Mysore, Kabini, Coorg – 3 captivating gems of Karnataka

Karnataka is a treasure trove of diverse landscapes and cultural richness. It offers something for every kind of traveler, from nature lovers to food enthusiasts to vibrant cities.

We planned a six-day itinerary covering Mysuru, Kabini, and Coorg, with two days at each destination. The vibrant heritage of Mysore also known as Mysuru, the lush wilderness of Kabini, and the serene, mist-covered hills of Coorg together weave a captivating tapestry of nature and culture, each offering a unique and enchanting experience.

Day 1 – Mumbai – Bangalore – Mysore

We flew from Mumbai to Bangalore and then drove to Mysuru, Karnataka’s Cultural Capital. The journey spans approximately 140 kilometers and typically takes around 3 to 4 hours from Bangalore Airport, largely due to city traffic and congested roads. However, once you leave the city limits of Bangalore, the drive becomes smoother and quicker.

Mysore is also called the City of Palaces and is considered a Heritage City. We reached Mysuru early evening and checked in at the Fortune JP Palace Hotel. We visited Mysore earlier, over a decade ago. The city then and the city now are very different. Mysore beautifully blends tradition with modernity, offering a rich cultural experience and a glimpse into Karnataka’s heritage.

Travel Tip #1 - If possible avoid travel to and from Bangalore City because of the traffic congestion

Day 2 – Mysore – Mysore Palace, Shopping, Brindavan Gardens

The plan for the day was to visit Mysore Palace, Brindavan Gardens with some shopping thrown in the middle. Though Mysore Palace is a must-visit it being the weekend and Christmas vacation time the place was packed to the brim. We took a guided tour through the Palace making it possible to make our way through the thongs of people.

Mysuru Palace was built in the early 14th century by the royal family of Wodeyars. Mysuru Palace was originally built of wood and has been destroyed three times. The current Mysuru Palace is the fourth reconstruction. Walking through the various hallways, the mesmerizing paintings, and listening to the enchanting stories around them makes Mysore Palace a must-visit.

Travel Tip #2 - Avoid going to Mysore Palace on weekend and Holidays

We shopped for world-renowned Mysore Silk Sarees and Stoles. Look for Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited (KSIC) Certified Stores for the purchase of genuine silk.

We also stopped for melt-in-the-mouth Mysore Pak (South Indian Sweet) at “The World of Mysore Pak”. This was an experience store – you could see the making of this delicacy and taste 12 different varieties of Mysore Pak before making a purchase.

After our shopping spree, we headed to the Brindavan Gardens, a beautifully terraced landscape spanning over 60 acres. The Musical Fountain shows, held in the evenings from 6:30 pm, are a must-see. It’s recommended to spend 2-3 hours exploring the gardens and enjoying a leisurely walk. For those who prefer not to walk, a 10-minute golf cart ride offers a quick overview of the garden’s beauty.

Travel Tip #3 - Try to catch the last show of the musical fountain to avoid crowd’s 

Day 3 – Mysore – Kabini – Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary

Mysore to Regenta, Jungle Resort Kabini Springs was around 90 km and took us about 3 hours. The last 45-minute stretch of the road passing through the jungle reserve was backbreaking. The Resort is one of the best resorts in Kabini with outdoor chess, a swimming pool, and comfortable rooms. We had lovely rooms overlooking the river.

We were in for a surprise that day…. We had booked for Jungle Safari the same day and had to make the journey on that bad road again to the starting point of the jungle safari. We bore the brunt of the bad road thrice in one day which was a bit much. The vehicle from the resort took us to the starting point of the jeep safari.

Travel Tip #4 - If you plan on doing jungle/boat safari, choose a resort closer to the starting point/gate of the safari.

The safaris are operated by Jungle Lodges and Resorts (also commonly referred to as JLR), an eco-tourism hospitality brand by the Government of Karnataka. There is also an option for Canter safari operated by the forest department.

The park has 2 separate safaris called Zone A which is mostly through the wooded area and Zone B which is closer to the Kabini waters. The safari conducted by JLR is permitted to cover only one of these zones at a time. However, the Forest Department canter bus safaris are allowed seamless access across both zones.

There are 3 safari gates: Nanachi Gate near Kutta, the Kakanakote Gate near Kabini, and the Veeranahosahalli Gate near Hunsur. The Kakanakote gate is nearer for travelers from Mysore and Bangalore and the Nanachi gate is more convenient for people approaching from Coorg.

Kabini refers to a section of the Nagarahole National Park in the Mysore district of Karnataka state in India.

We had a pleasant 3-hour evening jeep safari in Nagarahole sighting various birds and animals but missed the tiger sighting.

Travel Tip #5 - There are no washrooms available during the duration of the safari.

We were offered a drink and biscuits on completion of our safari by the staff of our resort before we started our 45-minute journey back to the resort.

Enjoyed the Jenu Kurubas tribal traditional dance around the evening bonfire before dinner.

Day 4 – Kabini

Started with a relaxed morning in the resort, the family members tried their hands at pottery offered free of charge at the resort. Followed by swimming and enjoying the river view from the room.

Later in the day took a guided visit to a Tribal Village. This for me was a highlight of the stay at Kabini. We were introduced to their way of living, the plants they grow, and more…

Some interesting things I learned are that they get their drinking water from a water hole that has water throughout the year, their mud houses get washed out every year and they build new ones each time. They grow black pepper and white pumpkin. It was heartwarming to know that some advancement has reached them with solar panels and NGOs working on educating them.

Another highlight was the Coracle Ride at the resort in the morning before the checkout.

Day 5 – Kabini – Coorg

The last destination for this leg of travel was the Coffee Paradise of India. Coorg is the largest producer of coffee in India, accounting for about 40% of the country’s total coffee production.

It is a luxurious property set in over 300 acres of coffee plantation. There are golf carts available to take you from your rooms to various facilities in the resort. We had senior citizens traveling with us, for them, this was a blessing whereas we preferred to walk around the lush green surroundings.

We had booked the Lily Pool Villa and Lilly Pool Cottage at Evolve Back Coorg. The Villa and Cottage had a lily pool and swimming pool facing the open fields. The cottage had a temperature-controlled pool fitted with a jacuzzi.

Out of the 3 three dining options at the resort, we tried the Granary – a multicuisine restaurant, and Peppercorn – a specialty restaurant. The chef at the Peppercorn was very accommodating and catered to the wide palettes of our group.

Day 6 – Coorg

We enjoyed the following activities – coffeology session, Bird Watching, Electric cycle trail, and Plantation Walk

The Coffeology session was an immersive experience offered by the Evolve Back Resort, it gave us a deeper understanding of the art and science of gourmet coffee.

During the Coffeology session, we observed, experienced, and tasted an assortment of coffee preparations from around the world and the techniques involved in brewing the perfect cup of coffee. We got a taste of Moroccan, Expresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Macchiato, and a few more…. coffee overload 😊

Set out for Bird Watching early in the morning with a set of binoculars around our necks accompanied by a Naturalist who showed us around the various species of feathered friends visiting the property. It was about a 2-3 hour walk around the resort spotting various birds and learning about their traits.

Plantation Walk was an engaging experience with a Naturalist learning about the history of coffee in Coorg, the process of coffee cultivation, and information about the flora and fauna in and around the plantation. This too involved about 2 hours of walking around.

Out of the three destinations my personal favourite was Coorg.

Day 7 – Coorg – Kannur – Mumbai

We had booked our return flight to Mumbai from Kannur. It took us about 2 hours to get to the airport. The Kannur airport is well maintained and less crowded as there aren’t too many flights there.

As our vacation comes to an end, saying goodbye (vidaaya) to Karnataka! Until Next Time….