About 260 km south of Bangalore (Karnataka) is situated a beautiful district of Coorg. Coorg, or Kodagu as it is now known, is a picturesque zone in the heart of Southern India. Situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats, this un-spoilt “Country of a million hills” is also India’s “Coffee Bowl”.
This tiny district in Karnataka State is the largest producer of coffee and the District Headquarters Madikeri (or Mercara, as it was known during British occupation) is situated at an elevation of 1,140 mtrs. This picturesque town, dotted with red tiled bungalows, has an old world charm about it. The British who set up coffee plantations prior to India’s independence, named it the “Scotland of India”.
This district of Karnataka is landlocked, and now very well connected by road, railway and an airport. The Mattanoor International Airport in Connanore District of Kerala State is about 65 Kms from the resort. Kodagu is located between the States of Kerala and Karnataka and is also well connected by bus services, and is a 2-hour drive from Mysore, 5-hour drive from Bangalore and a 3 hour drive from Mangalore and only 1.5 hrs (50 Km from Virajpet) from the proposed Airport of Mattanoor, Kerala. Madikeri is 120 km from Mysore and 240 km from Bangalore. The drive is an enjoyable one, through miles of greenery, thick forests, and acres of coffee estates and shimmering streams. Helicopter charter services will also be available from Bangalore and are likely to start service in the near future.
Coorg is dotted with several towns like Kushalnagar, (close to Kushalnagar Bylcoppa-resettlement colony of Tibetians), Somwarpet, Virajpet, Gonikoppal and Polibetta in South Coorg. Madikeri the District Headquarter in North Coorg is at the highest point above sea level.
Reaching Coorg
Distance from the cities of Karnataka & Kerala:
Important Towns in Coorg Bangalore Airport
(Karnataka) Mysore Airport
(Karnataka) Mangalore Airport
(Karnataka) Cannanore/Mattanoor Airport
(Kerala)
Madikeri 260 kms. 120 kms. 135 kms. 85 kms.
Virajpet 225kms 104 kms. 165 kms. 55 kms.
Kushalnagar/ Somwarpet 242 kms. 90 kms. 175 kms. 155 kms.
Other Cities:
The distance from Ooty is approx. 250 kms., Chennai approx. 400 kms. Main rail stations are at Mysore, Mangalore, Telecherry/Cannanoor (Kerala) and airports are at Bangalore, Mangalore, and Mattanoor.
The nearest airport is at Mattanoor, Kerela (65 kms), followed by Mangalore (135 km).
Information on Coorg.
Taluks Somwarpet, Madikeri, Virajpet
Ecology Plants belongs to 160 Families in more than 1300 varieties.
Wild Life Elephant ,Tiger, Panther, Gaur, Leopard, Sambar, Wild Boar, Jungle Cat, Lion tailed macaque.
Rainfall Season June to September.
Average Rainfall 2700 mm
Forest 4102 Sq. Km.
Tourist season Oct. to May
Temperature Summer Max 33.0C Min 27.0C , Winter Max 24.1 Min 19.1
Sea Level 1,166 Mts.(3809 Feet)
Length 96 Km. from Brahmagiri in south to Hemavathi river in north.
Width 64 km. from Sampaje in west to Kushalnagar in east.