Relaxing weekend from Bangalore. Review on Coorg

This review is about two products - Coorg as tourist Destination; Tata Coffee Plantation Trails

Coorg as tourist destination was a great place to be in. Best part about Coorg is that one doesn’t have to bother about covering tourist spots. In general, entire Coorg is a decent scenic place and great weekend break.

Tata Coffee Plantation Trail was a good guest house to stay for a day or two. It makes you feel a 'badaa saaheb' during period of stay as almost a complete bungalow along with cook/helpers is at your disposal. It is very scenic as it is in middle of several thousands of acres of coffee plantation which Tata Coffee has in Coorg. However, this stay comes at a cost. Compared to other homestay options available in Coorg, this place was very costly.

We went to Coorg in first week of SEP which is considered off-season due to Monsoon, but we really liked the weather there. I think beauty in this season is also uniqueness of Coorg. We started from Bangalore at 7.30AM and reached Coorg Tata Coffee Plantation Trail at Polibetta by 1.30PM. We took enough breaks with kids on board. I drove at moderate speed (not really many stretches of 110+). Roads all the way upto Hunsur was very good. Roads after Hunsur were not very good, in fact it took us 1.30hrs for us to cover last 40 KM. Road quality inside Coorg are not good. We had to ask for Direction at multiple points. I realize, I was over-cautious.

This guest house was in middle of coffee plantation. We were in Superior rooms but we accidentally visited some other guest of Tata Coffee and it was on top of a hill. That location was excellent and much better compared to what we got. That guest house had heritage rooms only. Superior rooms costed ~3300 in off-season for a couple without food. Luxury rooms ~3700; Heritage ~5000. Superior room was very big in size. Feel inside the room doesn’t give you a feeling of stay in a luxury hotel or resort. It just gives a feeling of slightly better arranged house with very big room. Food was very good. Very homely. Fresh preparation as per the request. However, charging ~260 per head for that simple food was little premium. But I didn;t mind as my wife and kid liked it. They arrange a barbeQ along with camp-fire and charge ~350, that is much better deal. One needs to inform them a day in advance. If you want it in the dinner of first day itself, better inform them before you start your travel. TV and Mobile signals are not a problem. They take for a drive to their plantation in Jeep. It is a good ride. They have golf course. We paid 150 to the helper who gave to lessons to 4 of us and we played for an hour or so.

Coorg is a place to enjoy at just one location along with a good company - spouse/friends. One should not try to find tourist spots as there are not many.

Nagahole national park can be visited with clear objective. Attitude of forest officials is pathetic. They are just interested in doing a clinical job by time and not bothered about what their customers (us) get. If you are desperate, just visit nagarhole in your own vehicle and see deers/elephants from your car itself. It is same stuff you get to see by forest department's bus. Natural beauty and forest cover is great. So do visit the place with right expectations. (No carnivores)

Irruppu water falls was very good as we visited the place in rainny season. It was a normal walk of 300 m and climbing up of ~100 stairs. Safe to take bath if cold water is acceptable.

Dubare Elephant Camp is a ok types place, depending upon what one wants to do. There is river cavery and all have to cross the river in a boat to visit Dubare. In the same river, several private operators conduct rafting. Can't say much about rafting as I didn;t do. If you reach before 8.30AM, you can spend some time with Elephants, give them baths, and feed them under supervision of forest officials. If you reach after 10.30 and before 12.30, only elephant ride can be taken. It is useless. Same is available in Bannerghatta Park.

I think one should stay in one of the home-stays near Iruppu falls. There are many I saw near the water falls (within 5 KM). Hills view was great from there. Rates also look reasonable (below 1000). However, for coffee plantation, you need to be prepared to drive a little bit.

What I didn;t like about Coorg? Roads within Coorg, non existence of Vegetarian food (It is available in Tata Coffee Plantation Trail and some other guest houses, but in general, Coorgy food is very very Porky types.)

What I didn;t like about Tata coffee plantation trail- It was a bit expensive compared to other options available there. I guess, that is the cost of brand and the saaheb treatment!!

Road from Dubare to Bangalore via KushalNagar is good.