Scotland of india

On a recent family visit to Delhi, with its acrid air and evil traffic, my mother suggested an escape—a long weekend in Coorg, some 1,400 miles away in a tiny corner of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, just north of Kerala. In spite of its unprepossessing size, Coorg, which the British called the Scotland of India, is a region of intense pride and history. Many Indians regard it as a quasi-mythical place, a land of lush hills, temperate climate, martial men, and handsome women. Its ample rain and still-thick forests, not to mention its low population density, make it one of the few remaining Shangri-Las in over-peopled India. Tyrannical rajahs ruled Coorg until the British, who knew a promising escape from the heat when they saw one, annexed it to the East India Company’s territory in 1834. The British established farms there, recruited the famously valorous Coorg natives for their Imperial mission, and, in 1947, left behind tidy settlements of Victorian-influenced cottages in shades of lavender, rose, and mint, along with graceful plantations of Robusta and Arabica coffee. Coffee flowers smell something like jasmine, and from mid-March to early April, the white blossoms add their perfume to the other scents of the region—orange, pepper, cardamom, vanilla, honey. While venerable hill stations in other parts of India are overrun with tourists, doughty little Coorg is still putting up a fight to retain its old essence, even as it welcomes visitors with courtly hospita...

We all have heard of or gone to many hill stations in India. When it comes to hill stations we all think about North India. But, do you know that there is a hill station in Southern India which is as pleasant, serene and wonderful as the hill stations back in the Northern part of India? Let’s know more about this amazing place popularly known as Coorg and how to visit there. Visit Coorg or Kodagu, also known as the Scotland of India “ The Scotland of India“, “ Kodagu” was renamed “ Coorg” by the British Raj. It is a popular hill station in South India. Beautiful and serene atmosphere, exotic scenery, lush greenery, adventure activities, pleasant weather and sights to remember forever. Kodagu is the largest producer of coffee in India. From nature lovers, honeymooners, photographers, foodies, and coffee lovers to adventure enthusiasts, this is the place where you are meant to be. There are Let’s get to know some of the Best Places to Visit in Coorg 1. Madikeri Fort It is the capital and a prominent hill station of Kodagu. It is also known as Muddu Raja Keri or Mercara. The Madikeri Fort is a must-visit sight in the Coorg. 2. Abbey Falls Or, Abbi Falls is the most amazing and dramatic waterfall in the whole country. This breathtaking waterfall, located betwixt coffee, cardamom and spices plantations allows us to call Coorg the Scotland of India. You need to visit this waterfall in Coorg. 3. Honnamana Kere It is the biggest lake in Kodagu. Named after a local Goddess Honnaman...

Coorg is known for its Coffee Plantations. It is ideally not a hill station but a district named as Kodagu (Coorg) in the Indian state of Karnataka and has to offer many locations for sightseeing, and road trips in and around 80~100 kms of radius. We visited Coorg in January 2015. Coorg secures the top-rated position among Karnataka tourism for being the most travelled destination. Coorg is a perfect place for both shorter or longer duration trips. You can easily keep 2-3 days, if you are planning for a trip to Coorg. It was the British Planter community who affectionately coined the term ‘The Scotland of India’ for Coorg. Most of the planters were Scots and the uncanny similarities between both places earned Coorg that nickname. Also like Scotland, Coorg is mountainous, misty and cool. Places that we visited: Madikeri: If you’re in Coorg, most likely you’ll find yourself in Madikeri at some point. Madikeri is a beautiful hill station and the headquarters of Coorg. Bylakuppe (A little Tibet)(Tibetan Monastery Golden Temple): In the midst of all the coffee and forest is a surprising little Tibetan settlement in the form of Bylakuppe. Around 40 km southwards of Madikeri, the Namdroling monastery is located in Bylakuppe. It is built on the land donated to the Tibetian refugees by the Government of India. This is the second largest Tibetan settlement after Dharmsala. The interior of the temple has some of the largest and most fascinating Buddha statues. Nisargadkhama: Nisargad...

Kodagu district, better known by its old name Coorg, is among the most popular destination for tourists in Karnataka. Famous for its coffee plantations with quaint colonial bungalows and green topped rolling hills, Coorg is located on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats. Because of its lush green landscape, Coorg is often called the Scotland of India. There is not too much to do in terms of activities or places to visit and that is probably why Coorg is an ideal destination to relax in the company of family and friends. And in few places, mobile data connectivity is poor, adding to the sense of isolation! How to get to Coorg Coorg does not have an airport or a railway network. The only way to reach Coorg is by road. Nearest airports/train stations are at Kannur in Kerala or Mangalore/Mysore in Karnataka. By road from Bengaluru From Bengaluru, Madikeri, the district headquarters and the largest town, is 250-275kms away, depending on the route taken. While the traditional route through Mysore continues to be popular, the route via NH 75 to Channarayapattana, and then onto Holenarsipur, Kushalnagar and Madikeri is faster. Madikeri is about 120kms from Mysore and the journey takes almost 3 hours. The condition of road was good only in patches when I travelled. It is also a two lane road and with traffic heavy, bringing down the average speed. Overall, it can take 7 hours or more from Bengaluru to Madikeri with two short breaks. The other route via NH75 is great until Channaray...

Nestled in the eastern fringes of the western ghats – the district of Coorg, or Kodagu as it is known today, offers picturesque and has often been dubbed as the Scotland of India. Kodagu district contains meandering rivers and fern covered hills. Elevation ranges between mere 50m and subtle 1750m. The third – largest river in southern India, Kaveri, originates from the hills of Kodagu. Home to the ancient warrior clan, the Kodavas, Kodagu has much to offer. Various offbeat destinations, coffee plantations, spices, the Kodava cuisine, home – made wines are some of the interests that Kodagu offers. The main cities are Madikeri, Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Somwarpet. However, in this trip, we travelled in and around Madikeri only. Itinerary Day 1 – Drive from Bengaluru to Madikeri, Visit Raja’s seat & Local shopping. Day 2- Visit places inside Madikeri, Coffee Plantation visit and Abbey falls. Day 3 – Visit to Chiklihole dam, Dubare Elephant camp and Bylakuppe (Tibetan settlement). Madikeri Earlier known as Mercara, it is the district headquarters of Kodagu (Coorg) district and the capital of the erstwhile Kodava Kingdom. The local language is Kodava, however, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English are spoken and understood very well. Situated at an elevation of 1150m, the town offers serene hilly landscape around and has a subtle climate, which can be warm during the day and mildly chilly during the night. A city with rich traditions and history, Madikeri has contributed in lar...

A British Planter community had lovingly coined the term ‘The Scotland of India’ for Coorg. At the time, most of the planters were from Scotland. The highlands and the vast meadows had an uncanny similarity and the mountainous and misty beauty of Coorg reminded them of their homeland. Here’s a glimpse of Coorg in pictures: Greener Pastures: A cow shelter in Coorg Source: Flickr You don’t have to wait till winter to view the beautiful foggy, mountain top in Coorg. Makes for a pretty picture, doesn’t it? Foggy Coorg: Misty Mountain Top Source: Flickr Take a moment to breathe, relax and observe the natural beauty around you while you’re here. Take the Brahmagiri trekking trail, which is a popular spot for trekking. Bylakuppe is home to the Tibetian settlements in India, established by Lugsum Samdupling and Dickyi Larsoe. It is located in Bylakuppe, that lies west of the Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Bylakuppe Buddhist Golden Temple Source: Sandeep Chetan/Flickr Talakaveri is the place where river kaveri originates. It is located in the Brahmagiri hills of Coorg. Talakaveri is considered as the most sacred place in India. Talacauvery: The holy river Source: Tarun Narang/Flickr Visit the Abbey Falls in Kodagu, located in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from the Madikeri, 268 km from Bangalore and 122 km from Mysore. Dubare is a picturesque forest area famous for its elephant training camp and water rafting activities. It is located on the ...

Coorg is a popular hill station in the southern state of Karnataka. This place is famous for its coffee and coffee plantations. Coorg accounts for 40% of the country’s coffee produce. Called as the ‘Scotland of India’, this place has a little bit of everything. This includes lush green landscapes, waterfalls, mountains, flora and fauna. Based on inscriptions, this place was under the rule of many southern dynasties. Popular attractions in Coorg: Following are some of the popular attractions one must cover when visiting Coorg Madikeri: Madikeri is the capital of Coorg. Located at a height of around 1500 meters, this city is a popular destination amongst tourists. Covered separately below are the many attractions in Coorg… Madikeri Fort: Mudduraja constructed this fort in the 17th century. Tipu Sultan also known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ captured and fortified the fort later. The British then went onto to make structural and design changes. There is a palace that exists inside the fort. The elevated structures of the fort provide panoramic views of the town. One cannot miss the 2 life sized elephants made up of mortar at the entrance of the fort. Not to miss is the stone turtle inside the palace. Currently the Madikeri fort houses the office of Madikeri’s Deputy Commissioner. Raja’s Seat: Raja’s Seat means ‘Seat of the Kings’. The scenic view of the surrounding enticed the Kings of Coorg to visit this place. Hence the name Raja’s seat. Raja’s seat has a lovely garden of seaso...

Nestled in the eastern fringes of the western ghats – the district of Coorg, or Kodagu as it is known today, offers picturesque and has often been dubbed as the Scotland of India. Kodagu district contains meandering rivers and fern covered hills. Elevation ranges between mere 50m and subtle 1750m. The third – largest river in southern India, Kaveri, originates from the hills of Kodagu. Home to the ancient warrior clan, the Kodavas, Kodagu has much to offer. Various offbeat destinations, coffee plantations, spices, the Kodava cuisine, home – made wines are some of the interests that Kodagu offers. The main cities are Madikeri, Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Somwarpet. However, in this trip, we travelled in and around Madikeri only. Itinerary Day 1 – Drive from Bengaluru to Madikeri, Visit Raja’s seat & Local shopping. Day 2- Visit places inside Madikeri, Coffee Plantation visit and Abbey falls. Day 3 – Visit to Chiklihole dam, Dubare Elephant camp and Bylakuppe (Tibetan settlement). Madikeri Earlier known as Mercara, it is the district headquarters of Kodagu (Coorg) district and the capital of the erstwhile Kodava Kingdom. The local language is Kodava, however, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English are spoken and understood very well. Situated at an elevation of 1150m, the town offers serene hilly landscape around and has a subtle climate, which can be warm during the day and mildly chilly during the night. A city with rich traditions and history, Madikeri has contributed in lar...

Kodagu district, better known by its old name Coorg, is among the most popular destination for tourists in Karnataka. Famous for its coffee plantations with quaint colonial bungalows and green topped rolling hills, Coorg is located on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats. Because of its lush green landscape, Coorg is often called the Scotland of India. There is not too much to do in terms of activities or places to visit and that is probably why Coorg is an ideal destination to relax in the company of family and friends. And in few places, mobile data connectivity is poor, adding to the sense of isolation! How to get to Coorg Coorg does not have an airport or a railway network. The only way to reach Coorg is by road. Nearest airports/train stations are at Kannur in Kerala or Mangalore/Mysore in Karnataka. By road from Bengaluru From Bengaluru, Madikeri, the district headquarters and the largest town, is 250-275kms away, depending on the route taken. While the traditional route through Mysore continues to be popular, the route via NH 75 to Channarayapattana, and then onto Holenarsipur, Kushalnagar and Madikeri is faster. Madikeri is about 120kms from Mysore and the journey takes almost 3 hours. The condition of road was good only in patches when I travelled. It is also a two lane road and with traffic heavy, bringing down the average speed. Overall, it can take 7 hours or more from Bengaluru to Madikeri with two short breaks. The other route via NH75 is great until Channaray...

Coorg is known for its Coffee Plantations. It is ideally not a hill station but a district named as Kodagu (Coorg) in the Indian state of Karnataka and has to offer many locations for sightseeing, and road trips in and around 80~100 kms of radius. We visited Coorg in January 2015. Coorg secures the top-rated position among Karnataka tourism for being the most travelled destination. Coorg is a perfect place for both shorter or longer duration trips. You can easily keep 2-3 days, if you are planning for a trip to Coorg. It was the British Planter community who affectionately coined the term ‘The Scotland of India’ for Coorg. Most of the planters were Scots and the uncanny similarities between both places earned Coorg that nickname. Also like Scotland, Coorg is mountainous, misty and cool. Places that we visited: Madikeri: If you’re in Coorg, most likely you’ll find yourself in Madikeri at some point. Madikeri is a beautiful hill station and the headquarters of Coorg. Bylakuppe (A little Tibet)(Tibetan Monastery Golden Temple): In the midst of all the coffee and forest is a surprising little Tibetan settlement in the form of Bylakuppe. Around 40 km southwards of Madikeri, the Namdroling monastery is located in Bylakuppe. It is built on the land donated to the Tibetian refugees by the Government of India. This is the second largest Tibetan settlement after Dharmsala. The interior of the temple has some of the largest and most fascinating Buddha statues. Nisargadkhama: Nisargad...