Experience the magic of Coorg - The Ultimate Weekend Getaway from Bangalore!

 Places to visit outside Bengaluru?

Thinking of the Best places to visit on a budget outside Bangalore on a weekend getaway? 

Visit Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, is located 242 kms away from Bangalore and is lush green with natural forests. It is connected by road and rail! Coorg has homestays, hotels and friendly folks who make good food and best coffee. 

Coorg - A hill station on the Western Ghats blessed with mist-covered hills, milky waterfalls, lush valleys, and lakes that create an Instagram-worthy backdrop in your mind for the rest of your life.

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the hills, as you walk through famous coffee plantations, spice gardens, and fragrant orange orchards. Don't miss the opportunity to witness the mesmerizing sunrise or sunset over the rolling hills, providing a soothing view of the dense green tropical forests! 

How to travel to Coorg on a budget from Bangalore? 

by Bus -

 Go to Kemegowda Bus Stand and purchase a ticket to Mysore or purchase it online from KSRTC to reach Madikeri directly.

 by Train -

 A break journey is inevitable as there is no direct way to reach Coorg by train. Head over to Madikeri by hopping into an overnight KSRTC Bus. Trains are better for those with motion sickness and low tolerance for buses flying down pin-bend curves on the road. You can visit Majestic Train Station or visit IRCTC's website to make a booking online.

1. Bangalore to Mysore by Train

 2. Mysore to Madikeri/Coorg by Bus/Cab - I took a local bus early in the morning with my friend as our train reached Mysore by 4 am. It took us 5 hours to cover 100 kms by public transport back in 2010!

3. Take an auto to the Mysore Bus Stand and board a bus going to Madikeri. The route was green and the air crisp. 

Places to stay in Coorg?

One of the benefits of traveling on a budget or back packing is exploring local culture and cuisine by staying in a Home Stay. 

We wanted to stay in a coffee estate and shortlisted the Shanti Estate Homestay which offers basic amenities that are clean. Moreover the staff is warm and fluent in Kanada and English. Google Maps Direction

Go trekking in the property and explore the stream flowing right through it. Picture perfect for meditation or even a painting, if you have an artistic bend. There was no TV when we had visited this place so be prepared to hire a vehicle to explore places in the vicinity. 

While hot water was there, cleanliness was not upto the mark and if they could improve the bathrooms cleaning it may make the experience better. 

It was a couple friendly place but maynot be as exciting for family. 

Explore the Local Cuisine of Coorg

We were honoured to be served hot local cuisines that go well in chilly places like Coorg. 

1. Pandi (Pork) Curry with Poori or rice. The dish is tangy and packed with spices and very juicy to remove your depression! This is a Kodava Special that boasts of black pepper, grown abundantly in Coorg. 

2. Vegetable Stew with Akkioti (flat bread made of rice flour)

3. Coconut Chutney and Poori, are my favourite!

Don't forget to taste their coffee, as it not only smelt heavenly but tasted much better than CCD.

Best Things to do in Coorg for Adventure Tourists:-

1. Trek and hike the peaks of Tadiandmol & Pushpagir in the Western Ghats

2. White water rafting in Barapole River

3. Safari, bird watching in Nagarhole National Park & Pushpagiri National Park

4. Coffee plantation tours 

Feel free to ask me anything and I will try to answer at the earliest.