Coorg

Coorg

Coorg also known as Kodagu is an administrative district in Karnataka bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Kasargod district of Kerala to the west, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. Coorg is rich in natural resources which included timber and spices and is known for its coffee and its people. Madikeri is the headquarters of Coorg .

• Madikeri:

It is a hill station town also known as Mercara, it is the headquarters of the Coorg and a popular tourist destination. The major tourist spots are Raja Seat, Madikeri Fort, Omkareshwara Temple, St. Mark’s Church etc.

• Nagarhole National Park:

It is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is a national park located in Coorg district and this park was declared the thirty seventh Project Tiger tiger reserve in 1999. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, hills, valleys and waterfalls. The park has a healthy predator-prey ratio, with many tigers, Indian bison and elephants.

• Iruppu Waterfalls:

It is also known as Lakshmana Teertha Falls is a fresh water cascade, surrounded by the picturesque views in the border line of Wayanad and is actually located in the Brahmagiri Range of Coorg district of Karnataka and very near to Nagarhole National Park.

It starts off from the Brahmagiri peaks and the falls plunge 170 feet in two different stages. It presents an outstanding view during the monsoons. These falls later become the part of the Lakshmana Teertha River and hence this waterfall is also known as Lakshmana Teertha Falls.

Apart from a tourist spot, it’s a pilgrimage spot too. The Rameshwara Temple, a famous Shiva temple on the banks of Lakshmana Teertha River attracts pilgrims during Shivaratri. It is also believed that this waterfall have supernatural powers to eliminate one’s sins.

• Abbey Falls:

It is in located between private coffee plantations with stocky coffee bushes and spice estates with trees entwined with pepper vines. A hanging bridge constructed just opposite the falls. The rise in tourist arrival over the years has taken a huge toll on the natural beauty of the place and resulted in polluted water that stinks during the summer season and unaccountable amount of plastic littering throughout the estate and the river.

From Madikeri the waterfall is accessible by a well laid road till the coffee estate gate. Thereon, a small hike through the coffee and spices plantations leads to the waterfalls. The roar of the falls can be heard from the road.

• Kaveri Nisargadhama:

It is an island formed by river Kaveri near Kushalnagar. It is a 64-acre with lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge.

There are deer, rabbits, peacocks, and a children’s playground as well as an orchidarium.Visitors are allowed to get into water at a few shallow and safe points along the river. Elephant rides and boating are some of the other attractions. It also has a forest department-run guest house and treetop bamboo cottages.