Peek into Coorg from Kannur

November 4, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Natureadmin

Paithalmala is an enchanting hill station and a trekkers’ delight. This hilly region, about 1372 metres above sea level and 65 km away from Kannur, is the highest geographic peak of Kannur. Nestled along the Kerala-Karnataka border, it is one of the favourite spots for nature enthusiasts, photographers and trekkers alike.

Paithalmala, situated near the Kodagu forest, is located along huge mountains spread over 500 acres of land amidst dense forest.

There are two trekking seasons at Paithalmala-monsoon and summer.

Monsoon trekking offers an adventurous experience and is the best time to capture the beauty of the mountains enveloped in a blanket of mist. However, trekking during monsoon is more difficult because of the extreme weather. Trekkers are also cautioned about leeches and occasional elephant visits. So, the best time for trekking is January to March.

Trekking begins through the dense forest followed by the plain grassland on the hilltop. An observatory tower built by the tourism department on the hilltop can be reached after a 45-minute walk from Paithal valley. The tower offers a breathtaking view of the valley and one see most parts of Kannur.

The best part of the trek is the walk from the observatory tower to the dense forest.

One can walk along the top of the hill enjoying the mesmerising beauty of the Coorg forest and Paithal valley. Small streams and ponds within the forest are special attractions.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Travel / by DC / Serin Sam / October 25th, 2013

MLA Vasu donates Rs. 1 lakh to Kodagu Gowda education fund

November 3, 2013Educationadmin

Announces Rs. 10 lakh for hostel in Mysore

Madikeri :

“Owing to severe competition in all sectors, students, despite having acquired high qualification, find it tough to get a good job without proper guidance,” opined MLA Vasu.

He was speaking at a programme organised by Kodagu Gowda Vidya Sangha at Gowda Samaj premises here yesterday to present awards to meritorious students.

Vasu pointed out that during earlier days, just an ordinary degree was able to fetch a good job and the scenario changed dramatically over the years owing to rise in number of graduates and tough competition in the job market. He appealed to the Kodagu Gowda Vidya Sangha to construct a good educational institution to provide quality education to students of all communities.

He donated Rs. 1 lakh to Gowda Education Fund and announced that he would provide a fund of Rs. 10 lakh for modernising the Sangha hostel in Mysore. He assured to discuss with MP H. Vishwanath and Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to allot a four acre plot identified for the Sangha to establish an educational institution.

District Government Employees’ Association President Karnaiyyana Ravi, Entrepreneur D.B. Balakrishna, Sangha President Hosur Ramesh Joyappa, former Manager of Madikeri Town Co-operative Bank Kotera Seethamma, Sangha Secretary S. Erappa, Vice-President Ambekallu Naveen Kushalappa and others were present.

Scholarships and awards were presented to 62 students who excelled in studies and various competitions. Students Rashmi, Jahnavi, Helen and Chetana, who had excelled in the degree examinations were felicitated.

Teacher Ame Chandramma, who was adjudged the best teacher during Teachers’ Day celebration, too was felicitated on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 28th, 2013

Mangalore University’s first off-campus to be inaugurated on Nov. 18

November 3, 2013Educationadmin

University may offer PG courses in commerce, social work, chemistry./ The Hindu

Science block, housing blocks for teachers, hostels ready

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate Mangalore University’s first post-graduation study centre outside its Mangalagangotri campus at Chikkaluvaru in Kodagu district on November 18. Classes on the new campus will being in December.

The study centre, which is about 16 km from Kushalnagar, is spread on 72.5 acres of land. Vice-Chancellor T. C. Shivashankara Murthy said the government had promised to hand over another 30 acres to make the centre a 100-acre off-campus.

Prof. Murthy said that science block, six housing blocks for teachers and a hostel with 20 rooms for women and another hostel of similar size for men were ready at Chikkaluvaru. The two hostels would accommodate 160 students, 80 men and 80 women. He said the arts block was under construction.

The university is offering bio-chemistry and microbiology post-graduation courses at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College at Madikeri. As the first semester classes for 2013-14 have commenced, those classes would be shifted to Chikkaluvaru campus after the first semester examinations in November, the Vice-Chancellor said.

The classes of second semester for those courses would be conducted at Chikkaluvaru from December end.

The university has proposed to offer post-graduation courses in chemistry, economics, commerce and social work at Chikkaluvarau from 2014-15, he said.

Second PG centre

The government recently allotted 20 acres to the university at Belapu village, about 25 km from Udupi town, to open the university’s second post-graduate study centre.

The university has prepared a Rs. 22-crore proposal to build infrastructure at Belapu and has written to the government to release Rs. 5 crore as initial fund.

It has been planned to lay the foundation stone for the construction once the government allotted the first instalment, Prof. Murthy said.

An arts block, a science block and a commerce block, a shopping centre, hostels for men and women would come up at Belapu, he said.

Minister for Higher Education R.V. Deshpande is expected to attend the inauguration of the PG study centre.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Raviprasad Kamila / Mangalore – October 25th, 2013

Chinapa’s countdown

November 3, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorgadmin

One of the biggest festivals of the country, Sunburn will no longer have one of the country’s popular favourite artistes, Nikhil Chinapa. Instead, Chinapa will be seen collaborating with LIVE Viacom18 as the festival director, “I am going to be working with them as an artist. I do not aim to make the festival bigger and better than Sunburn,” he begins. As for the new festival, Chinapa says, “We haven’t decided a name. I want the festival to be amazing. Order a masala dosa but what matters is who you are eating it with, what time of the day it is, what music is running in the background and if the girl at the opposite table looked at you and smiled. I think all these factors make the experience amazing.”

The festival, scheduled from December 26 to 30 will be electronic and may coincide with Sunburn’s dates. “My vision is to have 17 screens at the end of 10 years. I will also include camping in the third year of the festival,” he adds. Chinapa promises a lot of new talent, artistes from abroad and of course his wife and DJ Pearl.

The venue will remain the same, Goa, though Chinapa agrees that down South, the East Coast Road in Chennai could also be a great spot to host the festival. “I think go-MAD is doing pretty good when it comes to Chennai. They should make it the biggest festival in Chennai. I did come for the latest version and it was well done.” He is also organising a festival for 21 year olds. “This fest has no alcohol and will teach youngsters to be music producers. The fest will be conducted by professionals,” he concludes. More information about the new festival will be announced later this month.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Mrinalini Sundar / ENS – Hyderabad / October 25th, 2013

Lakhs throng Talacauvery

November 1, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Devotees thronging Triveni Sangama at Talacauvery in Bhaghamandla on Thursday | Express photo

The Madikeri- Bhaghamandla- Talacauvery Road was jampacked from early Thursday as lakhs of devotees arrived for the ‘theerthodbhava’ near Brahmakundike.

It is believed that every year on this day at a specified time water from the Cauvery springs up in the form of a small fountain from ‘Brahmakundike’ at Talacauvery. And this water from this temporary fountain is considered to be holy.

A team of archakas, led by Ananthesh Kedilaya, announced the arrival of theerthodbhava at 12.01 pm, following which they sprinkled the holy water on the devotees near the Bramhakundike.

Kodagu police had enforced strict monitoring around the region to ensure that people do not enter Bramhakundike until after the theerthodbhava to prevent any untoward incidents such as a stampede.

SP M N Anucheth was seen standing near the pond and personally supervising arrangements with his subordinates.

Cultural programmes were performed by various artistes throughout the day. Ninada from Ponampet sang Kodava devotional songs while B A Ganesh from Shanthalli rendered Kannada devotional songs. Padmanabha and team from Melkote played the Nagaswara and Ramanajneya Bhajana team from Madikeri sung bhajans.

For the second consecutive year, the temple committee provided lunch for the devotees. MLA K G Bopaiah and Kodagu ZP vice-president B Usha Devamma supervised the catering arrangements.

The theerthodbhava was witnessed by the temple Thakka’s Kodi Madappa, Kodi Motaaiah, Balladka Appaji, MP A H Vishwanath, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari and others.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service – Madikeri / October 18th, 2013

For selector Arjun Halappa, professionalism is key

November 1, 2013Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sportsadmin

Mumbai :

When people embrace dual responsibilities, dealing with the double-edged sword becomes inevitable. Air India’s Arjun Halappa is currently busy negotiating the many predicaments that come along with being a national selector and being an active player.

Being a player, Halappa rubs shoulders with potential candidates who could go and represent the country some day, while being a selector though, he has to ensure bias doesn’t creep in while doing his national duty. And as Halappa puts it: “drawing a line is critical”.

“I have played a lot of hockey and I know I have a lot more hockey left in me. So on that front I am assured. I have always idol-worshipped Dhanraj Pillay as a player. I try to emulate him as far as possible. Even at the age of 40-41, Dhanraj was a force to reckon with. So I want to follow in his footsteps. But it is a different ball game being a selector,” said Halappa, who turned out for Air India in the opening encounter of the 48th edition of the Bombay Gold Cup against Indian Navy at Churchgate’s Mahindra Stadium. For the record, Air India thrashed Navy 6-1.

“Having played hockey, people expect me to give them a hearing. They take it for granted that I will succumb to their requests just because I have shared the dressing room with them. But that is not the case. As a player, I will always respect the equation I share with my teammates. But when it comes to picking up the right candidate for India camps, I will do my job professionally,” added Halappa, who was part of India’s squad at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

At 32, Halappa is one of the youngest selectors. Dealing with senior selectors such a BP Govinda (Olympian and chairman of selectors) would sure be a tricky proposition. “You have to be respectful for sure. But I’ve been assigned a task and I believe doing my job with total commitment. Thankfully, I’ve never been required to assert myself.”

Results: Air India 6 (DS Darshan, Shivendra Singh, Birendra Lakra, Vikram Pillay, VS Vinaya, Joga Singh) bt Indian Navy 1 (Amit Kumar Goswami).

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> Hockey> Air India / by Sudheendra Tripathi, TNN / October 21st, 2013

Chikka eyes number 1 rank, targets Asian tour card

October 31, 2013Sportsadmin

New Delhi:

India`s new golfing sensation S Chikkarangappa, who has been in sizzling form in his rookie season, is eyeing a year-end number one rank on the PGTI tour apart from earning an Asian tour card for the next season.

“At the beginning of the year, my target was a top 10 finish in the order of Merit. Having a good start, now I am looking at number 3 and also eyeing the Rolex ranking award also because it is just a few lakhs difference,” said Chikkarangappa, who is ranked fourth in prize money list now.

“Next few events are also big events, I just have to pull two weeks and if I can do that I will be number one. That is what my target is,” he said.

The 20-year-old finished inside top 10 seven times out of the 10 tournaments that he has played this year.
Chikkarangappa said his next step is to go to the Q school to get an Asian tour card.

“I have not played in the Asian tour event as a professional till now but I have played an European challenge tour event, Kensville in Gujarat. This year I will go to the Q-school. I wanted to play in PGTI, establish myself, get a good feedback and then move to the next level,” he said.

“Asian tour is a different game. You have to shoot really good numbers, you have to shoot four-under everyday on an average. Even in PGTI nowadays cut is going at one-over because a lot of young guys are coming up and also looking at top 10 finish, so that they can move to the next level.”

Born in a village in the suburb on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, Chikkarangappa had initially started as a ball boy and then worked as a caddie at `Eagleton Golf Resort` in Bangalore but his love for golf saw him rise above adversity and win medals.

Chikkarangappa won a bronze at Asia Pacific amateur Golf championships, clinched the All India Amateur Golf Championships in 2011 and 2012, won the Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championships in 2010-11. He was also the winner of the Indian Open Amateur Golf Championships in 2012 and Tamil Nadu Open Golf Championships.

“As an amateur I did well for the country. I played for six years and won medals and really big thanks to IGU for sending us abroad and giving us exposure and it is paying off now,” he said.

“The Indian Open was the transition period for me. After that event I didn`t play any amateur tournament. I had a great experience at KGA. I was tied sixth after three days with Shiv Kapur, Jyoti and Anirban Lahiri. I decided I have to move to the next level.

“Since Anirban was there for me. He told me that you should not be thinking about the competition, you need to tell yourself that I need to get better everytime and keep playing and show your skill, focus and that is kind of inputs I got from him and my coach, Vijay Divecha.”

Asked about his aspirations for the BILT Open, which started today at the Jaypee Greens golf course, Chikkarangappa said: “As an amateur I never made the cut in BILT Open. So it was in my head that when I play the event as a profession, I will get the BILT open under my belt. I kept telling myself that I have to do this,” he said.
PTI
source: http://www.zeenewsindia.com / ZNews / Home> Sport> Golf / by PTI / Wednesday – October 23rd, 2013

Tata Starbucks launches exclusive Indian blend

October 31, 2013Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinionadmin

Blending well: India Estates Blend, Tata Starbucks’ latest product for the Indian market.

Mumbai :
Tata Starbucks has launched a coffee blend exclusively for the Indian market, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the opening of its first store in Mumbai. Called India Estates Blend, the coffee is sourced from the finest arabica beans produced at Tata Coffee’s four estates in Chickmagalur.

Tata Starbucks, a 50:50 venture between Tata Global Beverage and US-based Starbucks Corporation, has also set up a coffee roasting and packaging plant at Kushalnagar in Karnataka’s Kodagu district with a capacity to produce 375 tonnes.

The company chose India Estate Blend after testing various coffees across Tata’s estates in Kodagu and Chickmagalur. It will be sold at Tata Starbucks outlets for blending or consumption at home, according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Avani Saglani Davda. “Home bean consumption is catching up and India Estates Blend has been lined up for this,” she said. To be sold in packs of 250 g, the coffee will be available with six other varieties such as Home Blend, Italian and Addis Ababa.

It’s a long journey for the blend. The coffee beans are picked up from shady canopies in Kodagu and Chickmagalur estates and sent to Starbucks’ sourcing department in Seattle. This is the second blend brought out by the firm after the India Espresso Roast, sourced and roasted locally. The espresso is a popular product at Tata Starbucks stores across the country.

“The Starbucks sourcing department analysed the coffees and finalised the blend. The feedback is encouraging,” said Davda. The new blend is the first step Starbucks and Tata Coffee are taking to develop and improve the profile of Indian-grown arabica coffees in the global market. India Estates Blend is a medium roast coffee with a herbal juiciness and a chocolate finish. Tata Starbucks currently operates 24 stores across Mumbai, Delhi and Pune. “We will soon open an outlet in Bangalore,” a company official said.

(The writer visited Tata Starbucks’ Kushalnagar plant at the invitation of the joint venture firm).

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by M.R. Subramani / Mumbai – October 21st, 2013

Nachappa elected vice-president of Karnataka Athletics Assn

October 30, 2013Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Sportsadmin

Former sprinter and Clean Sports India president Ashwini Nachappa was today elected as one of the vice-presidents of Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association in the polls held at its General body Meeting here.

Nachappa was elected as one of the four vice-presidents for a three-year term. The other three vice-presidents are Uday K Prabhu, Sunil Kumar Shety and A Munisanjeevappa.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief G Parameshwara was elected unanimously as KAA President, while Chandrashekar Rai was made the Secretary. H R Udaya Kumar will be the treasurer of the association.

Para-athlete H N Girisha, who won a silver in the London Paralympic Games last year, was also named as one of the Executive Committee members.

The GBM, which was attended by 138 members, gave unanimous approval to the Annual Report, Accounts for 2012-13, besides also passing several amendments to the constitution of the Association.

Welcoming Nachappa’s election as KAA vice-president, CSI Convenor B V P Rao said, “I hope other former sportspersons would emulate Nachappa and become administrators to clean up sports bodies in the country.

“Nachappa has worked at the grassroot level as she was the head of Bangalore Urban District Association. I hope she would go ahead further and in near future would take up important positions in Athletics Federation of India,” he said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / by Press Trust of India / Bangalore – October 26th, 2013

Ashwini to contest KAA elections

October 30, 2013Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sportsadmin

Bangalore :

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief G Parameshwara is set to continue as the president of the Karnataka Athletics Association (KAA) while former star Ashwini Nachappa has entered the fray for the post of vice-president in the elections scheduled for October 26.

Parameshwara’s third term at the helm of KAA is almost certain as the top politician is the only one to file the nomination for the post on the last day on Monday.

There are five candidates in the fray for the four posts for vice-president. Besides Ashiwini, a key campaigner for cleaning Indian sports, the other aspirants are Uday Prabhu, Sunil Kumar Shetty, Munisanjeevappa and Babu Kumar.

There are three contestants for the secretary’s post vacated by long-serving official Satyanarayana, while two are in the mix for the treasurer’s post. The final list of candidates will be announced after the scrutiny of nomination papers on Tuesday.

The candidates: President: G Parameshwara; Vice-Presidents: Ashwini Nachappa, Uday Prabhu, Sunil Kumar Shetty, Munisanjeevappa, Babu Kumar; Secretary: RK Gopalkrishna, Chandrashekar Rai, Nataraj; Treasurer: Uday Kumar, Bhimannanavar.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> More Sports> Kaa / by Biju Babu Cyriac, TNN / October 22nd, 2013

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