, Coorg is a quaint place with many sights to see but the journey to the place itself from Bangalore need not be dull or boring as there is a lot to see on the way. Starting from the silk city of Ramanagaram you can see the toy dolls of Channapatna, see the glory of the Ganga dynasty and Tipu sultan, immerse yourself in Buddhist culture and lose yourself in the wildlife of various wildlife sanctuaries on the way. Here is a tailor-made roadtrip guide made for you. As for what to do after reaching Coorg, check it out here
There are two routes to reach Coorg and depending on your convenience and time you have to spare you can take either. We will take about both the routes here.
Time: 8-10 hours Road condition - Hunsur to Coorg - Good, Hunsur to Nagarhole - Bad
Ramanagaram
Starting from Bangalore, you will first reach Ramanagaram which is a hub for trekkers and rock climbers. Even if none of this appeals to you, do stop by simply because this is the famous 'Ramgarh' from the Hindi blockbuster, Sholay. Visit the haunt of Gabbar Singh and Jai-Veeru.
Pic Credit: Native Planet
Channapatna
Next on your route, play around with the famous wooden toys from Channapatna, which trace their origins to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train local artisans in the making of wooden toys. The toys have the distinction of having a Geographical Indication (GI).
Pic credit: Wiki Commons
Maddur
Home to the famous Maddur vada, stop here for a delicious breakfast of Vadas or yummy dosas with Kaapi! After this you will reach the agricultural district of Mandya where you can stop at Srirangapatna, one time capital of Tipu Sultan and one of the most important Vaishnavite centres of South India.
Pic credit: Wiki Commons
Srirangapatna
The town derives its name from the celebrated 9th century, Ranganatha Swamy temple that dominates the town. Admire the architectural finesse of the Hoysala and the Vijayanagara styles of architecture and also look at the 17th century constructions of Jama Masjid and Darya Daulat bagh, Tipu's Summer Palace.
Pic credit: Wiki Commons
Golden Monastery, Bylekuppe
As you head towards Kushal nagar, you can visit Bylekuppe, one of the many Tibetan settlements in India, this place is famous for the Namdroling Monastery, the largest Nyingmapa teaching centre in the world. The main attraction here is the Golden temple. The complex also has other temples, a nunnery, lodging for monks and souvenir shops.
Pic credit: Ashok666
Nisargadhama
After the religious, it is time for another kind of calm as you reach Nisargadhama. Nisargadhama is an island on the river Cauvery with bamboo groves, an orchidarium, small birds and animals. It is accessible via a rope birdge and is a desired spot for locals and tourists alike. From here, carry on to Madikeri. The route from here till Madikeri is dotted wth coffee and spice plantations. Sit back and enjoy the view!
Pic credit: Viswaprasad Raju
Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary
ROUTE VIA NAGARHOLE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
After crossing Hunsur, if you take a left you can be on the alternate route to Coorg via the Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary. Considered the best kind of habitat for Asiatic elephants, it is closed during mating seasons and certain days of monsoon. If you choose to drive through Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary, plan to reach by sunrise for wildlife sightings. You could choose this route while returning from Madikeri.
Pic credit: native planet
Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary
Pay a visit to the Brahmagiri peak and the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary while cooling at the base of the Iruppu waterfall.
Pic credit: Thejaswi
Kabini Reserve Forest
Also visit the Kabini Reserve forest which has easy access and year round access which makes it one of the best destinations for wildlife in the state.
pic credit: VinothChandar
