Places To Visit In Coorg

1.Madikeri Fort:
This 19th century fort, in the center of Madikeri, houses a temple, a chapel, prison and a small museum. The fort offers a beautiful view of Madikeri.


2.Omkareshwara Temple:

Omkareshwara temple was built by Lingarajendra in 1820. It is deidcated to Lord Shiva, it is located in Madikeri town. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. There is a tank in front of the temple with tons of fishes in it and a footpath leading to a small Mantap. The temple has four minarets around it and a dome in the center (similar to a Muslim Masjid).

History says Lingarajendra killed an honest and pious Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions and there is another story which tells he desired a brahmin girl (apparently as a daughter-in-law though some accounts suggest he wanted to marry her). However her father, a poor brahmin man, refused to give his daughter away in marriage, and Linga Raja was furious because he refused and got the brahmin killed.

On killing the brahmin he acquired the brahma hatya dosha and began to get nightmares,like  falling off the throne. Then he was advised to build a temple to get rid of his dosha.That Brahmin became a "Brahmarakshasa"and started troubling the king. The king got rid of him only when he brought a Shivalinga from Kashi and installed it after building a temple. The Shivalinga was named as "Omkareshwara" and regular rituals were performed.

The Shivalinga now worshipped in the temple has its origins in Kashi. Among the many Shivalingas in Kashi five are considered the most sacred, and Omkareshwara is one of them.

The bars of the windows of the temple were made of Panchaloha and an alphabet lim has been placed in between the bars. Praying to Omkareshwara is thus believed to get rid the sinner of the tormenting ‘Brahmarakshasa’.

3.Talakaveri / Talacauvery:

River Kaveri which is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures, originated at a place is called Talakaveri (head of Cauvery) in the Brahmagiri hills, at about 4,500 ft above sea level. This place is marked by a tirtha kundike or Brahma kundike (small spring/pond) from where the river emerges as a small perennial spring, but flows underground again to emerge a short distance away. It is about 48 kms from Madikeri.

There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees baths before offering prayers. There are 2 temples, a Shiva temple and with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga, and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave darshan to sage Agastya.

Legends also has it that every year on Tulasankramana day (approximately on 17 October) Goddess Parvati appears in the Kundike as the sacred teerthodbhava. This occasion is marked by the sudden unsurge of water in the kundike and is considered very auspicious

From Talakaveri, steps lead up to the nearby Brahmagri peak, where the 7 great sages called the Sapta Maharishis had performed a special yagna. From the peak, as well as on the drive to Talakaveri, tourists can enjoy a good view of the misty blue Brahmagiri hills.

4.Nagarahole/ Rajiv Gandhi National Park:

Nagarhole National Park also known as 'Rajiv Gandhi NationalPark,' is located 94 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore Districts. Located to the northwest of BandipurNational Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. There were exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore, the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. Its area stretched to 575 km².

In Kannada, Naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams, rightfully means the place with snake. Set up in 1955, it is one of the best-managed parks in the country, with the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests situated in Hunsur, about 47 km away from Nagarhole. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park boasts a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison, and elephant are much more populous here than in Bandipur.

The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nagarhole, in the Coffee land of Coorg was declared a National park in 1974. It has recently been renamed 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park.' Gentle slopes and shallow valleys surround it on all sides. You find a variety of trees and shrubs often making it a sanctuary for illegal timber traders. Huge herds of Asian Elephants flock here together and it is blessed with wildlife abundance Among reptiles, the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, rock python and several other species can be found. Aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads and tree frogs and a myriad insects, including some very colourful butterflies, adorn this lovely southern jungle of India.

To the south-east lies the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary while to the west, coffee plantations separate the park from Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. This entire stretch is one of the finest remaining habitats of the Asian Elephant. Huge herds hang about in Nagarhole, and it’s said that summer is the best time to see them. It is held that Nagarhole is worth visiting in the dry season, when wild animals are spotted in large numbers near the water bodies but don’t bet your money on it. Successive dry spells have shrivelled the water sources so much that the animals feel content lying in the shade, away from view.

Then, as the pre-monsoon showers bring the forest alive with streams, the resident birds start their breeding activities and the air resounds with melodious calls. Sprouting grass in the meadows and view lines attract elephants and gaur in large numbers. As rains intensify, the river resuscitates and the grandeur of Nagarhole slowly begins to unfold.