Exploring Coorg

   This travelogue is not specific to a particular trip. It is a collection of different places visited around Coorg during our visit to Kushalnagar over the years.

Nisargadhama:

 Nisargadhama is just 3 KMs from Kushalnagar towrads Madikeri. This is a small island formation on the banks of Kaveri river. 
  It is a 64-acre (260,000 m2) island, with lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees and surrounded by the Kaveri river. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge. There are deer, rabbits, peacocks, and a children's playground and orchidarium. Visitors are allowed to get into water at a few shallow and safe points along the river. Elephant rides and boating are some of the other attractions. It also has a forest department run guest house and treetop bamboo cottages.

One for the album (dad and daughter moment)

Kanive Ramalingeshwara Temple:

   This is about 7.5 KM from Kushalnagar towards Hebbale.  

Cart getting ready for the festival season

Flag flies high on top of the temple

A small river flows outside the temple

There was boat on the banks

Oriental Magpie male

This aquaduct connects to KRS in Mysore

 Tibetan Golden Temple:

  Tibetan Golden Temple in Coorg The Tibetan Monastery or the Tibet Camp as locally called is located around 6 kms from Kushalnagar town towards Mysore. This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 7,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery.

Study room of the monks

It was Diwali time, enjoyed some fireworks too

Some unnamed waterfalls :

   You will find many water falls or stream of water flowing across coorg during monsoon seasons. Best time to  enjoy them is from June - Nov, they dry up once the winter sets in. And best chances of encountering these gems  is when one drives through interiors of coorg.

 We had come across a couple of such small water falls when we took an alternate route to Madikeri from Kushalnagar. Drive towards Madikeri from Kushalnagar, take a left at Baisanalli and drive to Madikeri via Chettalli. This route take you through interiors of Coorg and you get to see nature at its full glory. This adds 5KMs of extra drive, but it is worth it.

Narrow but well laid tarmac 

wonderful scenery around

One of the small waterfalls on road side

Cloud and Mountains makes for such an eye candy

One more waterfall en route

Nagarhole:

  Nagarhole is 90 KMs from Kushalnagar towards Mysore.  Take right from Hunsur to reach Nagarhole. Driving inside the reserve forest is allowed from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

 Monkeys, deer and elephants are common to sight here.

He was interested in the oranges we were eating

Iruppu Falls:

  Irruppu falls is 22 KMs from Nagarhole towards Wayanad. This falls is on the border of Karnataka and Kerala. Reaching this falls involves walking of about 1 KM. And watch out for leeches. 

There is a temple near parking area

He was there to welcome us

There is a hanging bridge to cross too

Found this Viper resting in the bush

Iruppu Falls

This goes to the family album

Harangi Dam:

  Harangi Dam is about 6 KM from Kushalnagar. No visitors are allowed inside for safety reasons now.

Harangi Dam

Malahalli Falls:

  Malahalli falls is 46 KMs from Kushalnagar. One of the most beautiful waterfalls i have ever visited. Reaching here involves a mild trekking of 2 KM downhill walk. Watch out for leeches.

A golf course used by the British on the way

This is where the vehicles have to be parked

En route Malahalli Falls

Malahalli Falls

Diwali celebration:

Abbi Falls:

  Abbi Falls is near Madikeri and is about 50KMs from Kushalnagar. This is the most famous falls in Coorg, but in my opinion least interesting one of all the falls i have visited in Coorg. Visitors are not allowed close to the falls and there is a hanging bridge from where you get a wonderful view of this falls.

Abbi Falls

Manalpatti:

  Manalpatti is 16 KMs from Abbi falls. When you drive from Madikeri towards  Abbi falls you get a Y junction where one road takes you to Manalpatti and other to Abbi falls. From this Y junction road conditions are very bad and needs some careful maneuvering  to reach Manalpatti. But once you reach here the view is breath taking.

A panoramic view of the surrounds

Framing the family