Coorg Hotels

Madikeri Fort

Madikeri is the district headquarters of Coorg. Found by Prince Mudduraja of the Haleri Dynasty in the 19th century, this taluka is a picturesque treat to any lover of natural beauty. It was later named after him as Mudduranjankeri, which in course of time got abbreviated to Madikeri or Mercara by the British. A Fort has been built in this Taluka which has also incurred the name of Mercara Fort.
Renovations in the fort have been brought about by Tipu Sultan. He had rebuilt the entire structure of mud and had concretized it with a stone monument. The basic plan of the fort resembles “an irregular hexagon”, coinciding with the structure of the hill on which it is built. The Fort encases within it a temple of Lord Ganesha, a Chapel a district prison and a local museum within it. With a distinct air of the old world elegance and an architectural splendor, the Mercara Fort is a must see spot for the connoisseurs of art.

Raja’s Seat

Ever wondered how the kings must have enjoyed the sunsets and the sunrises? Well, Coorg offers you an opportunity to get a feel of those exotic evenings that the royals used to relish everyday. Raja’s Seat is such a place where the erstwhile Rajas of this site used to come just to savor the last dregs of the enchanting hue that the sun going down the western horizon would emit.
Set amidst a lovely green garden, this is a small pavilion that offers a fantastic view of the valley and the Western Ghats. The sight of the narrow meandering road that makes its way up the hill and the small cars that slowly crawl their way up the rocky terrain towards Mangalore makes the audience of a sunset from this place a never to be forgotten experience.
A small toy train, named Baba Saheb Express that runs along the place provides exciting joyrides to children. A musical fountain has also been arranged next to the site, thus adding a different dimension to the beauty of the place.

Omkareshwara Temple

The Omkareshwara Temple in Coorg is a classical example of a melting pot of Hindu and Muslim Architectural patterns. Built in 1820 A.D., by Lingaraja II, bears a distinct mark of the Mumamadan School of architecture.
The legend behind the temple is that the king had wrongfully tortured a poor Brahmin to death. Consequently he had built this temple to pacify the restless spirit of the Brahmin. The history of the temple has been inscribed by the king himself in a copper plate that hangs beside the main shrine today. The principle deities of the temple are Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

Abbey Falls

The Abbey Falls located about 8 km from the District Headquarters of Madikeri, marks the famous Cauvery River of Karnataka, plunging from a height of about 70 feet into a rockface. This falls is located amidst valleys of private Cardamom and Coffee plantations, adding a different dimension to the beauty and charm of the place.
The Abbey Falls also opens up lucrative opportunities for the lovers of adventure sports, particularly the trekkers who can trek down a distance of about 500 km down the hill to reach the place.
The unparallel beauty of this place has made it the venue of a number of Kannad Film Shoots. Hence it also is a paradise for the photography enthusiasts.

TalaCauvery

TalaCauvery, located about 30 km from Madikeri on the slopes of Bhagamandala, is one of the most auspicious spots for the people of Karnataka. This is because this marks the inception of the River Cauvery that is worshipped by them as a Mother. Every year, on the Tula Sankaramana(17th October) a spring of water spouts out at a particular and foretold moment. This later trickles down and takes the form of the mammoth river of Cauvery.
The TalaCauvery observes an unimaginable herd of devotees on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. It is believed that a bath in the spring on that day absolves one of all the sins.
Talakavri sports a curious Shivlinga and a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Legend has it that this is the place where the Trimurtis, i.e. Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu had blessed the Sage Agasthya by a Aahwantha tree. TalaCauvery is also known for being the site where the seven ageless sages or the Saptarshis had performed a pious Yagna. So, if you are religiously inclined and wish to relish natural beauty at the same time, make it a point to give TalaCauvery a peek.

Nagarhole National Park/ Rajiv Gandhi National Park

Located about 77 km from Madikeri, on the banks of the river Kabini, this charming Park covers a sprawling area of about 284 square kilometers. The jungle of this famous national Park is home to diverse and an enviable collection of flora and Fauna.
Rosewood, teak, sandal and silver oak are only a few among a plethora of amazing and rare plants that form the rich floral collection of this national park. The key Fauna includes elephant, tiger, panther, gaur, deer, wild dogs, langur and reptiles like King Cobra.
Jungle safaris on Elephant backs can be undertaken to relish the various sights and sounds of nature, at its wildest best. The Hebella elephant camp is a must visit site.

Cauvery Nisargadhama

Located about 3 km from Kushalanagar and on the way towards Madikeri lies the Cauvery Nisargadhama. The spot is a must see spot for the tourists because this is the precise place from where River Cauvery splits to form an enchanting island of about 65 acres.
Blooming with verdant hinterland and a canopy of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees this little island almost resembles a child’s imagination of a dream holiday destination in the lap of Mother Nature. The tiny little lovely cottages by the riverside add a different dimension to the beauty of the place.

Bhagamandla

Located about 33 km from the taluka of Madikeri, this place of Bhagamandala is the testimony to the confluence of the three rivers of Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyothi. It is also home to the famous and sacred Bhandeshwara temple.

Bylekuppe

Placed about 40 km from Madikeri, Bylekuppe is perhaps the only Tibetan settlement in South India. This place is notes for its carpet factories, incense factories, Monasteries and handicrafts.

Iruppu Falls

Like many other places in Karnataka, the Iruppu Falls has a legend associated with it. It is said that Rama had become thirsty in his search of his wife Sita, and had asked his bother Lakshman to find water for him. The latter had randomly shot an arrow in the Brahmagiri and had thus given rise to the Iruppu Falls that forms the Lakshman-tirtha River downhill.
Located in South Kodagu in the Brahmagiri Peak, the Iruppu Falls form a neighbor to the Nagarahole National Park. It is a sight to behold for all the lovers and admirers of nature particularly because water is seen to cascade down the hill from a height of 170 feet.
The occasion of Mahashivratri observes a remarkable congregation of devotees in the Rameshwara Temple situated near the Iruppu Falls. This is because it is believed that the Iruppu has got holy powers that can purge all the sins incurred by an individual.
The beauty of the falls along with the lush green surrounding amidst which it is set, gives rise to a magical aura around the falls, making it a must see for all tourists to Coorg.