Scotland of India The luxury resorts like Paddington
Relaxation, rejuvenation, and rest… These are what come to mind when you picture an idyllic location like Coorg. It has an array of pristineness to offer to every sensibility that one endeavour to derive out of a holiday. The rustling of the rhododendron, the gurgling of its streams, the chirping of the birds and the quietness of its hills & vales is what makes this place enchanting and picturesque.
Coorg or Kodagu lies in the western ghats, 265 km southwest of Bangalore and is also known by various names, like, the coffee capital of India and the Scotland of the east. It is spread over 4102 sq. Kms and is a mix of plantations, hills, valleys and forests. It is a location that caters to the tastes of every traveller. Be it, a quiet romantic getaway, an energetic fun-filled adventure or a religious, cultural and traditional circuit, Coorg will take you through the entire gamut of experiences one can get out of a holiday.
Cauvery, the lifeline of Karnataka has its genesis at talakaveri on Brahmagiri and appears like a divine goddess at Bhagamandala. Its stream of tributaries that form a web of rivulets is what breathes life into Coorg, making it a living, pulsating organism. Madikeri is the main town in the Coorg district and is a trekker’s paradise. Coffee and pepper plantations dot the entire hills in the area. It offers myriad options of stays like luxurious resorts, traditional luxury hotels and homestays, in the midst of these plantations. The best time to visit Madikeri is between October and May, though the rainy season would offer the best for the romantic in you. Waterfalls, deep ravines, paddy fields, slopping glades, grassy downs, coffee bushes studded with red berries, pepper, cardamom, oranges, nutmeg, turmeric and lemongrass; these are what embellish the landscape of Madikeri. No wonder, it goes by the epithet, “Scotland of the East”.
The stay options at Madikeri cater to all levels and types of holidaymakers and travellers… The luxury resorts like Paddington or Rainforest retreat, the upscale hotels like Coorg International or the homestays like Hilly side estate. All these offer various activities to its residents like trekking, cycling, indoor games, plantation walks and other adventure sports. Homestays have obvious limitations on the kind of cuisine they offer, but the luxury resorts offer multi-cuisine food amenable to all kinds of palates like South Indian, Mughlai, Continental, Chinese and the traditional Kodagu food. To the discerning traveller who doesn’t want to miss out on his daily routine, these resorts also offer facilities like sauna, spa, gym, yoga etc.
The places to see in and around Madikeri are the Madikeri fort, Raja’s Seat, Abbey falls, Omkareshwara Temple, Bhagamandala and Dubare. All these places are steeped in history and are a must-visit if you are an avid traveller. The 250-year-old Madikeri fort carries within its walls a rich culture and history and has remained a mute spectator to various conquerors bestowing upon tourists stories of its transformation from a mud structure to the current stone structure. Raja’s seat, a kilometre from the bus stand was a traditional viewpoint of sunrises and sunsets by the Kodagu royalty. It is a must-visit, owing to its remarkable panoramic views of emerald valleys, parrot green paddy fields and grey-blue crags of the ghats. Abbi in Kodava means falls. This beautiful waterfall is a mere five kilometres from Madikeri inside a private coffee plantation. The bluish-green water, the roar of the falls and gush of the stream as it slides away brings a soothing effect to one’s mind, sense and sensibilities. The Omkareshwara temple was built by the Kodagu king Lingaraja in 1820. The temple has a remarkable mosque like the style with a central dome and four minarets surrounded by basavas or sacred bulls. It is an interesting mix of architectural styles for a Hindu temple. What adds to the serenity of the temple is a large fish pond at the entrance. Bhagamandala is a temple town at the confluence of the Cauvery with the kannike and the invisible sujyothi rivers and is called the Triveni Sangama. Three important temples here are dedicated to Bhagamandaleswara, Subramanya and Vishnu. The temples are built in karavali style and are lit with thousands of oil lamps during Sankramana in October-November. Dubare is a reserve forest well known for its elephant training camp. This camp is sandwiched between the south bank of Cauvery and the reserve forest and is a lovely place to watch elephants being fed, bathed and trained to go on wildlife safaris.
From adrenaline-pumping natural adventures to soul refining feel of mother earth, secluded and serene, come enjoy yourself in the heart of Madikeri with a calm and comfortable stay.
