Coorg- Weekend Getaway.
2020 was the year when people around the world stopped. They stopped wearing watches. Because you have nowhere to go. Being a traveller seating at home was not an easy task for me. It was frustrating. I mean you can't go anywhere. Yes, I am talking about Feb-June ’20. The most difficult time of mankind in this 20th century.
I was in Bangalore for the entire lockdown period. Just keeping myself ready for other things to explore. At times I used to talk to myself. It is all a mind game and I need to win. Cant lose after coming so close. I was like please take me to Bangalore nearby places to visit. But no. everyone was knowing if you want to live healthy for the rest of your life, then STAY AT HOME.
Somehow Lockdown lifted by Indian govt. Things have become normal. I am talking about October- November. I was really bored and wanted to go somewhere but my family didn’t allow me to travel far. They said you can travel but not to another state. So many conditions…. Grrrr.
I have no clue where to go to Karnataka. I knew there are the best places to visit in Karnataka, but where to start?? Should I start with historical places in Karnataka or not? I was in Delima. Then one of my friends asked me to explore Coorg or Madikeri.
Coorg or Madikeri is a small township located in Karnataka. It is just 268 KMS from Bangalore. The best route Bangalore to Madikeri is by Bus. That is all information I got from my friend. The moment I understood that is is just 6 hrs journey from Bangalore that’s it. No looking back. I Opened my calendar and booked dates. This time I wanted to spend Christmas in Coorg.
I booked my bus tickets from Makemytrip. My plan was I will start my journey on 24th Night reaching to Coorg on 25th. and return on 27th. Booked tickets in sleeper class non as which cost me around 550 INR.
Along with this, I have also booked my Hotel from the same platform. I always book my stay near bus stand for so my convenience. This time also did the same. I am all set to explore Coorg.
The Day-On 24th night I went to Bangalore satellite bus station to board my Bus. The timing was 11 PM. The bus was right on time. I boarded and the journey is as smooth as flight. You will not feel that you are actually inside of a bus. It was night 11:30 and I slipped off to the world of Sleep. Woke up when the bus attender was screaming “ Madikeri Madikeri…. Coorg…” Wait a minute I suppose to reach Coorg by 6 and now it is 4 AM. Am I dreaming?? I looked once again close to my watch and yes it is 4 am. Woohoo. Got down from the bus and I was feeling a chilling wind talking to me and trying to get inside my jacket to hug my body. But Thanks to the brand who makes jackets like this.
I opened my google map to locate my hotel. It was showing 8 minutes walk. Just 100 more from the bus stand. I entered the hotel and in reception no one was available. They left a note with a number to be called for check-in. I dialled the number and after a few minutes one chap came down with sleepy eyes. “Welcome sir! Your room is on the 3rd floor. Please follow me”. That’s it. They didn’t ask my id proof or anything as such. I was a bit surprised because I have never seen a hotel who does not want any ID proof. I looked at the watch it was 4:15 AM.
The room was pretty decent I must say, Not great to be charged 3800 INR/day. Anyways That point of time I don’t want to kill my desire to exploring Coorg by these negative thoughts. As soon as I locked the door of my hotel room the first thing I did was took a shower with Smokey hot water, and slept for 2hrs. I was knowing the first day would be hectic as I have to cover the maximum places on the very first day.
DAY-1
I woke up at around 7 AM, got ready and went out with my camera. I was hungry. Thought of having a good coorgie breakfast. Near the bus stand, I saw 3-4 restaurants. Out of which only 1 coorgi restaurant. People here don’t eat non-veg in breakfast may be… dropped the plan of coorgie breakfast. Next to that, there is a Udupi restaurant. Veg. Yes, I know that restaurant. They have the chain in Bangalore as well, no second thought given. Had my all-time favourite idly and vada with a cup of tea. I am all set till 3 PM. I took a bottle of water and came out to hire a sooty. Yes in Coorg to u can rent a bike. There is no uber/ ola service. I was looking here and there then suddenly one auto stopped in front of me and asked “ Shab sightseen Karna hain? Mein karwata hun” I thought for the local tour this tuk-tuk ride is the best. I asked how much? He said 800. Trust me I am very good at bargaining. As soon as he said 800 I knew I will close the deal at a much cheaper price. My quote was 500. I knew that was too less but if he drove away then that was really unrealistic, but he said no it is very less. I got him… Closed the deal in 600 INR. It is a good deal. My first place in Coorg/Madikeri is Abbey Falls. Which is around 20 minutes drive from the bus stand. The road is beautiful. Hilly road. Ups and downs. Enjoyed the ride. After 20 minutes we reached Abbey falls. Pay 10 rupees for parking. I can hear the roar of the falls. There was a gate painted yellow in colour. You need to climb down some 200 odd cement plastered stairs, surrounded by an iron fence. Very neat and well maintained. Sunlight is not visible as it is covered with coffee plants and a lot of hilly trees. Nice place to have some selfies or candid pictures.
Climbing down for about 15 minutes and there it is. The majestic Abbey falls. Looks like fresh milk is falling from the mountain and flowing in a form of the river for the year and after. The place was crowded as many wanted to have photos with the falls in the background. In the year 2016 Coorg was badly affected by the flood. Roads were washed out corps were drowned beneath the water. Footbridges were taken away... There is one hanging bridge on the same compound of the falls which tells the story of how bad the situation was in 2016. Moreover, it is really shocking that the hanging bridge is still not fixed. I have no idea why is that so.
Anyways that was a good place to spend an hr or so. You will not feel like going back from that place, it has a mysteries silence which attracts you. You will feel numb there. Just wanted to look at the falls. As if it is trying to tell you something. After seeing this falls my question is answered. Why Coorg is one of the famous places in Karnataka for tourists. Now it is time to going back. Oh god needs to climb another 200+ stairs. No pain no gain... Thinking of the gain let’s do it.
From Abbey falls my tuk-tuk driver drove us to a place called Raja’s Tomb. Well basically this is the place where Maharaja and his Queen of Coorg was buried. The tomb is very old and surrounded by well-maintained garden. Entry fee is 10 rupees. But not worth going. I hardly spend there 10 minutes as my tuk-tuk driver went for having his breakfast. So no other option left but to stay there for 10 minutes.
To get over the frustration my tuk-tuk driver took a place where I can go over, again and again, Named “Raja Seat” A place from where you can see the entire Coorg town. Best place to watch Sunset and Sunrise. It was 12:15 PM when we reached there. Didn’t like that time but my mind kept on saying come in the evening…entry fee was 20 INR no charges for the camera. I spent there for 30 minutes and promised me I will come back here again to watch the sunset, as I am a late riser. I was not hungry because I had a good breakfast.
Next place Sir? I asked my tuk-tuk driver. He said, kutkodi sir. Sit sir in the Kannada language. He took us to Omkareshwar temple. Shiva temple. There is a pond in front of the temple. Well maintained, Spotted some turtle floating around the pond. Looks like they are the guard of Mahadev. This temple has a custom or a rule perhaps. Females cant enter in jeans and male cant enter with shorts. That is the rule. It was mesmerizing. Must visit this temple. That was the end of our day tour. We headed back towards the hotel. It was lunchtime. And I was very hungry. Tuktuk stopped a nonveg hotel which is 500 meters from my hotel. I had biriyani and kabab. Biriyani was not good at all, so was kabab. Bangalore is much better to place to have biriyani. This is called diversity, same state but different taste. After lunch, I headed back to the hotel to take a power nap. Because the next place is far from the town and ride was no smooth. My tuk-tuk driver told me this. I was not sure why he was saying this to me. Later on, I come to know the reason.
After a power nap, I woke up @4 PM. My cab was waiting in front of my hotel which I have booked on the way to the hotel. A friend of my tuk-tuk driver. I am going to Mandalapatti. The top location of Coorg. Which is around 38 KMS far from the bus stand. When we started by the jeep the road was pretty good but as soon as it enters the hilly road the roadshows the reason for hiring the Jeep. Totally off-road drive, full of mud. Actually, that was not a road at all Jeeps made this road by continues driving. But the 40 minutes bumpy ride is worth when you reach the top. Wait! Let me tell you the jeep will off-board you 7kms far from the location. You need to trek the rest of the off-road on your own. It is tiring no doubt but surely worth of every sweat drop.
Mandalapatti is the highest point of Coorg as I have mentioned earlier. Here the visibility is around 100 meters. The place is filled with the cloud and you really feel moist around you. There is a lighthouse you can climb up to kiss the cloud. A good place to spend an hr or so. People call this place as a suicide point. Locals say many people committed suicide from here. But do not stay there for a longer time and try to get down before it is dawn. Because the road is not good and safe for travellers. On the way to come down from mandalapatti, I have spotted king cobra crossing our road like a King. Staring at us... telling us that we are at his territory. Another 50 minutes drive to my hotel. Paid 1500 to the jeep. Yes, this drive was a bit costly.
I have no strength left in my body. As soon as I reached the hotel I doze off. Because the next day would be more hectic than day 1.
Day 2
Next day I woke up at 6 Am. Today is the last day in Coorg. My first place to visit was Dubbare elephant camp and then the golden temple in Coorg. These two places were very far from the town. I always prefer local transport where ever I go. In Coorg also I tried the bus. After breakfast, I boarded a government bus to reach
dubbare elephant camp. The bus ticket is very cheap. Only 52 rupees. It is an hr journey through the hilly area. I got down to the bus stand which is close by
to the camp. There is no direct bus so I had to hire a tuk-tuk to reach the camp. Tuktuk charged 200 rupees. That is a fixed price. You cant bargain. It is 30 minutes drive and finally reached this camp. Let me tell you this camp looks like you are in Iceland. To reach the camp you need to cross a river by ferry. 80 Rupees charge to and fro. I took the ferry and reached the other side of Iceland. Where I saw Garages are taking bath with their mahouts. Oh my god. Elephants are so huge. It looks very scary when you counter with an elephant from just 5 ft away. There was a kiddo elephant who was trying to throw water on visitors. Very playful. It was very hot and there. Please carry a bottle of water and one cap. Yes both of them are equally important. Easily you will spend 2 hrs there. But make sure you reach there before 10 Am. Because 11 am in the last ferry for the elephant camp….. If you are late then you need to wait till 4:30pm for your next ferry.
My next destination was namedropping monastery Coorg. Which were another 30 minutes tuk-tuk ride. It is massive. Very clean and beautiful. This golden temple Madikeri is another famous place for travellers. You need to take off your shoes to enter the temple. Once you enter you will see three huge Budha statue. Golden in colour. Awesome place. Sit there do meditation. You will feel very calm. Do not miss to have lunch there. Tibet yummy food. Momos, Thukpa, Shaptra and what not.. here you can do a little shopping. Like “Om mani Padme Hum” flag for your bike, Japyantra, Tibetian thanka...
I am done for the day. It is time to go back to my daily life. That night I had my sleeper bus @10:30 pm. I had my dinner and said bye to Coorg.
Coorg is a pace for 2 days. Surely you can visit once in your life. Not a second-time visit place I would say. There is nothing much to do. But surely a good place and very near to Bangalore.
This post first appeared on Best Holiday Destinations In India|Pondicherry, please read the originial post: here
