50 shades of green in Coorg (07-Weekend Getaways from Bangalore)

Long walks in the coffee estate, sampling local wine and food, riding up the Western Ghats, binge – drinking coffee in peppy cafes – That pretty much sums up our Coorg experience. It’s an ideal destination to have some quiet time and unwind without having to bother about rushing through the popular spots. We tried visiting one or two, but soon realized that Coorg is best enjoyed at a slow pace and probably relaxing is the best thing you can do in Coorg. Here’s a list of things that we loved doing there:

1. Stay in a cottage in a lush coffee estate

How amazing would it feel to wake up to fresh air, plants bejewelled with dew drops and an enchanting landscape. And sleep wishing goodnight to a million fireflies flocking outside the window!

Our little cozy cottage was nestled inside a coffee estate. The estate had a private waterfall too! And I don’t seem to get over that anytime soon.

2. Rent a bike and go further up

Snuggled in the Western Ghats running along the west coast of India, Coorg is replete with forests and grasslands. Climb up and soak in the amazing views of forests, streams, estates and chalets. We rented a bike from Royal Brothers in Madikeri and went till the base camp of Tadiandamol, the fourth highest peak in Karnataka. The last leg of the journey was challenging as the road was quite patchy, giving us the opportunity to trek up the remaining part.

3. Drink coffee like there’s no tomorrow

Coorg is synonymous with coffee and it’s the most obvious yet important thing to do here! The misty weather and aromatic fields hypnotize you in to asking for more and more of it. We stopped at some quirky places and gulped our cappuccinos, lattes, and Mochas with a twist of Coorg. We had a chat with the cafe owner and he passionately went on to describe many different coffee blends available in Coorg! Nobody seems to be in a hurry in here, life seems to exist in a time warp

4. Sample homemade wine and local cuisine

Wine-making is a part of local culture and thanks to homestay visitors who popularized the wine; it has now made its way to the market. Locals are adept at making wine not only out of grapes but also from betel leaves, banana, rice, pineapple and everything under the sun! Sugar-free wines are also available. Make sure to sample some. Also, their love for food is abundant. Our host used to bring us breakfast and dinner from his own kitchen, giving us the chance to gorge upon Akki Roti (rice bread), Nool puttu (rice threads), Pumpkin and Chekke kuru (jackfruit) curries. On one occasion, our host laid out our table and gave us some hospitality goals!

5. Walk in a coffee estate

As we were waking amidst the coffee plantations, we had the luxury of taking royal morning walks with the mist still swirling over the lush estate. We made it a point to get up early and not miss the dreamy hues cast by exquisite sunrise. A mere walk had a huge calming effect and there wasn’t a sign of habitation for as far as our vision could stretch.

6. Sightseeing

We explored Cauvery Nisargadhama and Namdroling monastery and found both the places beautiful, but we seriously wish if places like these were a bit less crowded and more organized. Nonetheless, every place endows us with something to take back home and for us, it was witnessing this camouflaged toad amid hay. Can you also spot the little fella?

Wherever we go, coconut trees line the horizon adding perfect tropical charm to the scenery. Shrubs, grass and bushes pepper every inch of land. Even though we are back, the breeze of foggy days and rainy nights still clings to us.