Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary | 5 Days Itinerary

by - February 16, 2020


Usually, when people plan their trip, they either include Mysore with Ooty and Bangalore or directly go for a Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary package as both the places lie in Karnataka and is easier to plan. When I went on my 40-day solo trip around India, I wanted to visit Coorg badly, but my route made me visit Mysore because I was coming down from Hyderabad and to reach Coorg, you had to take a bus from either Mysore or Bangalore. And since Bangalore was my last stop, I planned a Mysore-Coorg-Bangalore itinerary. 

How to reach Coorg from Mysore by bus

From Mysore, take a bus for Coorg. You can book a bus online using the KSTRC website or book on the spot. But before you book, speak to the hotel manager to guide you. Because Coorg is vast and it's better to get down at a bus stop near to your stay than go for the Madikeri bus stand without consulting.




How to reach Mysore from Coorg by bus

If you're not taking your car, then the best way to reach Mysore from Coorg is by bus. There are buses available from Madikeri bus stand to Mysore. You can either book a bus on the spot or log in to the KSTRC website to book yourself a bus. 

Watch: Mysore vlog

Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary!

Day 1 – Mysore Palace and Chamundeshwari Temple
As you reach Mysore in the morning, have breakfast or light snacks at your hotel and start for Mysore sightseeing. The first day in Mysore is pretty relaxed yet you cover the most important monument of the city – Mysore Palace. To go around Mysore, you only need Ola and Uber apps as they're very cheap. I recommend the auto rides through these apps as they're much cheaper. We'll also be taking a bus for the Chamundi hills!



Mysore Palace


I had visited Mysore Palace earlier but this time I could grasp all that in my camera. Mysore Palace undeniably should have a spot in your Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary. The entry ticket for Mysore Palace above 18 years of age is Rs 70 (for both Indians and foreigners) and for minors (that is, under 18 years, it is Rs 30). There are two temples inside the palace complex, one of which was under renovation when I visited. So I was not allowed to enter in because renovation work was on. 

There's another temple in the complex, which we visit after the palace. You have to take off your shoes before entering the Mysore Palace. You can store it at their shoe-rack for Rs 2 per pair. Taking off shoes is compulsory for entering the palace. The shoe-rack is outside the main gate of the palace (and not where you buy tickets).



The light and sound show happens here at 7 pm in both Kannada and English languages. (Check out their website to know about the timings of this show as they're different in each season.) This show is another must-do thing in Mysore with kids especially. 

The Mysore Palace is vast from inside and photography/videography is allowed too, making one carefree. I believe you can hire guides to get more knowledge about the palace, but I did not come across any. Inside the palace, you'll come across photographs, paintings, art on the walls and ceilings, and beautiful decor from those times. 

About Mysore Palace: Mysore Palace is the residence of the Wodeyar dynasty and is located in the centre of the city. The old palace was burnt multiple times but the one you see now was completed building in 1912. About 6 million visitors visit Mysore Palace annually. 



Ancient Shri Lakshmiramana Swami Temple



After you exit the Mysore Palace, in the same complex, there's an ancient temple by the name Shri Lakshmiramana Swami Temple. Its ancient charm will please your soul. The temple is small from inside but is visited by the tourists visiting the Mysore Palace. 

The temple is one of the oldest temples in Mysore with an idol of Nambinarayana, one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. You also come across Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Venugopala. This temple is the same place where the coronation of the 5-year-old Krishnaraja Wodeyar III took place. After the death of Tipu Sultan, the British placed the young Wodeyar III on the throne in this temple in 1799. 

Another activity one can do in the Mysore Palace complex is the camel riding. The ride is a very short one in a small ground but is a fun activity to do for kids in Mysore. 



Chamundeshwari Temple & Chamundi Hills



Chamundeshwari Devi Temple is located on Chamundi Hills, which you should definitely not miss on your Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary. Though you think you need a car for that, the good news is, you don't! There are high-frequency buses running between the City Bus Stand to Chamundi Hills. The bus stand is close to the Mysore Palace, however, you can catch an auto for reaching it. 

The ticket for 201 AC bus for City Bus Stand to Chamundi Hills Mysore is Rs 30. The best part is, the buses are air-conditioned and the frequency is amazing too. The bus drops you directly at the Chamundi Hills bus stop, which is a short walk away from the Chamundeshwari temple. Again for going down, you can take the same bus (201) and again, the frequency is too good. 


On the way, there's a Nandi temple viewpoint where you can get down for incredible pictures of the Mysore city from Chamundi hills. There's a big statue of Nandi and a temple dedicated to it. After visiting the viewpoint, wait for another 201 bus to come and hop in.

There are many things to do on top of the Chamundi Hills apart from the Chamundeshwari temple, including shopping, eating chaat and other street food, a short hike using dedicated steps, and bowing down to a sacred bull.

Chamundi Hills is also famous for its sunrise and sunset and there's a short hike one can do to reach it. The trek starts from the bottom of the hills and a series of steps lead you on top. Adventure buffs skip the roads and take these steps instead. 


On top of the Chamundi Hills, there are several shops selling beautiful goodies such as Mysore Palace miniatures, wooden decor pieces such as key-chain holder, elephants, wall-hangings, bells, and other beautiful items. The shops also have garments, though westernised or not something especially found in Mysore. But you can give these shops a try if you're looking out to buy some souvenir from Mysore as these shops have a good amount of variety. 

The whole area is pleasant and you would like to spend your evening here, having chaat or seeing the sunset. Post that, take 201 bus to head down to the city. 

If you want, you can buy tickets for the light and sound show at Mysore Palace and watch a show around 7 pm. The distance is quite walkable to reach the palace from the City Bus Stand. 

Frosting


For dinner, the same evening, take an auto/cab and head to Frosting restaurant for dinner. It was highly recommended to me by a couple of friends, and on reaching, I realised why they were insisting me to visit it. 

It was raining heavily that evening, so the romantic outdoor seating was dismantled and the restaurant was not crowded. Hardly a couple of tables were occupied. The place is absolutely safe even if it's late in the evening, raining, and you're a solo female traveller in Mysore. But, I must say, including this restaurant in your Mysore-Coorg Tour Itinerary is a must. 

I ordered extravagant veg. pizza along with cappuccino and though it might seem a lot for one person, I finished it all. Post dinner, head back to your hotel.

Day 2 – Mysore Zoo & Visit to Market

Mysore zoo is vaaaaaast and I don't generally describe anything with so repetitive alphabets but the zoo is really so huge, it's gonna take up most of your day!

Mysore Zoo



A leopard sleeping peacefully in the zoo

When my friend had told me the Mysore Zoo is huge, I kinda thought that it mustn't be this huge, but well, at the end of the day, my legs were aching so badly, I couldn't walk further. To reach the zoo, I took an auto and the entry ticket for Mysore Zoo is Rs 80 for adults. If you wish to operate your camera for still pictures, then the charge is Rs 100 and for videos, the charge is Rs 200. 

You can also opt for the in-house vehicle, for extra charges, especially if you have little kids or oldies with you because there's a lot of walking to do and only the fit can make it. I'd suggest opting the vehicle. For the same, you have to pay at the ticket counter! So please decide at the start itself. 


There's a restaurant in the Mysore Zoo complex where you can have lunch, with affordable eating options such as dosa, uttapam, idli, etc. Also other food items such as ice creams and drinks as refreshments. But the restaurant is inside, for which, you have to walk a lot. So if you're relying on it completely, don't do it. Have something at the hotel for breakfast and then visit the zoo. Even the toilet facility is around here. 

Another fun thing to do inside the Mysore Zoo is visiting the souvenir shop. There are plush toys, mugs with animal faces, and many cute Mysore Zoo souvenirs to take back home. My friend had purchased a tee and a magnet from here. 

I really recommend you add the zoo in your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary. Though I don't support zoos, this one gives you a chance to see a crazily wide variety of birds, animals,  and reptiles. 

St. Philomena's Cathedral

(The picture is taken from Pixabay)

The St. Philomena's Cathedral is also known as the St. Joseph's Cathedral. This Catholic church was built in 1936 and displays a neo-gothic style architecture. It was inspired by the famous Cathedral named Cologne, located in Germany. The St. Philomena's Cathedral is one of the tallest in Asia, which is why you can add it to your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary. The church can hold up to 800 persons at one go, which is incredible. The stained glass in the main hall consists of scenes from Jesus Christ's life, including his birth.

I couldn't visit this, rather, I was unaware of this at the time I was in Mysore. Also, since I was not well, I couldn't explore much. The St. Philomena's Cathedral is open from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm on all days of the week. Pay a visit if you're interested in architecture and buildings.

Devaraja Market & Indra Cafe



After the cathedral, take an auto for the Devaraja market to explore the bazaar of Mysore. There's not much to do here and don't expect any souvenir shopping. It's just a local bazaar for the residents where you get fruits, pooja stuff, and a lot of bananas – seriously, a lot! What  I liked the most here is the arrangement of things. The shopkeepers here arrange their products in a neat and symmetrical way. 

In this market, you can shop sandalwood oil, sandal agarbattis, and other variants of agarbattis. As Mysore is famous for its sandal, perhaps buying these would be a good idea. You can also purchase bananas here, which is mostly all raw. 

After the market visit, walk towards this South Indian restaurant called Indra Cafe's Paras for delicious Mysore masala dosa and soothing filter coffee. The street was lit when I visited because it was Dussehra time.

(The picture is taken from Pixabay & used for representational purpose only)

There are several stalls here selling kurtis, tops, and bags. The best way to explore the market along with the Sayyaji Rao road is on foot. It's best to explore this area if you walk as you'd want to capture Mysore in its rawest form. This activity is nothing touristy, just a way you can explore Mysore from a local's point of view. 

After dinner at the Indra Cafe and the local shopping of sandal agarbattis, head back to the hotel and call it a day!

Day 3 – Museums

The last day in Mysore is where you visit all the remaining top places of Mysore such as Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery, Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum & a lot more. The last day in Mysore will leave you with awe with its educational museum about natural history and other interesting places of visit such as the Jaganmohan art gallery and the sand sculpture museum.

Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery


(The picture is taken from Pixabay)

Start your third day of the Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary early in the morning. Start your day around 8:15 am and visit the Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery, which opens at 8:30 am on all days of the week. The Jaganmohan Palace was another of its kind used by the Wodeyar family as an alternative home. The palace is now used as an art gallery (was converted in 1915) and often conducts dance shows in its auditorium. The gallery is one of the must-visit places in Mysore to enjoy over 2,000 paintings of various Indian styles. 

The Jaganmohan Palace was built in 1861 by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III when the Mysore Palace was under renovation as it was burnt down. This palace is one of the seven palaces of the Mysore city, which is also known as the City of Palaces. 

Regional Museum of Natural History

(The picture is taken from Pixabay)

Post Jaganmohan Palace, take a rickshaw and visit the impressive Regional Museum of National History, which is a must-visit place in Mysore and should definitely be included in your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary. I missed it due to shortage of time, but it's truly beautiful especially for those interested to gain more knowledge. The museum also has a butterfly park and an aviary where you can actually walk across marvelling at different species of birds. Located at the banks of the Karanji Lake, the place also has an artificial waterfall. You also get to see the Chamundi Hills from here. 

The museum includes different species of plants, animals, and the geology from the southern area of India. The Regional Museum of National History opens at 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on all days of the week, except Monday. 
Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum

After the Regional Museum of Natural History, visit the Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum. The person behind the museum is a sculptor named MN Gowri. She is recognised as India's only woman sculptor. The museum also boasts of being the first of its kind in the country. The museum has 16 different themes and its intricate detailing and skilful sculptures make it a worthy visit in Mysore. There are about 150 sand sculptors here, which makes me go crazy because the artwork is so intricately done, it's a must-visit in Mysore. Spread across 13,500 sq ft of area, I suggest include it in your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary if you want to witness something extraordinarily beautiful. I couldn't visit it due to the shortage of time. 

The entry ticket for Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum is Rs 40 for adults and Rs 20 for kids. The museum is open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, all days of the week.



Day 4 – Bus to Coorg

Next morning, catch an early morning bus for Coorg. Buses start as early as 4:30 in the morning. However, I suggest go for the one that starts at around 6:00 am (or perhaps at 8:00 am). There are various bus stops around Coorg, so it is better to contact the hotel manager and ask him about the stop to get down. You can book your bus online on the KSTRC website or directly at the Mysuru bus stop. Alternatively, you can even hire a cab. The distance between Mysore and Coorg is 117 km, so the cab expense won't be too high as well. 

After getting down at a bus stop in Coorg, hire an auto/cab for your hotel. 

You'll probably reach your hotel in Coorg by 10:30 am. After having breakfast, hire a cab for Iruppu waterfalls followed by a visit to the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. 


Day 5 – Visit Madikeri & Kushal Nagar

The fifth day of the trip and the second in Coorg starts early morning. On this day, we visit both the areas of Coorg – Madikeri and Kushal Nagar. Generally, the hotels have tie-ups with taxi drivers. I suggest you hire a taxi from the hotel itself. Another way is to hire a Zoomcar from Mysore and drive it to Coorg. You can use the same for sightseeing. 

I noticed the package to cover both Madikeri and Kushal Nagar areas in one day was much cheaper than covering these two on two individual days. So I covered both in one day for Rs 3,500 for a total of 101 km. 

First, we head to Kushal Nagar and then from there to Madikeri. 

Dubare Elephant Camp


(The picture is taken from Pixabay & used for representational purpose only)

First, we head to Dubare Elephant Camp, which is one of the most famous things to do in Coorg and you should undoubtedly include it in your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary. Dubare Elephant Camp timings are from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and then from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The entry ticket for Dubare Elephant Camp is Rs 20 and for boating, it is Rs 30. During the monsoon months, the water is muddy as the Kaveri River is overflowing. That's when boats are used as the river flow is quick. Otherwise, people just walk to the other side of the river passing through the water. 

TIP: Wear dark coloured clothes to avoid mud stains. 

At this camp, you can bathe and feed elephants. There's fodder available for Rs 30 and you can click photos and videos while you feed the elephants.



These are the things to do if you wish to visit the Dubare Elephant Camp for a couple of hours. However, the camp also offers luxurious stays in cottages where you can live near the elephants, go on elephant safaris, and indulge tasty food. The Dubare Elephant Camp is located on the banks of River Kaveri and the elephants here were initially trained for the Mysore Dussehra. But these elephants are now used for the safaris. 

Trained by naturalists, you come across interesting details of the history, ecology, and biology of elephants. If you're not taking the one-night stay package, then I recommend you reach the camp by 9:00 am so that you will have ample time to interact with elephants here. I think the non-monsoon season is best to visit the Dubare Elephant Camp because you'll not have muddy water then. 

Watch: Coorg Vlog

Chiklihole Dam



My driver insisted I should go here and he was quite proud of himself for taking me here. The best part about the Chiklihole Dam Reservoir is the tranquillity. When I visited it, there was just a pair of tourists and their guide, making it so peaceful. The lake is scenic but has crocodiles as per a notice board written in Kannada outside the dam. I couldn't read it but there was a picture of a crocodile on it so I'm guessing that indicated there were crocodiles.

The whole area is beautiful with lush greenery and cattle grazing. The road to the Chiklihole Dam Reservoir is covered by trees and you should definitely take some time out to explore the area. The dam is interesting with a semi-circular structure and you can view it from a bridge. The main purpose behind building this reservoir was to supply water for irrigational purposes to the nearby villages.

Golden Temple



I was shocked to know there's another Golden Temple in India. The Golden Temple Coorg is a Buddhist monastery, the largest teaching centre of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The monastery's real name is Namdroling Monastery and it is home to 5,000 lamas, which includes both nuns and monks. 

This was probably the first time when I've spent a good amount of time inside a monastery. Usually, I skip temples, monasteries, and churches. But I'm glad I ventured into the Golden Temple and soaked all the spiritual energy in. The attraction is the statues inside the temple. One of being Buddha's statue, all the three statues are 40 feet high! 

You can store your shoes outside, in a shoe rack, for some minimal fees. They also provide you with a receipt! The whole area is peaceful and complements the Coorgi cold weather.

Gaddige Raja's Tomb


I don't recommend the Gaddige Raja's Tomb for your Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary but it comes with the sightseeing package. After Kushal Nagar, if you choose to travel to Madikeri on the same day, the driver will then drive you to Madikeri from the Golden Temple. The Raja's Tomb is basically two royal tombs in a park-like area. (There are two more smaller tombs in the same park.)

The tombs are located near the Madikeri bus stand. The tombs were built in the 19th century and contain the royal remains of the Kodava family. The entry ticket for Gaddige Raja's Tomb is Rs 10. You can give this place a miss if you wish.

Raja's Seat


Another place I don't recommend is Raja's Seat. This is yet another park with a small structure (that looks like a throne/seat). It is said that the King of Coorg used to sit at this place and watch the beautiful view from here. Couples and families like to spend some time here as it is quite romantic in monsoon when the clouds are hovering over.

The entry ticket for Raja's Seat is Rs 5 (though I'm not quite sure). There's a toilet facility inside the park and kid's play area too. Visit the place for its view. 

A temple worth visiting near to it is the Omkareshwara temple. 

Abbey Falls



Abbey Falls is probably one of the most famous waterfalls in Karnataka and definitely the top-grossing on a Mysore-Coorg Tour itinerary. The place is maintained well and has cemented steps amidst trees to descend to the falls. There aren't too many steps so an oldie who can walk can do this short climbing. You cannot enter the waterfall, especially in monsoon. There's a tall fence that defends people from going inside the falls. 

In monsoon, the water is muddy and the flow is extravagant! There used to be a bridge opposite the falls from where people could capture a photo, but the bridge has been broken due to rains. There's nothing to do around the Abbey Falls, but for kids, this could be an attraction.

Madikeri Fort & Museum 

The reason why I recommend the fort is because I personally was shocked to know Coorg had a fort too. I've been to many forts elsewhere (in Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan) but when you hear a hill station has a fort, it's interesting to see how it is.

The Madikeri Fort is also known as the Mercara fort. It was built by Mudduraja in the 17th century and also contains a palace inside. It was reconstructed a lot of times, for instance by Tipu Sultan and the British. Outside the fort, there's a British-time church which is now converted into a museum. The museum exhibits the weaponry and other artefacts during the Mudduraja and Tipu Sultan's times. The view from this fort is noteworthy. 

After the sightseeing, ask your driver to stop by some chocolate, spice, and coffee shops and purchase some souvenir to take back home. 



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Where to stay in Mysore

I stayed at the Sonder hostel in Mysore. Since it was October, the weather was pleasant. In fact, it started raining so I chose a dorm that was non-air conditioned. It was an all-female dorm (they only have one all-female dorm, that too it is non-air conditioned). But it didn't matter to me as the weather was beautiful. The hostel is snug and homely. The breakfast preparation is okayish (or rather I would say, it's pathetic). I would choose to skip breakfast and have something on the go rather than eating the food there. Also, they take a cooking session every morning where the hostellers can learn cooking Indian food, which is fantastic. You can do laundry for Rs 100 or so. The staff is friendly and it's an amazing place to relax. 



Where to stay in Coorg

For Coorg, since it's a hill station, I would recommend something romantic and superior. There's only one hostel, Zostel, and it's secluded. So if you don't have your own vehicle, it could be a problem. So I recommend you go for a resort that can arrange transport for you. I stayed at the Coorg Cliffs Resort and recommend it to you. The place has an infinity pool, making it truly gorgeous. The hospitality is amazing, there are lots of activities to do, and the food is good too.

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