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
