3 Days in Coorg: A Day-by-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day one stays around Madikeri, Coorg's main town: the Omkareshwara Temple, the old fort and Abbi Falls in the coffee estates. Day two heads east to the Kaveri for Dubare elephant camp and the bamboo island of Nisargadhama, then the Tibetan Golden Temple at Bylakuppe. Day three climbs to Mandalpatti by jeep, visits the royal tombs and General Thimayya's birthplace, and ends with sunset at Raja's Seat.
Good to Know
Estimated total per person: ₹3,400 to ₹6,300, excluding flights, hotel and some gate fees
Weather: Pleasant most of the year. The monsoon from June to September is very heavy, with full waterfalls but slippery roads and leeches; winter is cool and misty.
Pack:
Comfortable shoes with a good grip
A light jacket for misty mornings
Rain gear and leech socks in the monsoon
Insect repellent
Local tips:
Coorg's sights are spread out; hire a cab for the day rather than relying on buses.
Many homestays sit on working coffee estates and offer plantation walks; ask yours.
Buy coffee, pepper, cardamom and homemade wine from local shops in Madikeri.
Booking tips:
Stay in or near Madikeri to keep drives short.
Book homestays early for long weekends and December.
Getting there (from other Indian cities):
car: Bengaluru to Madikeri via Mysuru, about 260 km; KSRTC buses also run the route - About 5 to 6 hours
flight: Fly to Mangaluru, Kannur or Bengaluru, then drive - About 3 to 4 hours by road from Mangaluru or Kannur
train: Trains to Mysuru, the nearest major station, about 120 km from Madikeri - About 3 hours by road from Mysuru
Coorg is the district; Madikeri is its main town and the best base for this itinerary.
Avoid driving the ghat roads at night in the monsoon.
Day 1: Madikeri and Abbi Falls
Madikeri town in the morning, with the Omkareshwara Temple and the old fort, then out through the coffee estates to Abbi Falls.
Omkareshwara Temple (morning): Start at the Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri, built in 1820 by the Kodava king Lingarajendra II. This Shiva temple is unusual for its domes and corner towers, which look more like a mosque, and it faces a tank with a small pavilion in the middle. Free Why visit: A Shiva temple built in an unusual domed style; Calm temple tank in the middle of town Know before you go: Dress modestly and leave shoes outside
Madikeri Fort (late morning): Walk a few minutes to Madikeri Fort. The first fort here was of mud; Tipu Sultan rebuilt it in stone in the late 1700s. Inside the walls stand the old palace of the Kodava kings, now government offices, and a colonial church that houses a small museum. Free, the museum inside may charge a small fee Why visit: The stone walls and gateways of Coorg's old capital; Views over Madikeri from the ramparts Know before you go: Parts of the palace are offices and closed to visitors
Abbi Falls (afternoon): Take a cab about 8 km from Madikeri to Abbi Falls, through coffee and pepper estates. A path with steps leads down to a hanging bridge facing the falls, which are at their fullest just after the monsoon. A small entry ticket at the gate Why visit: Coorg's best-known waterfall; A walk through coffee estates to reach it Know before you go: The steps back up are steep; Swimming is not allowed
Eat: Coorg Cuisine - A Madikeri restaurant for Kodava food: pandi curry (pork), kadambuttu rice balls and akki roti.
Evening: Walk Madikeri's main market for coffee, spices and homemade wines.
Budget for the day: ₹850 to ₹1,700 per person, excluding hotel and some gate fees
Day 2: Dubare, Nisargadhama and the Golden Temple
East to the Kaveri river for the elephants of Dubare and the bamboo island of Nisargadhama, then the Namdroling Monastery, the Golden Temple of the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe.
Dubare Elephant Camp (morning): Drive about 30 km east to Dubare on the Kaveri, home to the forest department's working elephants. Since 2026 visitors watch the elephants from a barricaded viewing area during set morning sessions; touching, feeding and bathing them are no longer allowed. Entry tickets and time-slot tokens at the counter; check the current fee Why visit: Forest department elephants on the Kaveri; A green riverside setting Know before you go: Arrive early in the morning for the viewing session; Stay behind the barricades and follow staff instructions
Nisargadhama (late morning): Drive about 15 minutes to Nisargadhama near Kushalnagar, an island in the Kaveri reached by a hanging bridge. Paths run through tall bamboo groves to the river's edge. A small entry ticket at the gate Why visit: Bamboo groves on a river island; The hanging bridge across the Kaveri Know before you go: Do not enter the river; currents can be strong
Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple) (afternoon): Continue to Bylakuppe, about 6 km, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in India, set up in the 1960s. Its Namdroling Monastery is home to thousands of monks, and the Golden Temple hall holds three giant gilded statues of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Amitayus. Free Why visit: Three giant golden statues in the main hall; Monks, prayer wheels and Tibetan cafés around the monastery Know before you go: Dress modestly and walk clockwise; Carry ID; foreign nationals may need a permit to stay overnight in the settlement
Eat: Tibetan cafés in Bylakuppe - The streets around the monastery have simple Tibetan cafés serving momos, thukpa and butter tea.
Evening: Drive back to Madikeri, about an hour, for a quiet evening at your homestay.
Budget for the day: ₹1,200 to ₹2,200 per person, excluding hotel and some gate fees
Day 3: Mandalpatti, Madikeri's history and Raja's Seat
An early jeep ride up to Mandalpatti for views over the Western Ghats, then the tombs of the Kodava kings, General Thimayya's birthplace and sunset at Raja's Seat.
Mandalpatti (morning): Drive about 25 km north-west of Madikeri to the jeep stand below Mandalpatti, then ride a hired jeep up the rough last stretch. The grassy hilltop looks over rolling ridges of the Western Ghats, often with clouds drifting below you in the morning. Jeep from the base about ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per vehicle, plus a small forest entry fee Why visit: Views over the Western Ghats; Clouds below the hilltop on misty mornings Know before you go: Go early; clouds often hide the view by midday; The jeep ride is bumpy; not ideal for back problems
Raja's Tombs (Gaddige) (afternoon): Back in Madikeri, visit the Gaddige, the tombs of the Kodava kings on a small hill north of town. The domed tombs of King Doddaveerarajendra and his queen, from the early 1800s, are built in an Indo-Islamic style with corner minarets. Free Why visit: The royal tombs of the Kodava kings; Quiet gardens with views over the town Know before you go: Remove shoes before entering the tombs
General Thimayya Memorial (Sunny Side) (late afternoon): Drive to Sunny Side, the house where General K. S. Thimayya, the Indian Army chief from 1957 to 1961, was born. It is now a museum of his life and of Coorg's military tradition, with Army equipment on display in the grounds. A small entry ticket at the door Why visit: The birthplace of one of India's best-known Army chiefs; Coorg's long military tradition Know before you go: Check the closing day before you go
Raja's Seat (sunset): End at Raja's Seat, a garden on the edge of a cliff in Madikeri where, the story goes, the Kodava kings came to watch the sun set. The view runs west over layer after layer of green hills. A small entry ticket at the gate Why visit: Coorg's classic sunset view; Flower gardens on the cliff edge Know before you go: It is busy at sunset on weekends; arrive early
Eat: Udupi Garden - A busy vegetarian restaurant in Madikeri for South Indian meals and dosas.
Evening: Stay at Raja's Seat until the light fades over the valleys.
Budget for the day: ₹1,400 to ₹2,400 per person, excluding hotel and some gate fees
Want a Different Pace?
Add Nagarahole: A safari in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, south-east of Coorg: Elephants, deer and, with luck, tigers on a forest department safari. (Trade-off: About 2 to 3 hours each way from Madikeri; book the safari online in advance. - Costs more)
Trek Tadiandamol: A day trek up Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Coorg: Grassland ridges and wide views over the Western Ghats. (Trade-off: A full day of steep walking; check forest department trek rules first. - Similar cost)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Coorg?
A 3-day Coorg itinerary like this one works well for Couples, Families, Nature and coffee lovers. It's not the best fit if You want a beach or nightlife or You dislike winding hill roads and long drives between sights.
How much does a 3-day Coorg trip cost per person?
Budget about ₹3,400 to ₹6,300 per person for entry tickets, food and local transport on this 3-day Coorg itinerary. Flights and hotel are extra.
What's the best time to visit Coorg?
The best time to visit Coorg is October to March.
How do I reach Coorg from other Indian cities?
Common options are car (About 5 to 6 hours), flight (About 3 to 4 hours by road from Mangaluru or Kannur), train (About 3 hours by road from Mysuru). Coorg is the district; Madikeri is its main town and the best base for this itinerary.
What are the must-see places in Coorg in 3 days?
Day 1: Omkareshwara Temple, Madikeri Fort and Abbi Falls. Day 2: Dubare Elephant Camp, Nisargadhama and Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple). Day 3: Mandalpatti, Raja's Tombs (Gaddige), General Thimayya Memorial (Sunny Side) and Raja's Seat.
Which Coorg attractions are free?
On this itinerary, Omkareshwara Temple, Madikeri Fort, Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple) and Raja's Tombs (Gaddige) are free to visit (some charge for special exhibitions or inside visits).
Can you still bathe and feed elephants at Dubare?
No. After a fatal incident in May 2026, Karnataka's forest department banned visitors from touching, feeding, bathing or taking selfies with the camp elephants. Visitors now watch from barricaded viewing areas in timed sessions.
Where should I stay in Coorg?
Madikeri is the most practical base, with sights such as Raja's Seat, the fort and Abbi Falls close by. Many visitors stay in homestays on coffee estates around the town.
Where to Eat in Coorg
Kailash Parbat- Pure Vegetarian Restaurant - ★4.7 - General Thimmayya Main Road, Road, opposite Shanthi Church, Stuart Hill, Mysore, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Big Cup Cafe - ★4.3 - Mysore - Madikeri Rd, next to Wood Stock Villa, Kannanda Bane, Ibnivalvadi Rural, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Raintree Restaurants - ★4.2 - Pension Lane, behind Town Hall, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Paakashala Madikeri - ★4.3 - No 10-1-10-11 Block No 11 Survey No-390/6, P2, Kohinoor Rd, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
BELLI’S restaurant - ★4.4 - K S T R C Depot, , Near K.S.R.T.C. Bus Stand, G.T. Circle, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Ainmane Café & Speciality Store - ★4.5 - Cauvery Building, College Rd, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Thaliya - Traditional Kodava Restaurant - ★4.2 - Brahmins Valley, Temple Rd, above New Redfern, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India
Kodagu Coffee Growers Co Operative Society Ltd - ★4.3 - MG Rd, Stuart Hill, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India