Coorg Travels

Coorg Cuisine

Bliss on a plate

Kodava culture and history have both greatly influenced their food habits. Food is an integral part of the Kodava culture and it is not taken lightly. The daily meal of a Kodava family is simple fare. The people of Coorg have been agriculturists from time immemorial. Their main occupation was paddy cultivation for a long time before coffee, spices and fruits were introduced.

So rice forms a major part of Coorg cuisine. They loved hunting game for sport and food and foraged for wild produce. Long before foraging became a cool thing to do, the Kodavas went foraging for bamboo, wild mushrooms, green leafy vegetables and fruits. Coorg cuisine is made up of seasonal produce and meat that is flavoured judiciously with spices but still retains its natural flavours.

Noolputtu

Noolputtu (string hoppers) are fine rice noodles made from a steamed dough of fine-grained broken rice and water. The dough is passed through a special noolputtu vara. A small plate is held underneath the press to catch the noodles. The plate is slowly turned around to ensure that the noodles have a nice circular shape.

Kadambuttu

The steamed rice dumpling called kadambuttu is one of the most famous dishes in Coorg cuisine. They are tiny white balls of buttery deliciousness that melt in your mouth. It is made with broken rice called kadumbuttu thari. The thari is cooked in boiling water with a small dollop of ghee, till it becomes a thick dough.

The cooked dough is kneaded till it’s smooth and rolled into small balls with a bit of butter.It is then steamed again till its cooked entirely.

Pandi Curry

Kachampuli is the concentrated extract of a fruit called panapuli.This extract gives the pandi curry its dark colour and its signature sour taste. The rich, dark, spicy curry is worthy of all the attention it gets as one of the most famous foods in Coorg.

Pandi curry goes very well with kadambuttu and akki otti.

Places to Visit

Your Adventure begins here

Tadiandamol Peak

The highest peak in the Coorg region and the second highest in Karnataka, Tadiyendamol is a trekker’s paradise. Located at an elevation of 1,748 m,the gentle slopes and grassy terrain lure you with their scenic charm.

Omkareshwara Temple

Dating back to 1820, the Omkareshwara Temple features Indo-Saracenic architecture with a central dome and turrets in four corners. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple attracts Hindu pilgrims and tourists alike for its religious significance.

Mallalli Falls

Mallalli Falls is worth visiting if you’re planning a trip to Coorg during the rainy season. Cascading majestically from a height of over 200 feet, this waterfall located at the foothills of Pushpagiri mountain ranges counts among the tallest ones in South India.

Raja’s Tomb

Raja’s Tomb is the mausoleum of former Kodagu kings. The two identical tombs standing nearby belong to Veerajendra and his wife and date back to 1821. To their right is the tomb of Lingarajendra built in 1820, and the one on the left belongs to the royal priest Rudrappa.

Coffee Plantations

Whiff in the fresh smell of coffee and tour the trails of coffee plantations at the Karagunda Coffee Plantation. It is located at an elevation 3,400 feet above the ground and is known for growing arabica coffee beans.

The beans are all hand-plucked by the locals once the coffee berry is riped. The displays extended by the coffee plantations are just beyond one’s imagination and one must not date to miss out on a chance to tour them.

Trekking

Mandalpatti Trek is located almost 25 km away from Madikeri and is known for its scenic views.The displays of the misty mountains, blankets of lush green shrubs, and exotic collection of flora and fauna, is what makes up the Mandalpatti Trek. If you are looking for an escape from the mundane schedules or just want to unwind along with the fresh breeze, this is the perfect place for you.

Camping

Camping in Coorg is one of the best recreational things to do when visiting this region as the soothing landscapes and serene ambiance of the place bring you close to the incredible nature and take you away from the city chaos.Camps like Jungle Mount Adventure Camp and Votecad Nature camp are known to offer some exciting adventurous activities such as jungle safaris and trekking, adding more fun to the whole camping experience.

Waterfalls

How to Reach

How to reach Coorg by Air: Mangaluru International Airport is the closest airport to Coorg located at a distance of 135 kilometers. However, its international flights operate only in the Middle East. The Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru) is the most well connected international airport, which is located at a distance of 260 kilometers from Coorg.
How to reach Coorg by Rail : The railway station located at Mysore, at a distance of approximately 95 kilometers is the nearest to Coorg. However, the distance between Mysore and Coorg is a little over 100 kms which you can cover with a 2 ½ to 3 hour drive.
How to reach Coorg by Car/Bike: From Bangalore - Distance: 255 kilometres. Travelling Time: Approximately 5 ½ hours
From Mysore - Distance: 107 kilometres Travelling Time: 2-3 hours
From Mangalore - Distance: 138 kilometres Travelling Time: Approximately 3 hours

Best Time To Visit

Coorg is one of those places in India where the climate remains pleasant all through the year. Each season has its own charm and will give you a special reason to visit. Be it summer, winter or monsoon, Coorg always welcomes its visitors and enthrals them with its spectacular beauty.
March to May (Summer): There is a pleasant wind blowing that helps you lay back relax and enjoy the clear sight of the hills. You can plan all your activities to the various places of interest like the Golden Temple, the beautiful Madikeri Fort flaunting its beautiful 17th-century architecture, the vast floral and faunal diversity that Nagarhole National Park promises, the Abbey Falls or the majestic Raja’s Seat without having to worry about the rain playing spoilsport.
December to February (Winter): Winter is the season that completely justifies the idea of Coorg as a true hill station. January is the coldest in Coorg and does justice to its tag of being a hill station. January to February is a great time to travel around and visit the many places of interest, especially the coffee plantations. You are likely to get a whiff of the famous and aromatic Robusta and Arabica varieties of coffee in February and in fact, buy some of that fresh harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 Where is Coorg located?: Coorg is a rural district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats, Coorg is an astonishing land and also the biggest producer of coffee in Karnataka. Coorg is located at a distance of 260 kilometres from Bangalore which takes about a 5-hour drive between the two places.
2 Is it safe to travel to Coorg?: Yes, Coorg is one of the most popular as well as safest tourist attractions of India. The crime rate here is comparatively low as compared to other cities. It is a peaceful and safe area where you can stay at homestays and good hotels for an excellent vacation. But it is always advisable to take caution while travelling, especially when you are going on adventure activities like trekking, camping, river rafting etc.
3 Can we do river rafting in Coorg?: River rafting is one of the most sought activities which you can do in Coorg in the Barapoleriver with its roaring currents. The speedy waters of the river with rapids provide the most favorable location for white water rafting. The best months for rafting in Coorg is from June to September when the South West Monsoon enters the city. River rafting in Coorg will cost you about Rs 1,000 per person approximately.
4 Are there any monasteries in Coorg?: Coorg has many impressive monasteries established by the Buddhists who practiced here. The most famous monastery in Coorg is Namdroling Monastery. This Buddhist Monastery is the largest teaching center of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. It is a home to more than 7000 monks and nuns. This place is also called the Golden temple on account of the gold work done on every painting.