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The closest airports to Madikeri are at Mysore (120 km), Mangalore (135 km) and Bangalore
(260 km). The nearest railheads are at Mangalore, Mysore and Hassan (146 km). You can get
to Madikeri from any of these cities by taxi, bus or car. The drive from Bangalore to
Madikeri is about 6 hours. Auto rickshaws and taxis are available for moving around within
Madikeri.
Best time to go
Madikeri is a year round destination, but
the best season to visit in is winter - October to April - when the weather is cool and
there is a delightful nip in the air. The winter temperatures are around 15-20° C during
the day and 9° C at night. Carry light woollens and walking shoes.
Room with a view
Madikeri has hotels, motels, guesthouses and tourist lodges to suit every budget. There
are some picturesque resorts around Madikeri. It's best to book in advance in winter.
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From
Bangalore
Amidst cloud-capped hills and thick forests, coffee plantations and tea gardens is the
evergreen hill station of Madikeri, in the Coorg district of Karnataka. This is a
wonderful holiday destination, both for the tranquility inspired by the landscape and the
unmistakable charm of the Kodava people.
Madikeri is just made for walking and marvelling at nature. The air is redolent with the
fragrance of flowers and coffee blossoms. All around are fields of red berries, teak wood
forests, coffee plantations, cardamom and pepper fields. Peaceful mountain trails snake up
the hillside while the tallest peak Tadiyendamol, dominates them all.
Close to the 19th century Madikeri Fort is Raja's Seat, where the King of Kodagu used to
watch the last rays of the sun at dusk. This is still a spot to view spectacular sunsets.
You can climb up the 363 steps to the summit of Brahmagiri Hill, from where you can get a
magnificent view of the mountainside. The Cauveri River starts as a tiny mountain spring
at Talcauvery and weaves its course over the hills. Little streams and rivulets, gathering
momentum come cascading down the mountains as waterfalls. Don't miss the awesome Irrupu
Falls and the Abbey Waterfalls, the Bhagamandala or confluence of three rivers, the
Harangi Dam, and the Cauvery Nisargadhama, a bamboo island.
While in Madikeri, be adventurous and try Coorg cuisine, which is delightfully different,
spicy and smattered with Greek influences. Try the Panthi or spicy pork curry, the Koli or
chicken curry and the delicious rice rotis. And if you want to take a little bit of Coorg
back with you, pick up some delicately flavoured Coorg honey and the highly aromatic
coffee from one of the many outlets scattered about town. |
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