Sight Seeing / Trekking
Sight Seeing
Coorg boasts of abundant natural beauty comprising of verdant coffee estates and paddy fields, lush mountains, charming rivers and streams and wild life sanctuaries. CAPTAIN K’S location allows it’s guests to visit all these sight-seeing hotspots on short day trips.
ABBEY FALLS: (45 min)
About 30 kms from Madikeri, the Cauvery river cascades down a rockface into a calm pool to form the scenic Abbey Falls. A hanging bridge across the gorge and picnicking are favourite attractions here.
IRUPPU FALLS: (1 hr)
About 50 kms from Madikeri, the River Cauvery, originating in the Brahmagiri Hills, descends into the magnificent Iruppu Falls which is believed to cleanse the souls of the thousands of devotees who visit it.
TALACAUVERY & BHAGAMANDALA: (1 hr)
About 40 kms from Madikeri, it is the confluence of the River Cauvery and it’s two tributaries (Kanake & Sujyoti) and boasts of a famous Kerala style temple. The River Cauvery considered to be one of the seven sacred rivers according to the Hindu Scriptures, originated in the Brahmagiri Hills at a place called Talacauvery (Head of the Cauvery) and is marked by a small spring. Two temples, a shrine and a path leading to the nearby Brahmagiri peak with it’s beautiful view of the mist covered Brahmagiri Hills are some of the attractions here.
DUBARE ELEPHANT CAMP: (45 min)
About 35 kms from Madikeri, this is an elephant training camp run by the Forest Department. You can enjoy the sight of elephants bathing and feeding as well as a free elephant ride.
CAUVERY NISARGADHAMA: (45 min)
About 35 kms from Madikeri, it is an island connected by a rope bridge to the mainland. Picknicking, boating and elephant rides are the main attractions here.
NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK: (90 min)
About 93 kms from Madikeri, it is a natural reserve for deer, panthers, elephants, tigers and a variety of birds. It also contains waterfalls, forests and streams.
BRAHMAGIRI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: (1 hr)
About 60 km from Madikeri, this sanctuary is home to evergreen forests, grasslands and bamboo as well as tigers, leopards, the lion tailed macaque, sloth bears, emerald doves, black bulbul etc.
NAMDROLING (BUDDHIST) MONASTRY & TIBETAN COLONY: (45 min)
About 35 kms from Madikeri, located in Bylakuppe, is a Tibetan settlement established between 1961-63 with a population of approximately 40,000 Tibetan refugees. It consists of a number of monastries, nunneries and the beautiful Golden Temple.
KABINI FISHING CAMP: (45 min)
About 30 kms from Madikeri, in Valanoor, it is one of the most scenic fishing spots and is located on the backwaters of the River Cauvery. Types of fish found here include the mahseer, maral and mapp.
RAJA SEAT, FORT, OMKARESHWARA TEMPLE & GADDIGE TOMBS: (15 min)
In Madikeri, Raja Seat is where the Kodagu kings used to spend their evenings to enjoy the spectacular views and sunset. It now also has a musical fountain and a toy train.
This late 17th century Fort with a palace inside, built first by Mudduraja and later rebuilt in granite by Tippu Sultan, now houses the Civil Courts of Madikeri.
The Omkareshwara Temple, built in 1820 by Lingarajendra is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Shivaling here is among the five most sacred originating in Kashi. With its minarets and dome, the Temple resembles a Masjid. The large tank in the Temple courtyard contains thousands of fish which obligingly come up to be fed.
The Gaddige Tombs are important monuments housing the remains of the Rajas Virarajendra and Lingarajendra. A beautiful view of the town can also be seen from here.
NOTE: All durations and distances mentioned above are approximate
Trekking
Coorg is a trekker's paradise and hiking or driving through this land offers the traveler enchanting panoramic views of misty mountains, lush green valleys, wooded forests, verdant coffee plantations and undulating paddy fields.
Favourite trekking places include the NAGARHOLE WILDLIFE PARK, IRUPPU FALLS, ABBEY FALLS and BHAGAMANDALA among others.
Some breathtaking peaks include:
– Thadiyandamol at 1900 mts
– Pushpagiri at 1870 mts
– Kotebetta at 1620 mts
– Chomakundhu at 1610 mts
– Brahmagiri at 1320 mts
– Nishanimotte at 1300 mts
All the above mentioned places are between 1 to 3 hours from CAPTAIN K’s. However, the trekking expedition with an experienced local guide begins from Madikeri town which is less than 15 minutes from the homestay.