I have been visiting Coorg since the age of 7 almost every other year. Having relatives living in Coorg has its own perks like the one that I am enjoying. Even though not a local, I think I well placed to guide you on the top must visit places while you are in Coorg. If you are travelling with kids, then they will love Coorg as there as umpteen activities of their interest.
Note: Coorg and Kodagu are one and the same 🙂
1. Bylakuppe Namdroling Buddhist Monastery
The moment you step into Bylakuppe, you will feel that you are transported to Tibet. You will find monks of all age groups there who are either playing, studying or having their own businesses within the monastery premises. Out of the many monasteries in Bylakuppe, the one where tourists are allowed is called Namdroling Monastery. It was founded by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche in 1963. It is home to over 5000 aspiring monks and nuns.
Things to know before visiting Namdroling Monastery:
- There is no entry fee
- Please dress modestly covering your shoulders, stomach and thighs as this is a place of worship
- You must remove your shoes before stepping into the prayer hall and there is a place for the same within the monastery
- There are restrooms within the monastery for the tourists but they aren’t well maintained so be prepared for it
- There is ample space for parking your vehicle right in front of the monastery
- There are eateries and other places to shop souvenirs around the monastery
2. Nisargadhama
It is a small river island which looks like a park. Nisargadhama is full of bamboo trees. There are many structures within the park where tourists can click pictures of themselves but those structures aren’t well maintained. There are tree huts within the park. You can also do short ziplines if interested. There is boating as well under the hanging bridge of the park.
Kids will enjoy this park as there is a portion of the park where you will find Deers and other wild animals close to their natural habitat but in reality, they are still caged. There is also an area where you can dip your feet in the Cauvery River and enjoy the mild flow of the water caressing your feet along with fishes feeding onto the dead skin . This is the natural fish spa for your feet without the side effects of what you find in certain malls in India in the name of fish spa.
Things to know before visiting Nisargadhama:
- When the water currents are high during monsoon avoid getting into the river as there are many rocks and even a gentle slip can be dangerousDo not feed the wild animals within the park
- There is place for paid parking within the park premises
- Entry fee: Rs.60 (adults), Rs.30 (kids)
3. Dubare Elephant Camp
The elephants you find in this camp are trained for Mysore Dussehra. The camp lies in a beautiful place surrounded by the Cauvery River. The elephants are fed, bathed and trained by the Mahouts there and you get a chance to witness it and take part in it if interested. You will have to make separate payments for all such activities. It is a learning experience for anyone and definitely not to be missed.
If you visit the camp during summers or when the water is low, then you will have to cross the river to reach the camp. When the water level is high there are ferries that can transport you back and forth. The ferries are crowded and there are long queues for the same. I have visited during both the times and my preference is always crossing the river on foot.
Things to know before visiting Dubare Elephant Camp
- Timings: 8.30 AM to 11 AM, 4.30 PM – 5.30 PM (All days of the week)
- If you go for the evening slot to meet the elephants then be prepared to stand in the long queue to get the entry tickets and many a times it runs out
- Entry cost is Rs.130/person for Indians, Rs.50/person for feeding them and Rs.300/person for bathing them
- There is ample parking space for vehicles
4. Dubare River Rafting
During monsoons you can experience Dubare River Rafting in Cauvery River. This happens where the Dubare Elephant Camp is situated but the water current is not as strong as the one you will find in Dandeli in Karnataka. You will be provided with life jackets, and it is a fun beginner river rafting experience in Coorg.
Things to know before experiencing river rafting in Coorg:
- It is seasonal, mainly during monsoons
- It can cost Rs.800/person and Rs.1200 for GoPro pictures for a group (I found this slightly on the expensive side after doing better river rafting in multiple places in India)
5. Chiklihole Dam (Reservoir)
If you are a bird watcher and love nature walks, then you will love the Chiklihole reservoir. You can take a scenic 500 metre walk along the walls of the dam which will take you to an arc shaped structure where the water flows into a large reservoir.
Things to know before visiting the Chiklihole dam in Coorg:
- There is no entry fee
- Do not venture into the waters as they are infested with crocodiles
- This is a beautiful place to visit only during monsoons and post monsoons
Read also: Bangalore Travel Blog 2025 – Places to Visit in the Garden City
6. Bhagamandala Temple
Shri Bhagandeshwara temple is located at Bhagamandala which is about 36 km from Madikeri. Many temples in the Western Ghats of Karnataka are built in the style of Kerala temples, so is the temple at Bhagamandala. It is located between Madikeri and Talacauveri. It has the confluence of 3 rivers Triveni Sangamam – Cauveri, Kannike and Sujyoti.
Things to know before visiting Bhagamandala
- Wear modest clothes covering your shoulders and thighs as this is a place of worship
- Annadhana prasadham is served here during 1-3pm everyday
- There is car parking available outside the temple
7. Talakaveri Temple
The origination of the river Kaveri is from the point where Tala Kaveri temple is located, in the Brahmagiri hills of Coorg. This temple is a holy place for Hindus. Kaveri being the river that starts from this place and flows into all of Tamil Nadu making the land fertile and drains in Bay of Bengal. You will find a pond (kulam) in the temple where you can see the origination point.
Things to know before visiting Talakaveri temple:
- Wear modest clothes covering your shoulders and thighs as this is a place of worship
- You will have to park your vehicles at least 500m before the temple and will have to walk to the temple
- It is an uphill climb, but you have stairs to make it easy. The walk is not for people who can’t climb stairs.
8. Jeep Safaris
If you are in Coorg then your visit can’t end without you doing a jeep safari within the estates or to the Mandalapatti peak. Estate jeep safaris cost around Rs.200-Rs.300/person for which you can check with your stay owners/reception whereas Mandalapatti jeep safari will cost Rs.600/person in shared jeeps. These jeep safaris are not for the faint hearted because these are off road rides and it is always recommended to experience it with drivers who have mastered the terrain.
9. Shopping in Coorg
All of us look forward to buying ground coffee from Coorg. The flavor and authenticity of coffee that you get in Coorg and Chikmagalur is unmatchable. Apart from coffee, you can buy honey from Coorg Progressive Bee Keeper’s Co-op society. The honey you get here is authentic and cheap. Pepper, cinnamon and cardamom are spices that I’d recommend you get from Coorg. There are many other spices available as well in Coorg, but they are mostly imported from the Gulf countries.
10. Treks in Coorg for Adventure Lovers
If you love adventure like me, then why not trek in Coorg? Coorg can excite you with multiple short and long trekking trails. You can enjoy yourself being surrounded in the lap of nature. If you are trekking in monsoons then watch out for the leeches 😉 The well-known amongst all the treks in Coorg which are also my favorites treks are Tadiandamol and Kumaraparvata. These treks are not baby or child friendly. Kumaraparvata especially needs you to be super fit and with great stamina. It is the most challenging trek that I have done in the Southern part of India.
Read also: Kumara Parvata Trek – One of the Most Challenging Treks in South India
I have been visiting Coorg almost every other year since 2002. I have experienced Coorg before and after the IT boom in Bangalore. Considering the proximity of Coorg to Bangalore, Coorg is becoming over touristy every growing year apart from becoming increasingly expensive. This also results in traffic jams around all the tourist spots in Coorg. You can avoid travelling to Coorg during weekends and long weekends to save you from experiencing Bangalore’s traffic in Coorg.
Still, Coorg is one of the most beautiful places in Karnataka that I have visited, and I will return whenever possible to enjoy nature in the best possible way.
Read also: My other blog posts from Karnataka
