Plan your trip · Coorg (Madikeri)
What's on in Coorg (Madikeri)
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Coorg (Madikeri) — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Coorg (Madikeri) right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Coorg (Madikeri)
Coorg (Madikeri)'s calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Coorg (Madikeri)
Kaveri Sankramana
🗓️ mid-OctoberThe spring at Talakaveri surges on a fixed day and pilgrims gather for it; it also marks the end of the heavy rains.
Planning: Coffee harvest starts soon after — the estates are at their most interesting from November.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Coorg's festivals follow the farming year of the Kodava people. Kailpodh in early September marks the end of the paddy-planting season, with the worship of arms. Kaveri Sankramana in mid-October draws pilgrims to Talakaveri, and Puttari, the rice harvest festival, is held in late November or early December with dances and family gatherings.
In Madikeri itself, the biggest event is Madikeri Dasara, around September or October. It ends with a night-long procession of tall, lit-up tableaux from the town's temples on Vijayadashami night. Festival dates follow the local calendar and change each year, so check the dates before you plan your trip.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Coorg
- Book your stay early for Madikeri Dasara, Christmas and New Year.
- The Dasara procession goes on through the night, so plan to rest in the afternoon.
- Expect crowds and slow traffic on the road to Talakaveri at Kaveri Sankramana.
- Carry a jacket and a rain cover, as October nights can be cool and wet.
- Many Kodava festivals are family and community events, so ask before taking photos.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowded streets.
Questions
Coorg (Madikeri) — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Coorg?
The main festivals are Madikeri Dasara, Kaveri Sankramana at Talakaveri, Kailpodh and Puttari, the Kodava rice harvest festival. Diwali and other national festivals are also celebrated.
When is Kaveri Sankramana?
Kaveri Sankramana is usually held around mid-October, on the day the sun enters the sign of Tula. Pilgrims gather at Talakaveri to see water rise in the sacred tank. Check the exact date for the year.
What is special about Madikeri Dasara?
Madikeri Dasara is known for its night procession on Vijayadashami, when large, lit-up tableaux from the town's temples show scenes from Hindu stories. It is very different from the more famous Mysuru Dasara.
What is Puttari?
Puttari, or Huttari, is the Kodava harvest festival, usually held in late November or early December. Families cut the first rice of the new crop together, followed by food, music and traditional dances.