Chettalli

Chettalli in Coorg (celebrated across India as the Coffee Capital Village of Kodagu, a lush plantation settlement situated amidst misty Western Ghats foothills between Madikeri and Siddapur, world renowned for hosting the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES), the Coffee Board Central Coffee Research Sub Station, aromatic cardamom and black pepper estates, and the ancient Cherala Bhagavathy Temple), located in Coorg in Karnataka, stands as Kodagu's premier agro horticultural and plantation sanctuary.

Surrounded by endless canopies of shade grown Arabica and Robusta coffee estates, fragrant vanilla vines, and famous Coorg Mandarin orange orchards, this pastoral village offers a quiet, unhurried plantation getaway where visitors can learn the nuances of bean to-cup coffee processing, explore botanical research nurseries, and enjoy scenic village walks along quiet country roads.

It's the home of the world class Central Coffee Research Sub Station (CCRS) and Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) showcasing hybrid coffee cultivars, exotic fruit orchards (including rambutan, avocado, mangosteen, and passion fruit), the ancient 500 year-old Cherala Bhagavathy Temple revered for its traditional Kodava wood architecture and sacred village grove, the aromatic spice plantation trails where black pepper vines climb silver oak trees alongside flowering cardamom bushes, the authentic homestays offering traditional Kodava hospitality (featuring steaming akki roti, pandi curry, bamboo shoot fry, and freshly roasted estate filter coffee), and an intensely peaceful, bird rich rural atmosphere where cool mountain mist drifts through lush green coffee blossoms.

It represents a rich 80 year-old Indian coffee research heritage, Kodava plantation culture, and horticultural biodiversity where research stations, coffee estates, orange orchards, and Bhagavathy temples unite in Chettalli Coorg.

Located 16 km east of Madikeri and 14 km west of Siddapur along the Madikeri Chettalli-Siddapur Road, it sits 20 km from Kushalnagar, 115 km from Mysuru, 140 km from Mangaluru, and 245 km from Bengaluru, easily accessible by KSRTC rural buses, auto rickshaws, or private car through scenic canopy roads.

Central Coffee Research Station & CHES Orchards

Established in 1946 by the Coffee Board of India, the Chettalli research sub station spans over 100 acres dedicated to coffee genetics, pest management, and high yield cultivar breeding.

Adjacent to it, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (CHES) cultivates rare sub tropical fruits, providing guided agricultural insights for farmers and plantation enthusiasts.

Truth is, sipping a hot cup of freshly brewed estate coffee while walking through blooming coffee bushes after a light morning drizzle is pure bliss.

Cherala Bhagavathy Temple & Sacred Forest Groves

500 Year-Old Shrine: The Cherala Bhagavathy Temple is a revered Kodava shrine featuring wooden gables, brass bells, and an annual village festival celebrated with traditional temple dances.

Spices & Coorg Orange Orchards: The village is renowned for producing sweet, loose skinned Coorg Mandarin oranges alongside organic black pepper and cloves.

Central Coorg Plantation Circuit

Plantation Walk Trails: Chettalli offers peaceful village walking trails through private coffee estates, bamboo thickets, and bubbling forest streams.

Coorg Heritage Loop: Chettalli pairs smoothly with Madikeri (16 km), Dubare Elephant Camp (16 km), Kaveri Nisargadhama (20 km), and Valnur Fishing Camp (18 km).

After exploring the coffee nurseries of Chettalli, visit Dubare Elephant Camp, cross the hanging bridge at Nisargadhama, or tour scenic Madikeri.