I plan on going to this place when I visit India this summer. It seems like the most laid-back, natural location with terrain for all kinds of activities. I am a person that likes to wander the hills and forests, finding new views of nature's miracles. I've heard there are also some beautiful rafting sites that are some of the hardest currents in the world. Particularly interested in accompanying myself to the harvest festival called Huttari.
You can get the desired information on this thread - Coorg Travel Guide For attending Puttari (also known as Huttari) festival, you need to plan your trip between late November to eary December. Regards, Deb
Hello there! Coorg also goes by the name Kodagu. It is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka. It is a hilly district and the highest peak here is at 1,750 metres above sea level. The dominant community here are the Kodavas. Here are some of the best attractions in Coorg: Waterfalls Abbey Falls - This is a part of the River Kaveri. Back then, it was named the Jessi Falls, after a British officer's wife. But since it was surrounded by dense forests back then, it wasn't known to many people. Then later on, it was bought by Mr. Neravanda B. Nanaiah from the government. He was the one who built the coffee and spice plantations around the falls, which you can also visit. Unfortunately, the area around the falls isn't that maintained and even the water from the falls suffers from litters and trash now. Iruppu Falls - This is also named as Lakshmana Tirtha Falls. According to Hindu mythology, Rama and Lakshmana passed along the Brahmagiri Range on their way to save Sita. Rama asked Lakshmana for water and so Lakshmana shot an arrow to the Brahmagiri Range thereby bringing the Lakshmana River, from which the falls originate to. Because of this, thousands of pilgrims visit the falls believing that it has purifying and cleansing power to rid them of sins. Mallalli Falls - This falls originate from the Kumaradhara River. To reach the falls though, you'd have to trek a bit. The roads leading to it are very narrow and cars cannot access it. Chelavara Falls - This is a waterfall formed by a small stream from the Kaveri River. However, the water here is very deep, approximately 100 feet and is very dangerous to get into. Some people have died already here so make sure you approach the falls with caution. Temples/Monastery Omkareshwara Temple - It was Lingarajendra II in 1820 who built this temple. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built during the 19th Century though. The story goes that Lingarajendra II killed a Brahmin to fulfil his ambitions and to appease the spirit, he built this temple. Bhagamandala Temple - This temple is located on the banks of the confluence of the three rivers of Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyoti or the Triveni Sangama. The Bhagamandala Temple is believed to have been built by the Cholas. Talakaveri Temples - There are two temples in Talakaveri: one is dedicated for the Lord Shiva and the other is for the Lord Ganesha. The temple for Lord Shiva has a rare shivalinga. The temple for Lord Ganesha has the holy Ashwantha tree, where, according to the story, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave darshan to sage, Agasthya. Namdroling Monastery - This is a large Tibetan and Buddhism centre in Coorg. Its other name is the Golden Temple, pertaining to its golden paintings on top of the monastery. As soon as you enter the monastery, the three statues of Buddha, about 40 feet in height would greet you, namely: Padmasambhava, Buddha & Amitayus. Wildlife Dubare Elephant Camp - This is located on the banks of Kaveri River. Here, you can get close to elephants as they are trained under naturalists. You can participate in activities like bathing the elephant, feeding the elephant and then a safari ride with the elephant. Other activities in the camp are fishing and wildlife safari. Rafting can also be done here and the rapids aren't that high which makes it a bit easier for beginners or novices. Nisargadhama Forest - This is an island formed by the Kaveri River near Kushalnagar. It is accessible through a hanging rope bridge. The island has thick forestry and has a variety of animals as well. There's also a children's park inside the forest. Nagarhole National Park - This is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve as well as the Project Tiger Reserve. Back then, this national park was an exclusive hunting reserve of the Wodeyar Rulers. Some animals you can spot here are: Indian leopards, Bengal tigers, striped hyenas, sloth bears and Indian elephants. Peaks/Treks Mandalpatti - This is about 30 kms from Madikeri and can be found en route to Abbey Falls. However, no buses ply to this route so you have to bring your own car or hire a cab to take you there. You also have to buy entrance tickets before trekking the hills, which you can do at the base of it. Aside from that, bring your own food and drinks as there are no eateries around the area. The view of the mountains from the top are all worth it though. Brahmagiri - This hill is about 1,608 metres above sea level. This is a 10 kms trek and there are no accommodation options at the peak. There's one midway to the top though, it's called the Narimala Forest Camp. The first 5 kms of the trek is through thick forests and grasslands. The second 5 kms are a bit tougher, with grasslands and steeper mountains to traverse. However, there are many streams en route so you won't have a problem with water. Tadiandamol - This is the highest peak in Coorg. It is about 1,748 metres above sea level. From the peak, you can view the lush greenery and coffee plantations from below. En route, you can visit the Chelavara Falls which is an added attraction to the trek. Others Raja's Seat - This is a garden of flowers and there are also artificial fountains inside. The Kings of Kodagu used to spend their time here with their respective queens to watch the sunset. The children can enjoy the toy train here. Gaddige Tomb - This tomb houses the remains of the royal Kodavas. It is also a great example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. And although most of the kings here were Muslims, Lord Shiva's image is placed and worshipped in the tomb. Madikeri Fort - This was founded by Mudduraja during the 17th Century. But it was conquered by Tipu Sultan and he renovated the fort using granite. Thereafter, other rulers conquered the fort. The Madikeri Palace can be found inside the fort as well. There you go. Now, with regards to the festival called Huttari, it's also called as Puthari Festival. This is one of the three major festivals of Coorg. This is the annual rice festival and it's perhaps the grandest one out of the three. Almost all Coorgs and Kodavas celebrate this festival. It is held usually during late November or early December. Also, it's celebrated on different days of the different towns of Coorg. On the day of Puthari, the whole family assembles in their common house, which is decorated by flowers, bananas and mango leaves. Then, leaves of certain trees are tied together, called a nere kattuvo. This is followed by the cutting of the paddy leaves. After this, the family would go to the fields while the woman carries the lamp. They would chant, 'Poli Poli Deva' and return to the house to stick the cut leaves to various places in the house. Firecrackers are lit at night and a feast is done as well. There are also dances performed during this festival. It varies from region to region. As you might have guessed, the harvest festival is a form of gratitude for the bountiful harvest every year. I hope this helps.
