Karnataka · 6 destinations & hidden spots
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Nestled 8 km from Madikeri, Abbey Falls forms as mountain streams unite and plunge down a jagged black rock face into a foaming pool below. A hanging pedestrian suspension bridge constructed opposite the falls offers an immersive mist-sprayed viewing vantage point surrounded by cardamom and coffee groves.
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Built upon high ground overlooking rolling green cliffs and blue mountain ridges towards the Arabian Sea, Raja's Seat is an ornate brick pavilion surrounded by seasonal flower beds and musical fountains. In the evenings, mist rolls up from the valley below as the sky turns fiery orange.
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Established in 1963 by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in Bylakuppe, the Namdroling Monastery is home to over 5,000 Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns. The central Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara dazzles with ornate Tibetan thangkas, intricate mandalas, and three towering 40-foot gilded statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Padmasambhava, and Amitayus.
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Perched on the Brahmagiri hill slopes, Talakaveri is the sacred birthplace of Mother Cauvery. A small spring-fed kalyani tank marks the exact origin of the river, which surfaces annually on Tula Sankramana. A stone-paved stairway climbs from the temple to the summit of Brahmagiri Peak, unveiling vistas of the Western Ghats mountain spine.
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Historically an elephant training facility for the famed Mysore Dasara parade, Dubare is an ethical elephant conservation eco-camp managed by Jungle Lodges and the Karnataka Forest Department. Visitors cross the Cauvery River by boat to watch elephants bathe in the shallows, observe feeding routines, and learn about wildlife conservation.
Coorg & Western Ghats Foothills
Flowing through dense evergreen shola forests near the Kerala border, Iruppu Falls is formed by the Lakshmana Tirtha River. According to the Ramayana, Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri hills to fetch drinking water for Lord Rama. A trail passes the historic Rameshwara Temple before reaching the roar of the falls.
