Gaddige also known as Raja’s tomb is located in one of the beautiful hill station of Karnataka, Madikeri, Coorg. The monument depicts the pervading building style of those days which was Indo- Sarcenic. The monument contains the mortal remains of the royal Kodavas.
The Architecture and the history of Gaddige Madikeri
Gaddige or the tombs are built in Muhammadan style with tombs at the center and turrets at the corners. Nandi figures are carved on top of the corners.
The entrance of the tombs has carvings too. Lord Shiva is placed and worshipped inside the tomb since the king was Hindu. This is a very fascinating fact because most of the tombs belong to Muslim kings and dynasties.
There are three tombs built for the royal dynasty. The central tomb which is the largest among the three is of Kodava king Doddaveerarajendra and his wife Mahadeviamma. The right tomb built by Chikkaveerarajendra for his father Lingarajendra in 1820 A.D. The left tomb belongs to Veerarajendra’s guru Rudrappa built in 1834 A.D.
Closer to the tombs is the burial place of the two brave royal officials Biddanda Bopu and his son Biddanda Somaiah who sacrificed their life fighting with Tippu Sultan.
How to reach Raja’s Tomb Madikeri
Gaddige tomb is located in Mahadevpet, which is 1.5 km from Madikeri towards northeast.
By road: Tourists can reach Gaddige via SH27. Both Government and private buses are available to Coorg. Autorickshaws are also the best means of travel in and around Coorg. Also, every big town in Coorg has car rentals, taxi and bike rentals available to take visitors to Raja Tombs.
By air: There are three airports close by to Coorg. Mysore, Mangalore and Bengaluru. Manglore and Bengaluru are international airports located 135kilometer and 260 kilometer away respectively. The closest airport to Gaddige is Mysore is 120km away from Gaddige. Taxis are available from airports to Madikeri.
By train: Coorg does not have a good railway network. The main stations close to Coorg are Mysore, Hassan and Manglore. Reaching to these three stations will not be a problem since they are well connected by road and rail. Mysore to Madikeri is about 115 kilometer and buses are available from Mysore station to get tourists to Coorg. Hassan and Mangalore railway stations are 105 kilometer and 135 kilometer and are again well connected to Madikeri by bus.
Best time to visit Gaddige, Madikeri
Coorg has the best climate and the weather is always appealing. Although if, you are looking to enjoy the cold breeze and hot coffee, then the best time to visit Coorg is between November and February. The winters between November and February provide a mystic and beautiful view of the mountains and is the best time for photographers to capture the beautiful nature covered in mist.
But, the best time to visit Coorg to enjoy outdoor activities and sunshine is from March to May. The weather is warm and best suited for hikes, treks and picnics. The only drawback is these months do not have good view of waterfalls as most of the waterfalls are dried up in summer.
Other places to visit around Gaddige, Madikeri
There are several scenic monuments and temples around Gaddige
- Muttappa Temple: This temple is located around 350 meter from Gaddige tombs
- Basaveshwara Temple: This temple is located in one of the famous towns of Coorg, Somwarpet. This place is about 37.1 km away from Gaddige. The major attractions in the place include Beelur Golf Club, Malemalleshwara Betta, Kotebetta, Mallalli Abbi or Kumaradhara Falls etc.
- Honnamana Kere: Holy Lake in Doddamalthe near the village Sulimalthe. It is located 44.5 km away from Gaddige
- Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary: This is one among the 21 wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka. The sanctuary is located in Somwarpet and is about 38 km from Gaddige.
Places to eat and stay near
There are several eateries, restaurants and hotels close by to Gaddige. Some of the restaurants sever authentic Kodava cuisine. Some of the good known ones are:
Coorg View Home Stay
Near A.V School,Abbi Falls Road,
Madikeri , Coorg- 571201
Sai Estate
Kathalekadu Road, Maragodu,
Madikeri Coorg – 571201571252
Coorg South Mere
SAS 8, 9th Block, Convent Road,
Near St. Josephs Convent School,
Madikeri, Coorg- – 571201
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