A blend of mythology, history and scenic locales, Madikeri is every traveller’s dream. Nothing like a weekend trip here to rejuvenate your tired soul, writes Swapna Dutta

It is a sluggish, cloudy morning. We are on our way to Madikeri, a place known for its calm, cool, peaceful and pollution free atmosphere. The very word Coorg spells wooded slopes and colourful scenery. Also, coffee and cardamom; black pepper and honey. The landscape is somewhat rugged but the misty mountain ranges that comprise ridge after ridge of lush, green forest reaching out to the bright blue sky is a sight to behold. The road is remarkably smooth and well-maintained and we are hardly aware that we have been climbing up steadily. It is easy to understand why Coorg was one of the places the British chose to settle down and continued to occupy it for over a hundred years; it was their ‘ Scotland of India’.

Madikeri, the charming capital of Coorg district, is located at an elevation of 1,525m above sea level. As we look around, breathing in the refreshing mountain air, we see the red-tiled bungalows that dot the hillside and a bustling market place at the heart of the city. There are acres and acres of tea and coffee plantations, orange groves, and undulating paths — all in all, a breathtaking view. The place also has a distinct old world charm about it.

Madikeri or Mercara, as it was called earlier, was founded in 1681 by Muddu Raja, a prince from the Haleri dynasty. It was originally called Muddurajakeri and was later shortened to Madikeri. Apart from being one of the most picturesque hill stations in South India, it is also the place from where the river Cauvery originates. It is generally believed that Coorg was ruled mainly by chieftains and local princes until the 17th Century. A number of inscriptions and copper plates found in different parts of the state denote that it was under different dynasties at different times; the Gangas, the Haleris, the Kadambas, the Cholas, the Kongalvas, the Changalvas, the Hoysalas and the Nayakatas being the most prominent ones among them.

The main sights of Madikeri town include the charming well-tended park in the heart of the city known as the Raja’s seat. It is said to be the place from where kings watched the setting sun along with their queens. The pavilion offers a gorgeous view of towering hills, green valleys full of paddy fields and forests and the road that looks like a curved ribbon lying way down below.

We next visit the Omkareshwara temple built by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1820. The temple that has a beautiful tank in front is a mixture of Gothic and Islamic architecture. The Madikeri fort, an imposing structure that can be seen from almost the entire town, was originally built as a mud fort by Mudduraja along with a palace in the 17th Century. It was later rebuilt with granite by Tipu Sultan. When the British took over, they added a portico and a clock tower to the building. The fort building now houses a prison, a temple, a chapel, a museum and assorted government offices.

There are a number of tombs and memorials of historical importance in Madikeri. There is the Raja’s tomb which is a beautiful structure. The others comprise the tombs of Lingarajendra built in 1820 by his son, the tomb of a royal priest Rudrappa built in 1834 and the tombs of two brave soldiers who died fighting with Tipu Sultan.

The next day we make our way to the Talacauvery, located 44 km away from Madikeri on the slope of the Brahmagiri hills where the Cauvery originates. It is one of the important sacred places in Karnataka and is always full of pilgrims.

The place is marked by a tirtha kundike or a tank where the river emerges as a perennial spring and flows underground again, emerging a short distance away. From Talacauvery there are steps leading to the peak of the Brahmagiri from where one can get a panoramic view of the whole place.

How to get there

Madikeri does not have an airport; the nearest one is in Mangalore from where one can hire a taxi to get there. KSRTC runs a number of buses to and from Madikeri which are quite comfortable. Depending on where you live, hiring a taxi or going by car is also a good option as it is difficult to find local transport for sightseeing. From Bangal­ore it takes just under six hours to get there.

Stay is not a problem as there are a number of budget hotels, homestays, medium range and luxury hotels as well as resorts. But it is always advisable to book in advance as the place could well be full of tourists and pilgrims just when you plan to visit it.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by Swapna Dutta / July 16th, 2013

Monsoon brings its share of troubles to the binge-traveller. But some of the travel destinations are best visited during the monsoon, one of these is Madikeri, ‘The Scotland Of India’. Among the most beautiful hill-stations in Southern India, Madikeri is a haven for nature lovers and trekkers. It is the capital of Coorg district, Karnataka. Formerly known as Muddurajakeri, Madikeri was named after the prominent Haleri king, Mudduraja who ruled Kodagu from 1633-1687. Poets have often referred to Madikeri as full of mystique on account of its unsurpassable beauty and romantic weather.

Madikeri lies on the Karnataka State Highway 88 that runs from Mysore to Mangalore. From Bangalore, this hill station is at a distance of 252 km. A hub of rich tradition and culture, Madikeri is one place that should be on your ‘must-visit’ list. The main tourist attractions are the Raja’s seat, Madikeri Fort, Omkareshwara temple, Abbey falls, Bhagamandala temple, Nisarga Dhama and Namdroling Buddhist Monastery.

Raja’s seat basically is a garden with a beautiful panoramic view of the Kodagu valley and offers you one of the best views of sunset and sunrise.

Madikeri Fort- A must visit: The famous Madikeri Fort was built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. Two life size masonry elephants are located in the north-east corner of the entrance and a church is located in the south-east corner. The uniqueness of the Omkareshwara temple is that it is built according to the Mohammedan architecture and attracts a large number of devotees.

A landmark of sorts: Abbey falls, one of the most beautiful falls in India, is 7-9 kilometres from Madikeri. The falls are inside a coffee plantation. A hanging bridge has now been built across the gorge here offering a good view of the falls. The source of river Cauvery known as Talakaveri is found in Madikeri.

The Tibetan Golden Temple: Namdroling monastery also known as the Tibetan golden temple is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. This monastery located around 6 kms from Kushalnagar is basically a Tibetan settlement at Bylukuppe and is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 7,000 monks and students living at the monastery. The 40 ft tall golden Buddha statues are the major attractions here.

The walls of the temples are decorated with colourful paintings, depicting gods and demons from Tibetan Buddhist mythology.

The monastery not only attracts large number of young Tibetans seeking enlightenment and education, but also draws tourists from all over the world.

A trekker’s paradise: Madikeri is also a trekker’s paradise. Mountains such as Thadiyandamale, Pushpagiri and Kotebetta offer some of the best trekking experiences.Thadiyandamole is the highest peak here and should not be missed.Igguthappa Kundu, Brahmagiri and Nishanimotte are micro hotspots of bio-diversity in South India and are also amazing places for trekking.

Pork is a delicacy: Madikeri is famous for coffee and pork. It is one of the few places in India where pork is a delicacy.No matter what you do in Madikeri make sure that you pick up a bottle of authentic Coorg honey.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Sandeep S – Bangalore / July 1th, 2013