Road Trip - Coorg,E-base Kodagu

Coorg, rightly called as the Scotland of India, is the most ideal place for a trip from Bangalore. If you’re someone who dreams of lush greenery, breathtaking waterfalls, hills covered with forests, and spectacular misty landscapes, Coorg is meant just for you!

Sir Robert Swan was the first person to walk to both Poles. An environmental leader and an advocate for the protection of Antarctica and renewable energy, Swan is also the founder of the 2041 Foundation which is dedicated to building the next generation of informed and engaged climate change leaders who can design policy for a more sustainable future.
Following his polar expedition, Sir Swan set up the world’s first E-base in Antarctica in 2008 — an education station to teach people about global climate change issues while addressing local sustainability challenges.

Robert Swan at an E-base

PHOTO SOURCE

Subsequently, 4 other e-bases were set up across the world, two of which are in India — one in Pench, Madhya Pradesh and the other in Leh, Ladakh.

E-base Kodagu(Coorg) educates students about sustainable development to develop empowered future leaders who can drive public policy and change.One of my friends happened to visit the school as well.The one in Karnataka is the 5th E-base in the world, to provide quality sustainability education combined with environmental ethics and practical learning about sustainable development practices.

Best Time To Plan Your Coorg Trip From Bangalore

While Coorg is a perfect year round destination, the best time to take a trip to Coorg from Bangalore is from September to March. The weather during this time is pleasant, refreshing, and quite welcoming. This is also the peak season for tourists, so high tariff is an issue you might definitely face when booking a hotel. But, the experience is complete value for money. A trip to Coorg from Bangalore during this time will also help you witness the gorgeous rainfall that this town experiences.

How To Reach Coorg From Bangalore

Coorg is located some 260 kms away from Bangalore. If you’re looking for ways for how to reach Coorg from Bangalore, here are the three most convenient options that you can consider:

Coorg Trip From Bangalore By Car

Since there are no direct flights or trains from Bangalore to Coorg, the best way to reach is by your own car or a cab. It’s not only a convenient option, but also great if you plan to take a road trip from Bangalore to Coorg. And while Bangalore to Coorg by car takes around five hours, it completely depends on your car and speed.

Coorg Trip From Bangalore By Bus

You can also take your Coorg trip from Bangalore via a bus. There are private buses as well as a direct Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. It takes around six hours to reach Coorg from Bangalore by a bus.

Coorg Trip From Bangalore By Train

While there are no direct Bangalore to Coorg trains, the Mysore Railway Station is the nearest you can get to if you plan to travel via a train. After a train journey of three hours, you can take a bus or hire a taxi from the station to Coorg.

Wanderlust

I did not consider any of these options ,infact i drove all the way in my KTM Race Competition , my bike was fresh from an accident just the week before,lol.

It was December 29, the climate was really really cold, and it rained in between ,it felt like a wonderful drive with my close buddies around.There were 6 of us in 3 bikes ,the trip turned out to be a memorable one indeed.

The E-base 
The E-base is located at the Tithimati Ashram School, nestled in the rich bio-diverse region of the Western Ghats.The school is a residential school run only for local, tribal children.

" With a capacity to house 500 children, Tithimathi is itself an epitome of sustainability."

E-base Kodagu also runs a 5-month Fellowship Program twice a year, bringing bright, young, motivated individuals to the school to understand the local grassroots level challenges pertaining to development, education, wildlife conservation, local governance and biodiversity. 
Fellows also lay the foundation of the E-base by helping to design an activity-based sustainability and life-skills curriculum besides working with the children using a multi-dimensional approach. They receive a fixed budget to procure resources deemed necessary for conducting the sessions and are expected to innovate and work frugally to optimise available resources.