April 2011 Good Friday weekend I went to Coorg and trip was good except few unplanned things after detailed R&D. I stayed in Coorg Regency Hotel which is in the medikeri - Bangalore main road itself. Hotel stay is very good and convincing. I got many of the details from Bangalore only through a travel coordinator - Alags - He helped me completely in booking hotel to cab for local sight seeing in Coorg.
All my friends/colleagues recommended me for Home stay only. Coorg Home stays are very famous. But its worth only for people in group. Minimum 4 adults who are fun loving and like to be outside. They should go for long walk in estate and country side. For people who don’t like much of walk wont enjoy anything other than the food in Home Stays. A good Home stay will start from Rs.1100/- per head. 90% of them are around Kushal Nagar.
Kushal Nagar is a beautiful place but not a hill station and it come 30km before Medikeri only . Kushal Nagar contains Coffee Estates and these estates have Home stay facility.
People going on public transport will have to get down in Kushal Nagar. Most of the Home Stay will provide you pick/drop. But that will be charged. for every distance and travel they charge. I booked ticket in KSRTC VOLVO AC. So I felt why should I get down in middle and pay for everything. More over I went with my wife so we went directly to Medikere.
To Coorg from Bangalore :
Best mode of travel : KSRTC VOLVO Ac / Own vehicle.
Should book both the ways is very much advisable before starting.
If you have a own vehicle don’t hesitate go in Car only. Excellent road. No worry of hill drive. Broad and less traffic. Not even one hair pin bend.
Best Stay:*
Home Stays
Minimum of 4 members as group will have fun , Own vehicle is better & for only people love to walk.
Best Hotel:*
Medikere: Coorg Regency, GT road (Bangalore Main rd)
If you are going by Bus you can tell driver to stop infront of hotel only. All the places in Medikere are very closer
Raja Seat 0.5km Bus stand – 1 km 4 good restaurants around. Price is best. Well maintained rooms. Opposite to EAST END hotel best for break fast.
Restaurants:*
Break fast :
If stay in COORG REGENCY and the restaurant there is good – Coorg Sahara – Masala Dosa, Onion Uthappa & Coffee
EAST END – Egg Masala Dosa , Kesari bath & Coffee
Neel Sagar – Next to Medikere police station
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Lunch :
Coorg Cusine in main road only for Best Coorg food - opposite to Post office – a must go one.
EAST END in GT Main road opposite to Coorg regency hotel.
Dinner:
Coorg Cusine in main road only for Best Coorg food - opposite to Post office – a must go one.
For pure vegetarians – all 3 times - Neel Sagar only.
Any restaurants service is very slow. So going early is advisable to spare time for sight seeing.
Best Buy:*
Honey & Cardamom
Honey you should buy only Coorg Co-operative society made ( labled)
Local honey is tasty but not no guarantee of quality and purity.
Best Shopping place for hill products:*
Coorg Co-operative society
Opposite to Indian Post office.
Main road.
Coorg Cardamom corporation
A small shop in same road.
All these you can find in a walk only in main road between circle to KSRTC bus stand and everything close to each other
Places Must See :
- Cauvery Nisargadama:
Elephant ride, deer park & water fun inside.
- Tibet colony
Don’t miss the shopping complex there. Good collection of products for sale.
- Abbey falls
7kms from Medikere
Don’t go there by your own vehicle very bad road. If 4 members use a cab or if 2 use auto from medikere – Rs.200/- only.
All there above places you can go in cab ( if you go by bus, but for Abbey falls don’t take your own vehicle) from medikere town and they charge between 1300 – 1500. best method and deal.
If you go by your own vehicle you can visit Cauvery Nisargadama and Tibet colony on the way only to Medikere.
Must see in Medikere town:
Morning – Omkaleshwar temple
Palace and a small museum
Afternoon – Abbey falls
Evening – Must go to Raja Seat*
Best place for all age group and 6:45 fountain show is excellent.
Talacauvery:
Very good place and origin of river Cauvery. But 40kms from Medikere. One day will go in that travel. Narrow and steep road. If it’s a 2 day tour – avoidable.
Best Travel Coordinator :*
Mr. Alags ( 99860 03274 )
He don’t charge anything from you and helps you the best way for all.
Helps you in A-Z
Best Wishes to your trip.