Madikeri on a misty morning ( Karnataka )

Madikeri:  Madikeri is a hill station town in Karnataka state, India. Also known as Mercara, it is the headquarters of Kodagu district. it is located at a distance of 252 km from Bangalore and is placed at an altitude of 1525 m (5000 ft) above sea level. Madikeri lies in the Western Ghats and is a popular hill station. The nearest cities are Mangalore to the west, and Mysore to the east.

Kodagu:  Kodagu ( Kudak ) also known as Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India.  It occupies  in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.Madikeri (English: Mercara) is the headquarters of the Kodagu. The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. Coorg is famous for its enchanting landscape and its natural bounty. Madikeri is known as the Scotland of India. It is located 260 km from Bangalore , 120 km from Mysore , 110 km from Kannur , 108 km from Thalasseri , 180 km from Kozhikode and 100 km from Wayanadu.




Places to see in Coorg ( Kudak ) and around

Raja Seat: Raja Seat Located at Madeikeri. This spot was a favourite place of recreation for the Rajas and hence was permanently associated with them. the Kodagu Kings spent their evenings in this place. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west.


Madikeri Fort: This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner. There is a famous Lord Ganesha temple  just at the main entrance of the fort.


Omkareshwara Temple: Located at Madeikeri .,Omkareshwara temple was built by king Lingarajendra in 1820. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture, built around a central pool.


Nagarahole National Park : Nagarhole National Park also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers (58 mi) from Mysore in Karnataka . It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.


Iruppu Falls : The Irupu Falls ( Iruppu Falls) are located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, bordering the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is a fresh water cascade and is situated at a distance of 48 km from Virajpet on the highway to Nagarhole. The Falls are also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls.

Abbey Falls: Abbey Falls is in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from Madikeri. During the monsoon season the water flow is very high. During the dry seasons the flow is considerably diminished.

Talacauvery ( Thalakaveri ) : Talacauvery is the birthplace of the river Cauvery and is located at a distance of 44 km from Madikeri.  It is located in the Brahmagiri hill  near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka.

Bhagamandala:  Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu, Karnataka, in India. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches.The temples in this area are built in Kerala style which is also similar to the temples in Nepal. Bhagamandala is located about 33 km from the district headquarters Madikeri and is connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet and nearby places in Kerala. Government and private buses are available on all of these routes.

Tibetan Monastery : Tibetan Monastery in Bylakuppe is the Tibetitan Refugee resettlement, location of "Lugsum Samdupling" (established in 1961) and "Dickyi Larsoe" (established in 1969), in the west of Mysore district. The nearest town is Kushalnagar in Kodagu in the State of Karnataka.  This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 10,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery. Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Bylakuppe. Stepping inside the temple feels like walking into another world. Three beautiful golden Buddha statues each of 40 Feet namely Padmasambhava, Buddha and Amitayus look down at visitors above the altar. The gold-coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are imposing and unique, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans.

Nisargadhama: Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri and is used as a picnic spot near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu in Karnataka. It is approximately 3 km  from Kushalanagara, off the State Highway and 30 km from Madikeri and 95 km from Mysore. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge.

Dubare : Dubare is located near Madikeri in the Kodagu District of Karnataka. Dubare is known for its elephant camp, and is a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. The rafting in river Kaveri is another major attraction in Dubare. There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides,and fishing. these activities are hosted by Jungle Lodges and resorts. The Forest Department also conducts some treks along well-defined routes.

Harangi Dam: Harangi Reservoir is located near Hudgur village, in Kodagu district  of Karnataka.The reservoir is formed by a masonry dam built across Harangi River, a tributary of Kaveri River. The dam is located about 9 km away from Kushalnagar town. 

Chiklihole dam: Chiklihole reservoir in Coorg is located in between Madikeri and Kushalnagar and is around 15 kms from Kushalnagar.