Mandalpatti

1. Stay close to your friends and trek-companions if you're travelling by foot.
2. If you're choosing to trek, then travel light and dress comfortably.
3. As per the advice of the Forest Department, do not take your own vehicle to the hilltop and hire a jeep instead.
4. As the hilltop gets cold and windy, it's advisable to not travel with infants.
5. If you own a professional camera, then make sure to carry it -- you would not want to miss the chance to capture the gorgeous sunrise or sunset from uptop!

There are two ways to reach Mandalpatti. One is from the direction of Abbi Falls and involves a relatively jerky ride of about 20 km. The other is through Makkandaru - this path is witness to a number of waterfalls and streams.

To travel to Coorg, it's best to take a bus from Bangalore. Many services offer overnight bus rides at affordable costs and are readily available to book online. Upon reaching Madikeri, the best option to then travel to Mandalpatti is to hire a cab. It's a relatively smooth 17 km car ride. Note that one also has the option of hiring a 4x4 jeep here itself. Finally, once you reach the base of Mandalpatti, you should continue with your jeep in case you hired it at Madikeri, or hire a jeep here in case you travelled with a cab -- and finally, those looking to trek should begin their 3 km journey here.

1. Trekking

The trek elevation is about 200 m high, but don't let that relatively small height let you underestimate the difficulty! The winds in these parts are fierce and you might have difficulty staying afoot. 

2. Jeep Ride

Mandalpatti is prominently associated with the 4x4 jeep rides the Forest Department recommends all tourists to the hilltop. Even if you end up trekking on the way up, it is nevertheless recommended that you don't miss out on the experience of this jeep ride. The Jeep Ride cost INR 1700 per jeep.

3. Nature Sightseeing

Once you have made your way to the top, you can observe the distant hills from the watchtower built by the forest department. This is the much-famed vantage point where the views at sunrise and sunset are breathtaking. There is an entry fee of INR 25 here. If you're fond of nature photography, then this is your call to bring out your cameras!

Mandalpatti is on the fringes of civilisation and is easily the remotest tourist spot in Coorg. Subsequently, there is not many places to lodge at. Those eager to extend the length of their stay can camp at night, although the presence of wild animals in the forests nearby perhaps makes it inadvisable to do so. Furthermore, the closest eateries from here all lie on the way from Madikeri, so it is best to carry one's own food and water as well as other supplies while visiting Mandalpatti. Furthermore, take care to time your travel so that you are able to reach between 6 AM and 6 PM the site remains closed at all other times in the day.

The perfect icing on the cake of your trip to Coorg, an excursion to the tranquil and scenic Mandalpatti is your chance to get mesmerised by some of the most gorgeous hillscapes that Indian tourism has to offer!