If you are the type who likes to mingle with nature, see the snow-like mist romance with mountain slopes, feel the tingle of the cool and gentle breeze, watch the leaves flutter in dance-like movements, hear the sounds of chirping birds fill the air, then Coorg is the place for you.

Often called "the Scotland of India", Coorg is a picturesque charming town situated at an elevation of over 5,000 ft, where the cool bracing wind whips the hair about your faces, as you ramble along the streets that dip and rise delightfully. All about coffee with a fair amount of cardamom and pepper thrown in, breathtaking views surprise you from pretty cottages as you sniff appreciatively, the heady fragrance of coffee blossoms.

Though there is very little to do in this quiet and unhurried hill station, yet you'll wonder at the marvels and mysteries of Mother Nature and her endless enthusiasm, to create spectacular sights, that is every where exemplified in Coorg.

Dubbed as the Scotland of India, Coorg or Kodagu is the home of colorful, robust and fiercely independent martial race - the Kodavas, said to be the descendants of the Greeks (Alexander’s soldiers). Neither Tipu Sultan nor the British ever conquered them and hence to this day all Kodavas, retain the privilege of carrying firearms without a license.

Coorg was a kingdom ruled by the Hoysalas from the 11th to the 14th century AD. Thereafter ruled by the Vijaynagar kings and the Chengalavas, the Wodeyars of Kodagu ruled it from the 17th to the 19th century. Though the British annexed it in 1834 after dethroning Chikkaveerarajendra Wodeyar.

Chief Commissioners administered it till India attained independence. Later in 1952, it was elected as a category C state, and had a representative in the Rajya Sabha before being merged with Karnataka.

Coorgi women can be easily identified in the way they wrap around their saris. They pleat the sari at the back unlike other women who pleat the sari in the front. The Kodavas - like any other Indian community - celebrate their festivals with pomp and joy. But most of all, its their reverence for the River Cauvery, whose origins are from their lands.

Therefore, the Cauvery Sankaramana festival each year, takes precedence and is considered to be very sacrosanct. It’s but natural, that they call themselves the children of Cauvery.

Splashing hard against the huge boulders of rock, unmindful of the crevices and hollows, the water drops at enormous speed, accompanied by gushing sounds. An ideal picnic spot with protective railings installed at the edge of the falls, this white wall of water creates a misty cloud with its moisture-like spray and descends into a flowing stream to perhaps, amalgamate with the River Cauvery somewhere in the vicinity.

The 19th century Madikeri Fort - complete with temple, chapel, prison and a small museum is yet another places to be. Abbey Falls, on the outskirts of Madikeri, is where you can almost breathe the greens as you walk through streams and falls are a typical natural element of the Coorg countryside. Mountaintops, red-tiled roofs of the town, green slopes dotted with white bungalows, memories of Madikeri will linger forever.

On the occasion of Cauvery Sankaramana, thousands of pilgrims visit Talacauvery, to witness the waters of the Cauvery, gushing out from its source. It is believed that Goddess Cauvery appears in the form of a spring causing the upsurge at the source. The river Cauvery is revered as one of the 7 holy rivers and considered to be the "Ganges of the South".

A dip in the holy Sangam at Bhagyamandala completes the Hindu Shradha rites for the departed soul. In the vicinity of the river source, is the Brahamagiri Hill. A steep climb of 300ft - that's 363 steps - brings you to the summit of the Brahmagiri Peak, where according to legend, the 7 great sages meditated.

Wide stretches of tree lined avenues enveloped with the aroma of jasmine; jacaranda and frangipani permeate the air. This easy-going city is famous for its silk and is also a thriving sandalwood and incense center.

Once an exclusive hunting preserve of the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, the park is gently undulating with lush green vegetation, swamps and numerous water resources, rendering it an ideal habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. It is home to the four-horned antelope, sloth bear, and jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox, tiger, panther, Indian bison, sambhar, wild boar, black napped hare, bonnet macaque and pangolin.

Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of lizards are also found here. With around 250 bird species including the bee-eater, bulbul, dove, crested serpent, eagle, peacock, hornbill, Malabar pied, alexandrine, woodpecker, warbler, great Indian reed, crested hawk, golden-back parakeet, and the southern tree pie. The park is worth visiting at the height of the dry season, when wild animals can be spotted in large numbers near sources of water.