The land of warriors and home of the famous Coorgi Pork, Coorg (officially called Kodagu) is peppered with coffee plantations, gurgling streams and tumbledown town markets. Once the base of some of the most powerful empires in south India, Coorg will enchant you in more ways than you can imagine!

Madikeri (Mercara) is famously known as the "Scotland of India" for no lesser reasons. Quaint cottages, waterfalls, plantations, serenity and peace are all pervasive here. The warrior clan of Kodavas who have called Coorg their home over centuries, today offer an insight into their unique culture with good cheer and warm nature.

Explore lush wilderness at Nagarhole National Park, picnic by the majestic Iruppu Falls, stroll along Madikeri's enchanting evening market, enjoy rafting on Barapole River, trail into the unknown depths towards the Brahmagiri Peak, and discover Coorg"s rich history with a visit to Raja's Seat, Talacauvery, Madikeri Fort or Bhagamandala. Also tour coffee plantations or gorge on spicy, Coorgi curry at a local restaurant. The hills will soothe your mind beyond compare.

From hockey festivals to traditional archery, the fervent love for eco-tourism and nature, and the oh-so-obvious love of food and wine, Coorg will bowl you over indefinitely.

Places to see

Art lovers can visit the Nalkand Palace, which is a historical icon of sorts. The Raja's Seat and the Madikeri Fort are also worth a visit. There is a unique museum with memoirs of ancient warrior souvenirs like idols, cannons, swords and more, which makes this an exciting place to visit. The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe has a majestic gold Buddha and you can also witness life in a monastery here. It is home to the largest settlement of Tibetans outside Tibet. The Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery - the largest teaching centre of the Nyingmapa lineage - is home to over 5000 lamas, and is known for its three gilded Buddhas.

Bhagamandala is a sacred site of ancient temples. It also marks the confluence of the Cauvery and Kanika rivers and is joined by a third river, Sujyothi underground. Waterfalls like Mallalli Waterfalls, Abbey Falls, Chalwaara Falls and Irupu Falls are fantastic natural getaways.

Adventure enthusiasts will love visiting the Dubare Forest near Kushalnagar and dropping by at an elephant training camp in the morning. Rides are open 10:00 in the morning to Noon.

Coorgs three main mountain peaks - Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri and Tadiyendamol, are excellent for trekking. Tadiyendamol, the highest point in Coorg and second-largest in Karnataka, is a challenge for the brave hearted. Kotebetta is an awesome place to trek.

Enjoy Ultralight Flying (Microlight Flying) on Coorg. Flights take off from nearby paddy fields and you can get a majestic view of the Brahmagiri range straddling high between Heaven and Earth. Also try off-roading on the trail through Somwarpet, Coorgs coffee heartland, and feel the adrenalin rush as you speed through foliage, estates and forests.

Kakkabe is home to rare wildlife species like Pangolin, Barking Deer and Flying Squirrel, and beautiful woodlands. The area is lush through the year. Maybe due to the nearby Padi Igguthappa Temple, which houses the Kodava rain god, Iguthappa? Nisargadama and Barapole Rivers offer great white-water rafting fun.

Places to eat

Coorg is the largest producer of coffee in India, home to some of the world's best coffee. A cup of steaming coffee and a plate of hot Pakoras at the Tata Plantation Trails is all you need to refresh your senses.

A plate of good Pandi Curry with a generous serving of Kadumbuttu (dumplings) teamed up with other unusual dishes like Nool Puttu (rice noodle dish) or Bembla (gravy made of bamboo shoot) is a must-eat. Juices of Nellikai, Kaipuli, and Passion fruit are particular favourites in every Coorgi household. To get a taste of authentic Coorgi food, check yourself into a traditional Coorgi homestay. Aiyappa's Estate Home, Bopanna's Homestay and Tata Plantation Trails are popular ones.

Coorg Cuisinette and the East End Hotel serve traditional Kodava favourites. Upscale lovers can enjoy a romantic Coorgi meal at the Club Mahindra Resort Hotel or Hotel Coorg International. Vegetarians will love the Sri Krishna Bhavan, Mayura Valley View Hotel and the Udipi Hotel here where vegetarian delights are fresh and aplenty.

Things to Do

Coorg-ians are known for their hospitality. When invited for a meal at a traditional home, it is customary that the hostess asks all those at the table 'Ellaarku Ethichaa?' (Has everyone been served?), to which you must only reply after everyone finishes their meal when she asks Kai Bai Othathaa? (Are all your hands and mouths content?).

Check into any of Coorg's eco-tourism lodges and wild escapes and enjoy a memorable experience. Two endangered species found here are the Indian White-backed Vulture and Nilgiri Laughingthrush. Others birds like the Great Pied Hornbill, the White-bellied Treepie, the Blue-winged Parakeet and White-bellied Blue Flycatchers can be spotted in Coorg.

Oranges, homemade chocolates, local wine, spices, cardamom, coffee, pepper and honey are must-buys. The Friday Market in Madikeri is a great place to visit. A traditional Kodava sword, Peeche Kathi, is a nice addition as well.

Campingbeneath the stars is a popular activity here. Others head to enjoy a late night drink at the famous North Coorg Club, one of the oldest clubs in the country.

At the Kunde Habba Festival, local tribes abuse Lord Aiyappa with Kunde songs (abusive songs) and since most of them are labourers, they are allowed to swear and abuse their employers as well!

Cauvery Sankramana marks the birth of Cauvery, and witnesses devotees throng the Tala Cauvery for prayers in October. Legend has it that Goddess Cauvery appeared on a fine October morning, and manifested herself from a small tank.

Local Customs

A birth of a boy in a family is marked with a single gunshot while the death of a family member is marked by two. Guns hold an important place in a Coorg-ian's life. A whole festival - Keil Murtha - dedicated to the worship of guns.

The one thing that Coorg-ians cannot live without is alcohol. No celebration begins without a good swig of the bottle. The high point of celebration when the bar runs free here is the wedding, where the bridegroom slashes mock bamboo soldiers with his dagger before he marries the girl. Strangely, though Coorgs are Hindus, priests do not perform their marriage rites. The revelry begins soon after with everyone dancing, drinking and making merry over the wedding feast. Kodava dancing is a sight to behold. The traditional Kombat, Couriat, Piliyat, Bolakat, Kolat and Ummalat dances are common at all religious functions. Women in Coorg are much heralded in folklore as men; free from child marriage, prostitution, gender bias and polygamy, they are treated with great respect.

Wildlife

Kakkabe is a natural museum of sorts. The rainforest is filled with exotic and rare animal and bird species. A few animals one can spot here are the Pangolin, Barking Deer and the Flying Squirrel. During monsoon, the trails are infested with leeches. Birdwatchers will love spending time here to view a variety of birds. Bird species like the Red-wattled Lapwing, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Black-rumped Flameback, Red-rumped Swallow, Oriental Magpie Robin and the Crimson-backed Sunbird are exceptional sights when in Coorg.

Nagarhole National Park is a great place to discover Coorg's unique wildlife. Early mornings are the best to spot animals here, like the Indian Gaur or Jungle Bison!

Traveller Tips

• Beware of leeches while trekking in Kotebetta as they can prove a nightmare if you aren't prepared!

Century-old English architecture, a rich yet equally confusing Anglican tradition, gabled cottages set amidst mystifying blue hills, Ooty is perhaps the only hill station that has refused to keep fair-weather friends. So much so, at some point, it was called Snooty Ooty' even by the early Madras government, for its notorious snobbishness tells it from the rest of Tamil Nadu. Guarding its warbled British, Anglo-Indian, and native heritage while slowly giving in to commercialisation, Ooty or Ootacamund still manages to lure those in need of low-key rest and relaxation.
Walk the length of Commercial Road, spend a day strolling by the misty Ooty Lake, or gorge on some hot Bondas and a cup of Cardamom Tea from a tea stall. It is hard not to fall in love with its temperament. Calm, cool and collected are not just keywords here, but a way of life.

Soak in the beauty of the hills from the toy train (the Nilgiri Mountain Railway) as it chugs along the hillside just as it did hundreds of years ago, ever so often stopping for no rhyme or reason. Get a snapshot of the 20 million year old fossil tree stump at the Botanical Gardens where it is overshadowed by a thousand other rare plants. Sink into the crumbling, torn seat at the Assembly Rooms theatre and watch a movie that probably released years ago. Lick on a puffy pink swirl of cotton candy as you skim through second hand book stalls that still sell obsolete prints. Taste Anglo-Indian delights at the stately British Fern Hills Palace, the former summer retreat of the Mysore Maharaja and let the sounds of the piano gently lull you to sleep soon after.

Run across the untouched wilderness of Avalanche Reservoir, and try your hand at Trout fishing in the ramshackle Wilson Fish Farm nearby. Squint and swipe with your lucky hand at the 100 year old Ootacamund Golf Course or mumble a prayer at the century-old St. Stephen's Church as the last rays of sun illuminate the altar through beautifully glass-painted windows. Enjoy a late evening walk as the last strains of the choir waft in the breeze onto town. There is simply no denying that Ooty remains regal, ravishing and royal no matter when you visit. See for yourself...

Places to See

Ooty has fiercely protected its old countryside charm from modernisation and a lot of covert historical gems can be found here. The century-old St Stephen's Church, a gothic architectural specimen made out of woods carried up the hill by Tipu Sultan's elephants.

Stonehouse (Kal Bangla), the first house in the hills built by John Sullivan, is neatly surrounded by gardens in the premises of the Government Arts College with a 150 year old Sullivan's Oak tree towering over the window. The famous Ooty Lake, artificially created by John Sullivan, continues to lure tourists despite its deterioration. Horse riding, cycling and golf are popular among visitors here.

The Botanical Gardens on the slopes of the Dodabetta Peak,have over 1000 species of plants here. Take special notice of the fossil tree trunk set in the middle, it is over 20 million years old. Stunning purple coloured jacaranda trees set the townside ablaze with colour with their pretty flowers. Another sight to see is the Othakkaimanthu village, above Botanical Gardens, that is one of the few Toda communes that are scattered along the hillside. With huts like igloos, and thatched temples, they recount an untold history of the hills.

In Commercial Road, the hub of life in Ooty, life is a different story; children in prim school blazers surf at internet centres and tourists chatter busily over coffee. The newly opened Café Coffee Day at Church Hill road is somewhat out of place. Next, drive down to Avalanche Reservoir, for a trek in complete wilderness.

If you are a wildlife enthusiast, take a trip to Mudumalai Sanctuary (around 67 km from Ooty). The terrain is ridden with deep ravines, hidden waterholes and interesting wildlife. You can arrange accommodation at a forest guesthouse here and enjoy an elephant safari on warmer days. And if you don't want to wander far away from city, the Deer Park, a short distance from Ooty Lake, is home to animals like Chital, Sambar and the Wild Hare.

Things to Do

Ooty Lake is a popular tourist hangout where you can enjoy long walks, horse-riding and boating. Wildlife and adventure enthusiasts will love a visit to a tea plantation, Dodabetta's Peak, Deer Park, Glenmorgan, Ketti Valley or Avalanche Reservoir.

The Gymkhana Golf Course is great on a warm summer afternoon. Take a day off to explore St Stephen's Church, the Stone house, St Thomas Church and the main shopping street, Commercial Road.

Places to Eat

Business continues as usual since long in yesteryear roadside eateries like the Kurinji Hotel in Charing Cross, which serves piping hot, crispy dosas in the morning. Hotel Nahar close to the bus stand is a hands-down vegetarian favourite with its fresh north and south Indian delights. Shinkow's (also known as Zodiac Room) on Commissioner's Road is run by a Chinese couple and serves great Momos and Chopsuey. If you feel like having a drink, Bacchus Bar has drinks over the counter and Zyr, with its ultra blue ambience is a nice place to relax with your favourite potion.

What more? Delight in some hillside Anglo-Indian food at the Curry and Rice Restaurant at the Fern Hills Palace. If your love for the Raj is great, there is nothing better than enjoying the sprawling view from this former summer palace and letting the aroma of Farm-style Chicken, classic Shrimp Bisque, and rich Curry seduce your senses. Sink into the plush Queen Anne sofas and let yourself drown in the era with the ambience of the Fox Hunt Bar, which once seated the Maharaja's favourite huntsmen. The stuffed animal head trophies and other memorabilia that adorn the walls make for late evening conversation as the sun sets.

If you are in the mood to indulge, Khyber, an outdoor restaurant in the Fortune Resort Sullivan Court is a great place to enjoy the view of the valley as you sip on evening tea. The Valley Bar in Hotel Gem Park is the perfect spot for light drinks and snacks.

Shopping

With fresh tea, aromatic eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates, and tribal jewellery, shopping in Ooty's Commercial Road is a delight. Old time favourites continue to lure tourists over the years, unchanged and timeless. Higginbotham's is a great place to pick up a book or two to read at your hotel. The Big Shop has interesting traditional silver jewellery pieces, albeit for a stiff price. Homemade chocolates are exceptional at the tiny hole-in-the-wall King Star Bakery in Charing Cross right near Shivani Supermarket. You can choose from an assortment of almond, fruit-n-nut, milk and dark chocolates here.
Shivani Supermarket and Chellarams departmental store rule the roost as the largest and longest running necessity stops for the locals. From organic produce to farm honey and other quick buys, there are plenty of keepsakes to take home; traditionally hand knitted woollies, tribal embroidered bags, and wooden key chains are popular buys.