Coffee heartland. Spice plantations can be found as well.
Coorgi non-veg food especially Coorgi pork (slurp!!), home-made wines, history (warrior history…, 2 Indian army generals), traditions (weddings…), pretty women…
Day 1:
Bangalore-Mysore-
On road: Volvo bus; every 20 mins. Approx Rs.160/- per head. 2.5-3 hours.
Mysore-Coorg-
Taxi: Indica non-AC. Rs.1000/- (Think cheaper deals should be possible). 3.5 hours.
Night stay-
Forest cottage inside Nisargadhama. Very good. Can accommodate 4-5 people. All equipped with an awesome lookout. (I stayed in “Lopamudra” cottage)
Note: Liquor and smoking prohibited by law.
Recreation-
Kannada folk program@”Virbhoomi”. Auto charge for round-trip with wait: Rs. 150/-
Dinner-
Good veg food@Atithi restaurant
Day 2:
Sight-seeing-
Omni taxi: 1350 full day. Language a BIG problem with the driver. Arranged by the Nisargadhama employee.
Nisargdhama: Natural bamboo forest + Deer park etc.
Bylakuppe: One of the largest Tibetan settlements. Huge and a beautiful monastery inside. Must-see in detail
Harangi Dam: Started raining heavily so could not see it.
Headed to Madikeri. Had to search for an acco first. Driver useless in knowing anything about Coorg.
Beware of auto drivers in Madikeri. Big cons. Will try to rip you off at the slightest chance. Give ‘em exact change. Fix stringently on the charge before boarding.
Acco-
We reach a home-stay that I had found over the web.
Mrs. Rena Chengappa (w/o Dr. Anil Chengappa)
“Glen Home”
Pension Lane,
Madikeri
Ph. No. 08272-225652
Highly recommended. Good house and room. One room that can accommodate 3-4 people. Breakfast served. Very helpful and nice family. Charge – Rs. 1000/- per night.
Dinner-
Awesome home-cooked corgi food at “Coorgi Cuisinette”. Highly recommended.
Day 3:
Taxi-
Our host family arranged a taxi for us.
Damodhara
Cell: 94481060662
Landline: 0872-223722
Very nice and helpful driver and guide combined. Has immense local knowledge. Full day taxi costs Rs. 1300/- and a half-day (6 hours) taxi costs Rs. 850/-
Sight-seeing-
Abbi falls: Good falls inside an estate. Watch/chill/pose while standing on a hanging bridge. Must-do
Royal tombs: Tombs of local Kodava kings. How a mere man creates a legacy…Nice vantage point overlooking the town
Raja’s seat: Nice view-point to look at the sprawling forest area and paddy fields amidst the hills and mountains. Picturesque point with bright flowers around
Lunch: At Kanika restaurant. Good place right next to Raja’s seat. Good place.
Drive to Somwarpet: Beautiful drive amidst lush greenery and sprawling estates. Good road so no bumpy drive. Around 40kms from Madikeri. Must-do
Harangi Dam: Huge dam over Harangi river. Long walk to the dam. Beautiful view from atop the dam across the reservoir and the forests and mountains beyond. Security risk perceived so no cameras and not much movement allowed on the dam
Dubare forests: Elephant training camp. Took a boat-ride over the swelling Cauvery river to reach the camp, saw and photographed the elephants being fed. Checked out the new “Jungle Lodges & Resorts” camp.
Drive through coffee estates: Evening drive through estates
Dinner-
Hotel East-end. Good food. Though the looks and ambience are total pre-1940s.
Day 4:
Return journey commences.
Coorg-Mysore-
Bus: Rajahama KSTRC bus@9am. Rs. 83/- per head. Back-breaking ride. Carry 2 pillows!! 3.5 hours
Mysore-Bangalore-
Shatabadi express: 1420hours. Everyday except Tuesday. Fare- Rs.275/- per head. Munchies served on-board. 2 hours
