Etymology
and History
The name Kodagu was changed or rather
derived from Kodavu. The people who lived here were called Kodavas and they are
known to be the first people to cultivate land here. They belonged to the
warrior community and had their own chieftains. The area in the erstwhile days
was ruled by the Haleri dynasty and later by the British till 1947. Coorg was
initially a state but was merged into Mysore in the year 1956.
Location
It is located on the eastern slopes
of the Western Ghats and shares its border with the Kannur and Wayanad district
of Kerala. The district is a hill station with an elevation of 3000 feet above
sea level. The highest elevation of this place is 5740 feet which is of the
Tadiandamol peak.
Tourist
Attractions in and Around
In Coorg Tourism opened up for the
common people only after India gained
independence and since then it sees a high influx of tourists local and
foreigners alike. The tourist destinations that these travellers usually come
to explore are:
Madikeri- this ancient town was
founded in 1681 by a prince known as Muddu raja of the Haleri dynasty.
This
particular town within itself holds some of the most interesting attractions
such as the Omkareshwara temple- a temple built by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II to
appease the spirit of a pious Brahmin he unjustly put to death, the Madikeri
fort- rebuilt by Tipu Sultan which also houses an Anglican church that has been
converted to a museum, the Madikeri palace- a palace built by Lingarajendra
Wodeyar II, Gaddige which is the tomb of the royal family and the Raja’s seat-
place from where kings watched sunsets.
Virajpet- this particular place is
located at a distance of about 32 kms from Madikeri and is situated at the foot
of the hill. The clock tower that was built in the year 1914 to commemorate the
Delhi Durbar of King George the V and the St. Anne’s Church are places that you
should definitely visit when here.
Kushalanagar- Bylekuppe is one of the
most visited places here. This particular place is one of the largest Tibetan
settlements in southern India and is home to the “Golden Temple”. Cauvery
Nisargdhama is also a very popular holiday destination here. This island on the
Cauvery River is located at a distance of 28 kms from Madikeri and should not
be missed out on.
Irupu falls- this particular
destination is a pilgrimage spot as well as a picnic spot. Trekking is a great
activity to indulge in when here as the forest trail from Irupu falls leads you
to the summit of Brahmagiri peak.
Accommodations
and Eateries
There are plenty of hotels to choose
from when you arrive at Coorg. However some of the best known ones are Club
Mahindra in Madikeri, Heritage resort, Hotel Hill view, Hotel Green Haven Hotel
Chitra etc.
Coorg is widely known for its cuisine
and therefore restaurants to dine in here are great. Some of the finest
restaurants here are Raintree, Taste of Coorg, Shanthi Bites, Coffee Cup, East
End hotel Silver Oaks, and Coorg Cuisine etc.
Getting In
The nearest airport is that of
Mangalore which is located at a distance of 135kms while the nearest railway
station is that of Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. These railway stations are
approximately at the same distance from Coorg i.e. around 146 kms. If you are
travelling via road you can take two routes to reach your destination, one via
Mysore and the other via Neelamangal. Both routes have an approximate distance
of 250-260 kms.
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