Journal · South India · India
Mumbai to Coorg: Mysore, Kabini and the coffee hills
This route joins India’s largest city to one of its gentlest corners. Two nights in Mumbai, then a flight south to Bengaluru and a short loop by road: Mysore and the island fort of Srirangapatna, the Kabini side of Nagarhole for wildlife, and Coorg for coffee country.
Why begin in Mumbai?
Because many long flights arrive there, and because the contrast is the point. Mumbai is dense, fast and coastal. The old city in the south, around the Gateway of India, is its most walkable part: grand buildings from the years of British rule, the sea wall and the harbour.
From there the route is a single flight to Bengaluru and then all by road.
What is there between Bengaluru and Mysore?
Srirangapatna, an island in the Kaveri river just before Mysore. It was the fortress capital of Tipu Sultan, who held out against the British there until the end of the eighteenth century. The walls, a summer palace and his tomb remain.
Mysore itself is the old royal city of the region. Its palace is the great sight, and the centre around it is easy to cover on foot.
What do you do at Kabini?
- By jeep. Drives into Nagarhole National Park, forest that holds elephants, tigers and leopards.
- By boat. A safari on the reservoir, where animals come down to the banks to drink.
- By kayak. A paddle on the Kabini itself, for the birds and the quiet.
Two nights gives time for one of each. Sightings of the big cats are a matter of luck; elephants and deer are seen on most outings.
How do you end the trip in Coorg?
Slowly. On the way up from Kabini the road passes Bylakuppe, a Tibetan settlement whose Namdroling Monastery has a prayer hall with three great gilded figures. Coorg beyond it is hills and coffee estates, and the thing to do there is walk through one.
The plan ends by returning to Mumbai. Bengaluru and Mangaluru are the nearer airports, so check which suits the journey home before booking.
Quick answers
How do you get from Mumbai to Mysore?
Fly to Bengaluru and continue by road. The drive passes Srirangapatna, which is worth a stop on the way.
How many nights should you spend at Kabini?
Two at least, for a jeep drive, a boat safari and time on the river. A third night improves the chance of seeing a tiger or a leopard.
Is Bylakuppe on the way to Coorg?
Yes. The Tibetan settlement and its monastery lie on the road between the Mysore side and the Coorg hills, and take an hour or two to visit.
Before you book: check the whole trip at once
Two of the five places to stay here are left for the traveller to choose, in Bengaluru and Mysore, and the way home from Coorg is not fixed either.
Trips by Manr.ai puts your hotels and transport on one timeline and checks for gaps, overlaps and missing legs. Type a booking in, drop in the PDF, or paste the confirmation email. With an account and sync switched on, you can also forward confirmations to trips@manr.ai from the address you signed in with. Nothing joins your trip until you have seen it and added it.