December is one of the best months to visit Coorg: dry, clear and cool, with coffee picking under way in the estates. India Meteorological Department averages for Madikeri give the month a mean daily high of 25.3 °C, a mean low of 13.2 °C and about one rainy day. The only real catch is the last week of the month, when Christmas and New Year bring busy roads and full stays.
The figures below come from IMD’s long-term averages for Madikeri, the nearest station with published normals. Conditions on any one estate can differ a little, so it’s worth asking where you’re staying what the nights have been like that week.
How cold does Coorg get in December?
Not as cold as some guides suggest. Nights of 8 to 12 °C get quoted often, but IMD’s December average minimum at Madikeri is 13.2 °C. Colder spells do happen, and the lowest December reading on record there is 5.5 °C.
| Madikeri, IMD 1981–2010 | December | January |
|---|---|---|
| Mean daily high | 25.3 °C | 26.4 °C |
| Mean daily low | 13.2 °C | 12.4 °C |
| Rainfall | 20 mm | 1.6 mm |
| Rainy days | about 1 | almost none |
| Lowest on record | 5.5 °C | 4.8 °C |
In practice that means warm, bright afternoons, a cool evening by the fire, and a morning that wants a jacket until the sun is up.
Does it rain in Coorg in December?
Hardly. The south-west monsoon is long gone by December, and Madikeri averages just 20 mm of rain in the month, over about one rainy day. January is drier still. If you’ve only seen Coorg green and wet in the monsoon, December shows the other side: clear views, dry trails and starry nights.
What is happening on the coffee estates in December?
It’s harvest time. The Coffee Board of India gives November to January as the picking season for Arabica and December to February for Robusta, and South Coorg grows mostly Robusta. In the estates around you, you may see ripe red cherries on the bushes and coffee spread out to dry.
Two other things to know:
- Coffee blossom comes later. The white flowers usually appear between February and April, after the first rain. The Coorg coffee calendar has the month-by-month detail.
- Huthri, the Kodava harvest festival, often falls in late November or December. The exact date is set each year. The Huthri guide explains what happens and how to be a respectful visitor.
How busy is Coorg at Christmas and New Year?
The first three weeks of December are calm. From about Christmas to the first days of January, the picture changes: the roads from Bengaluru and Mysuru are busier, resorts run year-end events, and small homestays are often booked out well in advance. Rates at many places are higher that week.
If you’re travelling then:
- Book as soon as your dates are fixed. Small places have only a few rooms; Mokha Grove has two suites.
- Drive early in the day, and avoid arriving after dark if you can.
- Book safaris ahead. Nagarahole’s slots change and fill quickly in holiday weeks.
For a calm way to see in the year, read New Year’s Eve in Coorg without the party crowd.
How do you get to South Coorg in December?
- From Bengaluru: about 233 km to the estate near Pollibetta, usually 5 to 6 hours by road via Mysuru and Hunsur.
- From Mysuru: about 95 km, roughly 2 to 2½ hours.
- By air: Kannur International Airport in Kerala is the nearest, about 71 km and 1 h 45 to 2 h 15 by road.
- By train: Mysuru Junction is the nearest major station on the Karnataka side, about 94 km away.
Distances are measured from the estate by road and are approximate. More detail, with a map, is on the getting here page.
What should you pack for Coorg in December?
- Layers. T-shirts for the afternoon, a fleece or light jacket for the evening and early morning.
- Walking shoes with some grip. Estate paths can be damp with dew first thing.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses. December afternoons are bright.
- Something warm for the fire. A shawl or a blanket-weight scarf is enough.
- Binoculars, if you have them. Clear December nights are good for stars, and mornings for birds.
At Mokha Grove the suites have ceiling fans and no AC, because the hill climate doesn’t need it. Blankets are in every room, and the bonfire on the lawn is lit after dark, weather permitting. To ask about December dates, message the hosts.
