A trip to Coorg from Mysore! Isn’t it amazing to hear that? Yes, it is super thrilling. I had recently been on a Mysore-Coorg road trip with my friends and guess what? It turned out to be one of my all-time favorite journeys. Since I was traveling with my friends, we made certain that no detail was overlooked and that all was in order. Road trips are always amazing that too with friends, no doubt it was incredible.
Here, I will share some of the places we got to explore on our way to Coorg. But before that, let me give a detailed view of traveling from Mysore to Coorg.
A road trip from Mysore to Coorg was undeniably beautiful. This marvellous Scotland of India is located at 1525 meters above sea level on the picturesque Western Ghats. Coorg offers excellent weather, gorgeous views, and acres of coffee plantations. Coorg has a variety of excursions to fit the whims of adventurers.
On the other hand, Mysore is known for its majestic monuments, exquisite sculptures, sacred temples, and palaces. Mysore is also known for its lush gardens and scenic mountains, in addition to its art treasures.
When is the Best Time to go?
Coorg is a great place to visit all year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations, particularly for nature lovers. The lush greenery and panoramic views of Coorg come alive during the monsoon season. Coorg receives a lot of rain from June to September.
Even so, it has its own appeal. Coorg is best visited between October and Jan when there are many opportunities for outdoor activities and sightseeing. The destination’s picturesque appeal is at its peak in March and April.
Distance from Mysore
The gap between Mysore and Coorg is about 120 kilometres and takes about 2.5 hours to travel. Coorg is in Karnataka’s southwest corner, on the Kerala frontier. I was astounded by its elegance because I had never expected it to be so stunning.
How to get there?
Coorg is easily accessible by car, bike, or bus. As beautiful as Coorg and its surroundings are, traveling to Coorg via its scenic routes is an enjoyable part of the journey.
The roads are generally smooth and well-maintained, which is why most visitors choose to travel by car or taxi. Yet, private and government buses (KSRTC) run frequently from Mysore and Coorg at affordable rates. The distance between Mysore and Coorg is 120 kilometers (2 hours and 45 minutes), but depending on which route you take, it could take up to 3-4 hours.
Places we Explored on our Journey to Coorg
I suggest that you spend at least a couple of days in this sort of paradise. Since it was a road trip the places were so far from each other, we made sure to explore every bit of it on the way.
It was a trip of 3 days. Along the way, we explored several places which left us mesmerized. Let me give a beautiful picture of those places that you can also travel on your way to Coorg. Since we took up the Kushalnagara route these were some of the Popular places we got to explore on our way to Coorg
1. Bhagamandala Temple
The Bhagandeshwara Temple is located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, in the town of Bhagamandala.
The confluence of three rivers, Kanike, Cauvery, and Sujyothi, that are spiritually uplifting makes the temple a popular tourist destination. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built in the Kerala style of architecture. It is a must-see place for its sacred appeal.
Cauvery Nisargadhama, Dubare, Chinnathappa temple, and Talacauvery are some of the places and temples to visit along with the Bhagamandala temple.
Trekking is another activity available in the village. Mt. Thavoor is a mountain peak that overlooks Bhagamandala and provides an excellent trekking path with a stunning view of the Shola.
2. Coffee Plantations
After the temple tour we headed to view the beautiful Madikeri coffee plantations and estates lining the Kushalnagara road. Our road from Mysore took us past Ramanagaram’s boulder-like hillocks.
The town’s claim to fame is that these hills were used to film the blockbuster Sholay. Hillocks that might have been Gabbar and his men’s den soon gave way to riverbanks, and as we approached Coorg, the outside view was mostly of rain-soaked bamboo trees.
Since Bylakuppe, India’s second-largest Tibetan settlement, is right next door, Kushalnagara was buzzing with activity.
The roads seemed to be dividing lines between the coffee plantations. The temperature had dropped dramatically. The evening mist had settled on the treetops when we arrived at our destination.
As we got closer to Kirudale and the planters camp, which was unabashedly breath-taking, we were awestruck. We got to walk through the jungle, up to natural steps, over a bridge that looked like a ladder, and down small walkways and paths.
3. Abbey Falls
We travelled to abbey falls, also known as Abbi Falls, after experiencing the scenic beauty of coffee plantations, a beautiful waterfall located in the Western Ghats of Coorg. The falls are nestled among lush landscapes and coffee plantations, about 8 kilometres from Madikeri Bus Station. Abbey Falls is surrounded by lush vegetation and vast coffee plantations. Although getting to Abbey Falls takes a bit of a walk, the route is well-marked and requires no professional assistance.
Another thing to remember while visiting Abbey Falls is that the lush green woods appear beautiful on the outside, but they are home to some dangerous wildlife. I am not talking about flesh-eating tigers here. The region does, however, have a high concentration of leeches. You can become a victim if adequate precautions are not taken.
However, the best time to visit Abbey Falls is right after the monsoon season has passed through Karnataka state. Visitors can see the waterfall from a height of 21 meters. Although the falls are open to visitors all year, visiting at other times may leave you disappointed because the falls have little water flowing through them during the rest of the year due to lower water levels.
The falls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
4. Dubare Elephant Camp
The desire to discover new things was contagious among us. Around 14 kilometres from Kushalnagara, we arrived at Dubare elephant camp, a refreshing spot. One can enjoy activities like elephant swimming, jeep safaris, and river rafting here. The Dubare Elephant Camp near Coorg allows tourists to get up close and personal with elephants.
The camp offers a wide range of activities to keep you occupied and engaged during your stay. The camp’s raw natural atmosphere is perfect for forming friendships with elephants.
During their stay at the camp, visitors can give scrub baths to elephants and receive a leaflet with fascinating details about elephants. In addition to feeding and bathing elephants, visitors can watch them being trained by seasoned mahouts.
At the camp, you can also go river rafting.
Timings-9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (As elephants are usually only appeared at this time.)
5. Namdroling Tibetan Monastery
We moved to this monastery in Bylakuppe, which has a nunnery, souvenir shops, and a magnificent Golden Temple that was relaxing and refreshing after enjoying a variety of activities at Dubare.
Bylakuppe has several monasteries to visit. Namdroling Monastery, also known as the Golden Temple in the region, is the most well-known.
If you’re willing to go a little farther off the beaten road, the nearby Tashi Lhunpo Monastery is equally stunning and much quieter. It’s a long journey to get to Bylakuppe. You must first travel to Kushalnagara, a sleepy town about 6 kilometres from Bylakuppe. While in Bylakuppe, eat some delicious Tibetan food like thukpa (noodle soup) and momos (dumplings).
If you walk out of Namdroling and straight down the road for 5-10 minutes, you’ll find a plethora of small, inexpensive Tibetan restaurants. Of course, look for the ones with the most monks inside. You can have a different experience here.
6. Nisargadhama Forest
After a relaxing visit to the temple, we arrived at my favorite place. The place is situated in Gonikoppal on the way to Coorg, the forest is called Nisargadhama. Even if you’re taking the Kushalnagara road, you can stop by here.
Tourists will enjoy a picnic here because of the scenic beauty. A rope bridge of 90 meters links you to an island with cottages and watchtowers. Nisargadhama is a beautiful island off the state highway, a few kilometres from Kushalnagara, that can be reached by walking across a hanging bridge and is surrounded by the Cauvery river.
The lush vegetation of dense bamboo groves adds to the beauty. Some of the attractions include elephant rides, zip-lining, boating, a deer park, and a children’s park.
The hours of operation for Kaveri Nisargadhama Forest Park are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every day of the week, it is available.
Closure
These are some of the best places we got to explore from Mysore to Coorg. These places will provide you with plenty of excitement, adventure, harmony, and, most importantly, pure joy! Without further ado, you should begin preparing for these trips. In the end, it was a beautiful and dramatic journey. Without our vehicle, we would not have been able to visit so many locations. So, schedule your trip ahead of time to ensure you do not miss out on these must-see destinations. I hope the above information on the Mysore-Coorg Road Trip was useful.
