Madikeri Tourism

Rich coffee plantations and a breath of chill, fresh air along the hilly terrains is Madikeri, the capital of Kodagu(Coorg). Also referred to as the Scotland of India, Madikeri is about 120 kms from Mysore and is a visual treat to the eyes. It is the perfect place to go trekking, camping, exploring and stumbling across more of the beauty of nature. Coorg is famous for cardamom, black and mainly the rich coffee plantations so if you are looking to purchase any of these, Coorg, also known to be the ‘Hidden Jewel of South India’, is the place for you. Coorg is the ‘Coffee Bowl’ of the country as it accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country’s total coffee production.

Kodava is the language spoken chiefly in Coorg. ‘Puthari” or Hutri is one of the three main festivals of the people, apart from “Cauvery Sankramana” and “Kail Kailpodh”. As far as food is concerned, irrespective of being a vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you have a range of dishes to feast on but you must not miss out on the authentic Kodava cuisine. Also, do not miss out on the captivating beauty of places like Abbey Falls, Golden Temple Monastery, Raja’s Seat, the famous Madikeri fort, trek to Brahmagiri hills to name a few. Make sure you have planned a long trip and you don’t leave without having covered the beautiful hill station.

There is always something very refreshing about the place and how it gives you the peace you’ve been waiting to enjoy on a weekend getaway. If you are looking to enjoy a stress-free, pollution free short or long vacation/holiday, it’s time you visited this place and you will most definitely want to visit the place again.

Raja’s Seat
This fascinating location is the most suggested location to visit for tourists given how it is surrounded by bright, colorful flowers around the seating place which is called as the Raja’s Seat. It was named so because this place was considered a romantic spot for King’s back then where they would spend some romantic time with their partners.The flowers that grow around here are seasonal and the ideal time to visit this picturesque place would be between the months of October to March.

The Golden Temple
The Buddhist Golden Temple, also known as the Namdroling Monastery is home to thousands of monks. This place is widely known to be one of the largest centers for Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingmapa-sect under Tibetan Buddhism) in South India.
The name Golden Temple comes from the paintings and carvings of the temple that are all in the color of gold, hence the name. The temple has three statues of namely, Buddha, Padmasambhava and Amitayus and each statue is measured to be 40 feet in height.

The walls of the temple have been decorated with elaborate paintings that portray the characters, gods and demons related to the Tibetan Mythology. The altar inside the temple is beautifully decorated with flowers, candles and incense sticks. Customarily, incense sticks are used to pay respects and worship to the god’s after which you can sit on the carpets spread out within the monastery to meditate and breathe in peaceful air of spirituality circling within the temple.

Abbey Falls
One of the most famous and captivating tourist locations within nature is Abbey Falls. The Falls is surrounded by coffee plantations and estates. The right time to visit this 70 feet high waterfall would be between the months of July and October, that is, during the Monsoon season and witness nature at its best.

Omkareshwara Temple
The Omkareshwara temple was built in devotion to Lord Shiva. The temple sees a large number of devotees and tourists visit the temple to seek some peace and enlightenment. The temple has the statue of Shivalingam placed at the entrance of the temple and a water tank is also built particularly for fishes. This is a famous location for pilgrimages and ceremonies.

Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important bird sanctuaries as it houses some of the endangered species of birds. The sanctuary that was established in 1987 has been recommended as a World Heritage Site. The sanctuary is surrounded by Kukke Subramanya Forest and Bisle Reserve Forest on either of it’s sides and is encompasses many mountains, perennial streams, mountains, waterfalls and dense forests. Pushapgiri is known to be the highest peak within the sanctuary and is home to some exotic and rare species of flora and fauna.