BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN COORG Madikeri is a hill town in southern India. Framed by the Western Ghats mountain range, it’s known for the Raja’s Seat, a simple monument overlooking forests and rice paddies. In the centre, the 17th-century Madikeri Fort features 2 stone elephants at the entrance. Nearby, the domed Omkareshwar Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. To the northwest, cascading Abbey Falls is surrounded by spice plantations. The misty hills, lush teakwood and sandalwood forests, and acres of tea and coffee plantations of Kodagu are, in a word, stunning. Also known as Coorg and dubbed “The Scotland of India,” Kodagu is a postcard-perfect region of scattered villages and hamlets, which are the epitome of old-world charm. Kodagu is ideal for outdoor activities such as trekking, angling and white-water rafting, and major festivals like Keil Poldu (worship of weapons), Cauvery Shankaramana (return of the river goddess) and the Huttari (harvest) festival are a huge draw. Taxi service in Mangalore Omkareswara Temple Best places to visit in Coorg: Omkareswara Temple, the famous Siva temple in Madikeri is built by Linga Rajendra in 1820. The temple located at a distance of 1 km from Madikeri is an architectural beauty. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture. There is a wonderful pool in front of the temple. There are four Minarets around and a dome in the centre of the temple. A footpath leads to the Mandap. Here the Sivalinga was named Omkareswara. Regular rituals were performed here. Taxi Service in Mangalore Raja’s Seat Best places to visit in Coorg: Located in the town of Madikeri, Raja seat is a popular tourist spot offering mesmerizing scenic beauty and an enchanting environment. With the literal meaning of “Seat of the Kings”, Raja’s Seat used to be a favourite place of the kings of Coorg. They used to visit the place so as to get an amazing view of the valley around them and refresh themselves. The view of sunset and sunrise from Raja’s seat is exceptionally captivating and mustn’t be missed by tourists. Golden sunlight falling on the lush greenery offers amazing photographic opportunities as well. The environment is pleasant as well. The calmness of the place and its scenic beauty makes for an amazing setting for morning and evening walks. Imagine being caressed by the cool breeze and greeted by lush greenery. All this is possible at Raja’s Seat. Taxi service in Mangalore Madikeri Fort Best places to visit in Coorg: Madikeri Fort also called Mercara Fort is a fort in Madikeri, in the Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka, first built by Mudduraja in the second half of the 17th century. Mudduraja also built the palace within the fort. It was rebuilt and restructured in granite by Tipu Sultan, and the site was then renamed Jaffarabad. Madikeri Fort is one of the many forts built or rebuilt by the Tipu Sultan during his reign in the second half of the 18th century. In 1790, Dodda Vira Rajendra took control of the fort. The palace underwent renovations by Linga Rajendra II from 1812-1814. The British made additions to the fort in 1834. Notable structures in the fort include two stone statues of elephants at the northeast entry and a church in the southeast corner. Today, the Madikeri Deputy Commissioner’s Office is housed in the palace building, while St. Mark’s Church houses the Madikeri Fort Museum, managed by the Karnataka State Archaeological Department. The museum has exhibits which display artefacts and weaponry from the time between the fort’s construction and British rule. The museum also has a large portrait of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa. There is no entry fee to visit Madikeri Fort. Madikeri fort timings are from 10 in the morning to 5:30 in the evening. It is closed on Mondays. Taxi service in Mangalore Abbey Falls Best places to visit in Coorg: Abbey Falls is a waterfall in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. It is located 8 km from Madikeri, 122 km from Mysore, 144 km from Mangalore and 268 km from Bangalore. The waterfall is on the early reaches of the river Kaveri, located between private coffee plantations with stocky coffee bushes and spice estates and trees entwined with pepper vines. There is a hanging bridge constructed just opposite the falls. Flow is much higher during the monsoon season. The falls were earlier called Jessi Falls, named after a British officer’s wife. However, the place was a thick jungle back then. Years later, the waterfall was discovered by Mr Neravanda B. Nanaiah who bought the place from the government and converted it into a coffee and spice plantation, which still surrounds the waterfall today. Taxi service in Mangalore Mandalpatti Peak Best places to visit in Coorg: Located 4 km before Abbey Falls, Mandalpatti is 25- 30 km from Madikeri town. Offering amazing scenic beauty and perfect opportunities to be amidst the best of natural settings, Mandalpatti has increasingly become popular amongst tourists. The place offers tourists some seclusion and space away from the usual crowdedness of the tourist spots. The place is perfect for trekking lovers who like adventure and seek the best natural settings. In order to go trekking, trekkers are supposed to take entrance tickets from the authorities at the base of Mandalpatti. Taxi service in Mangalore Raja’s Tomb (Gaddige) Best places to visit in Coorg: Gaddige also known as Raja’s Tombs is a popular 19th-century monument located in Mahadevpet near Madikeri. Dedicated to the royal members of the Kodava clan, this complex is a major tourist attraction in Coorg. Built over a hilltop, the monument has an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. Decorated with central domes and minarets, the tombs are inspired by Muslim architecture but are dedicated to Hindu rulers. Set amidst verdant gardens, the Raja’s Tombs offer a serene spot to spend the day in the lap of nature. You can also enjoy breathtakingly stunning