Kodagu (Coorg), the thickly wooded grandeur on the Western Ghats, is the most beautiful hill station of Karnataka. It is the home of Kodava people. Madikeri (Mercara) is the headquarters of the district. Kodagu is situated at 4000ft above sea level. Madikeri is full of dense forests, plantations, orange groves and paddy fields. Madikeri is 124km from Mysore and 248km from Bangalore. Paved roads connect Madikeri to other parts of the state.

Abbey falls, formerly known as Jesse falls is a good picnic spot. The fort that houses government offices now and Omkareswara Temple are of tourist interest in Madikeri.

Nagarhole National Park (77km): Spread over 570sq.km this wild life sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Kabini River. A rewarding stopover for the wild life enthusiasts, this sanctuary has tigers, leopards, elephants and many species of monkeys and deer. More

Talakaveri (40km): The sacred River Kaveri originates here. The annual Kaveri Jatra begins on the Tula Samkramana day in October. The annual festival in April attracts large gathering.

Places of Interest in Kolar

Kolar town is the headquarters of the district. Until 4th century AD kolar was the capital of Gannas. In the 11th century, the Cholas annexed it. Later it came under Vijayanagar rule. In 1768 British took it over and gave to Tipu Sultan in 1792. Kolar is well connected with rail and road.

Kolaramma Temple built by Rajendra Chola, The Makbara of Fateh Mohamed, father of Hyder Ali and the Kolar Betta hill are places of interest in Kolar.

Kolar gold Fields: The gold mines here has the deepest mine shaft in the world. A double-decked elevator takes the visitors down where they can the gold bearing rocks.

Nandi Hills: Located 60km from Bangalore, a range of craggy hills, It is a popular health resort of today. It was also the place where assorted royalty retired to escape the din of battle and heat of summer.

Places of Interest in Mandya

Mandya district is on the southeastern part of Karnataka. Rivers Kaveri, Hemavati, Lokapavani and Shimsha flow through the district and give the district religious importance and scenic beauty. Mandya town is the headquarters of the district. Rail and roads connect Mandya to important parts of the state.

Brindavan Gardens (43km): Though normally associated with Mysore, the garden is situated in Mandya district. These gardens are laid out beside the Krishnarajasagar dam. This immensely popular gardens stretch out in terraces along the length of the dam. Innumerable fountains and pools complement many beautiful flowerbeds and lawns. In the night the garden is transformed into a fairyland with swirling fountains dancing to the music and colourful fairy lights.

Kokrebellur Bird Sanctuary (20km): This small bird sanctuary attracts migrating cranes, painted storks, pelicans and other birds from Australia, Africa and Europe. The best season to watch the birds is October-March.

Maddur: It was originally known as Arjunapura after the pilgrimage of Arjuna, the Pandava Prince. The Narasimha temple of the Hoysala period built of black stone and the pre-Chola Varadaraja Temple are important among the temples here.

Sivasamudram (44km): Forested hills and valleys surround this island town. The River Kaveri cascades into two waterfalls and plunges into a depth of 100m. the falls are best viewed in its full glory during Monsoon (Jul-Nov).

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (36km): 4km from Srirangapattana, this bird sanctuary is a feast for the eyes of bird watchers. Migratory birds from Siberia and even Americas are seen here. A boar ride around the many islets offers a wonderful view of herons, ibis, storks, cormorants and other water birds.