Main Info
“The Scotland of India”
Coorg Tourism
Tucked in the mountainous terrain of Karnataka, Coorg is an amazing natural hotspot for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. This is one of the popular hill stations which is also known for coffee plantations. People get enchanted by its beauty and flock this place to have a pleasant experience by spending some good time in the green hills and under beautiful waterfalls. People living here are known for their hospitality and rich culture, which experience once you are there. A local community known as Kodavas are well known for their martial arts, for their friendly and hospitable nature.
The official name of Coorg is Kodagu, thus the people living here known as Kodavas and it is one of the most preferred hill stations in Karnataka. As you might have already guessed it, this place is a real heaven for people who haven’t gone anywhere except cities. The coffee plantation, spice gardens and evergreen forest accentuate the beauty. You can get access to most parts of Coorg from its centre point known as Madikeri. When you visit Coorg, put these places in your must-visit list: Kushalnagar, Pollibetta, Virajpet, Somwarpet, and Gonikoppal .
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Kodava Culture
As mentioned above, you will be impressed by the friendly and hospitable attitude of the Kodavas . This place is different from other places or hill stations due to its people and culture, which is an added attraction. We all think that marriages are only conducted by the pandit or priest, but Kodava marriage is conducted by the two elders of both the families. The place reverberates by the sound of musical instruments, and people start dancing to the rhythm. You will not find the concept of “Kanyadan” in Kodava marriage as you see in Hindu marriages. Attending a Kodava marriage is an experience, which is new and interesting.
The dressing style of Kodavas is also different . The Kodava women drape their Saree quite differently than the usual draping. If you haven’t tried this type of draping, you need to try it out when you are in Coorg. The Kodavas community is very friendly with nature and animals which can be witnessed by many festive occasions celebrated throughout the year. The most popular festive occasions are a harvesting festival called Puthari , Kail Polud (during paddy transplantation), and Kaveri Sankramana(dedicated to river Kaveri). There is a martial arts race called Keil Podh in which the martial artists show their talent and skills using their weapons.
Scotland of India
When the British reached this city of Karnataka in the 19th century, they got attracted to its natural beauty . Since then, this place is known as the Scotland of India. Once you step here, you will realize yourself. Lying under the canopy of clouds and covered by lush green vegetation, coupled with pleasant weather, this place is like a heaven. Head to Raja’s Seat to get the best view of the natural charisma. Raja’s Seat is a small garden filled with many floral species where you can experience the beauty of the Majestic Western Ghat hill ranges. Another place where you can get similar experience is Mandalpatti from where you can get a chance of trekking in the Western Ghats
Coffee Plantations
If you are thinking of any other identity that defines Coorg the best way, then itis, its widespread coffee plantation. This place is one of the top coffee producers in India. If you want to experience the coffee planting site, then the Tata coffee plantation trail is the place you must visit during your stay. You will get a chance to drink the freshly brewed coffee made directly from the cocoa beans, which would be an amazing experience for people alien to this region. To get the best view of the field and for a refreshing vibe, you can choose to stay in the resort, located right in the centre of the coffee fields. The coffee produced in Coorg is one of the best varieties of mild coffee due to it being cultivated in the shade. Coorg is a suitable place for the cultivation of two different varieties of coffees known as ‘Arabica’ and ‘Robusta’. The altitudes at which these two coffee varieties are grown are at 3,300 feet to 4,900 feet and 1,600 feet to around 3,300 feet respectively from the sea level. And Coorg meets all these requirements for coffee plantation.
Restaurants and Local Food in Coorg
Kodava delicacies are something which one must try. Rice is the staple food of Kodava. However, the rice one finds here is quite different from the one available in other regions. You can feel it by the unique fragrance of the rice, and the rice is named, Sannakki. In non-veg food items, you can try fish, meat and pork-based cuisines.
Apart from that, you can get Roti/Chapati called Akki roti, Pulvas, Dried fish, Pattus, Pork dishes, Baimbale Curry, Chekke curry(a jackfruit based food), and Kumm curry(a wild mushroom curry). You can also get different varieties of Chutneys, and pickles made from fish, pork, mushrooms, bamboo and oranges.
You can choose some famous restaurants nearby where you can have other local cuisines and desserts along with many continental and oriental dishes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Check in the hotel or lodge. Take rest for some time and then leave for short sightseeing after having your breakfast. Go to Raja’s Seat, which is at an altitude of 1500 m where you can have a wonderful view of nature through its vast landscape. You can then go to Abbey, which is another tourist attraction of Coorg.
Day 2: You can pay a visit to the popular Omkareshwar temple where you can see the Jyotirling related to the Hindu God Lord Shiva. It is quite popular among devotees. You can visit the Golden Temple or the Tibetan monasteries.
Day 3: Head for the Cauvery Nisargadhama. It’s a small island in the river Cauvery which is near to Coorg. You can go there by trekking through the adventurous rope bridge.
Day 4: Visit a coffee plantation and spice garden located in the close vicinity.