Record Tourism Influx Into Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Bangalore:

Kodagu district, aptly called the Kashmir of Karnataka and the Switzerland of India, is fast becoming a popular tourist destination with urbanites from various parts of the country making a beeline to this serene hill station surrounded by coffee plantations, where numerous resorts and home stays have mushroomed to cater to the needs of the tourists whose numbers swell during the holidays and weekends.

The pleasant weather, picturesque landscapes and fresh air are a luxury for many of the urban populace who simply look forward to relax in such serene atmosphere, away from the urban hustle-bustle, noise and air pollution.

According to sources in the Tourism Department, the number of tourists visiting Kodagu is higher than those visiting Munnar in Kerala, one of the most popular hill stations of South India. As per the statistics provided by the Karnataka and Kerala Tourism Departments, the number of tourists who visited Kodagu in 2010 was 5,94,467 (including 5,87,216 domestic and 7,251 foreign tourists), which is double that of Munnar which saw 2,45,438 tourists (including 19,690 foreign tourists). Up to Nov. 2011, Kodagu saw a quantitative leap with over 15 lakh visitors.

Tourism officials are thrilled by the prospects of developing Kodagu as a popular tourist destination. The hill district is situated at an elevation of 1,525 metres MSL.

Though the tourist footfall in Munnar has not gone down, the fact that the numbers have swelled significantly in Kodagu has given it the lead, said officials.

Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams –Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala __ and placed about 1,600 metres above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India. Marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows and waterfalls, Munnar had so far been the ever-green favourite of tourists in sea-rch of a calm and quiet hill station.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 09th, 2012

Govt. Mulling on Regularisation of Encroached Govt. Lands

Business & Economy, Nature, Uncategorized


Caption: D.V. Sadananda Gowda is seen unveiling the statue of freedom fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda in Madikeri yesterday. His wife Dotty Sadananda Gowda is seen offering floral tributes.

Madikeri, Jan. 3:
The Government is mulling on regularisation of encroached government lands by making amendments to Section 94(C) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

He was speaking at the launch of several works undertaken by various Departments at the Town’s Gandhi maidan after unveiling the statue of Freedom Fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda here yesterday.

The government is contemplating on making amendments to the Revenue Act so as to give land rights to farmers who have taken up cultivation in C and D category lands in Kodagu district.

The Chief Minister also said the Services Guarantee Bill, which aimed at transparency in Governance, will be tabled before the Assembly in the coming session. As many as 152 functions under various departments will be brought under the purview of the Bill, he pointed out.

A medical college will be established in Kodagu, for which the funds will be earmarked in the forthcoming budget, he added.

Earlier, Madikeri MLA Appacchu Ranjan in his introductory address, said the State should submit Rs. 133 crore proposal to the Centre for checking Wild Elephant menace.

A medical college should be established in the district and ICU should be opened at District Hospital, Madikeri, he said.

Appachu Ranjan also urged the government to initiate measures for developing Talacauvery and Bhagamandala, construction of General Thimmaiah Memorial and KSRTC division for Kodagu.

Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said land has been identified for construction of DC office complex, Police Station at Suntikoppa, Ayurveda College at Virajpet and Medical College in Kodagu.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 03rd, 2012

Ajmal in ‘Vetriselvan’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Ajmal has signed a new film. Titled ‘Vetriselvan’, the movie has Radhika Apte of ‘Ratha Charithiram’ fame as the female lead, will hit the floors in Chennai on Wednesday. It will be helmed by Rudhran, a former associate to Vikram Kumar.

Says the director, “Three persons who are neglected by the society decide to draw the attention of everyone. For that, they do a revolution which brings about a sea change. How it is done is the story of Vetriselvan.”

Produced on Srushti Cinemas banner, ‘Vetriselvan’ has singer Mano, Sherrif, Ganja Karuppu and others in pivotal roles. Music is by Mani Sharma, while cinematography is by Ramesh Kumar. Shooting will take place in Mysore and Coorg initially.

“A grand set resembling a hospital has been erected where an important scene is to be shot. Ajmal is thoroughly impressed with the script and has vowed to give his best. So has Radhika. Mano is playing a meaty role after Singaravelan,” adds the director.

source: http://www.IndiaGlitz.com / Wednesday, January 04th, 2012

Award for P.M. Belliappa

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion


British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India Mike Nitharvrianakis presents the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire citation and medal to the president of ABS P.M.Belliappa in Chennai on Monday. Photo: K Pichumani
Recognising his contribution towards improving the Indo-U.K. relationship, the British High Commission presented the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) badge to P.M. Belliappa, president of the Association of British Scholars at a function here on Monday.

Mike Nitharvrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India, said that the award is to recognise Mr. Belliappa’s services to environmental protection and for promoting Indo-U.K. alumni relations through the ABS. Calling the award as a “very, very rare honour”, Mr. Nitharvrianakis said “Indians who study abroad always try to give something back to the country where they spent their academic life. Mr.Belliappa is a prime example.”

Terming the occasion as a moment of great joy and pride, Kartar Singh, Deputy Director, British Council, said that Mr. Belliappa is a true ambassador of Indo-U.K. relationship. “This award celebrates his human spirit,” he said. Reflecting on his life and career, Mr.Belliappa said “I have had three careers, running almost in parallel – civil service, my years as an international environmental consultant and the ABS. In all of them, I’ve achieved a measure of success. But the results were achieved only due to a collective endeavour.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / April 12th, 2011

Picturesque Coorg to get rail connectivity

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy, Uncategorized

Coorg or Kodagu is in a dilemma today on whether to accept the new development in the region or not. For decades people from Coorg district of Karnataka demanding railway route for the region and at the same time some traditional populace protesting it as such a development can harm the serenity of the terrain. Kodagu district of Karnataka, a prominent tourist place does not have railway or air connectivity. This isolation of the region surrounded by mountains, forest, fields and waterfalls has worked as blessing in disguise.

But now railway department has proposed a train route from Mysore to Madikeri, the headquarters of the district, and the survey is already undergoing. Recently, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa launched the first stage of the preliminary survey works on the route at Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. The work relating to the preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri will be completed in four months and the project would start in less than a year. According to K.H. Muniyappa, although the preliminary survey works were taken up from Mysore to Madikeri, the first phase of the project work would commence from Mysore to Kushalnagar. The project was expected to cost Rs. 600 crore.

M C Nanayya, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and JD(S) leader from Coorg has a different opinion.
He said, “I am perfectly positive about extending railway line from Mysore to Kushalnagar. As this line goes through Belagola, Hunsur, Piriyapattana and Kushalnagar there is no threat to forest of private plantations. The route covers plains and government land and will not harm environment or farmers. But, I am against this railway line extending to Madikeri as the route goes through hilly terrain forest near Kushalnagar which is of 2800 ft height from sea level and Madikeri forest is 3900 ft height from sea level. The route is not necessary as this covers forest, hilly terrain and private coffee plantations and we can travel same distance by road in 40 minutes. As the route is environmental hazard and not eco friendly I will oppose such plan.”

Though, efforts were made to provide rail links to Kodagu during the tenure of the former Chief Minister late R. Gundu Rao who hailed from Kushalnagar but failed to fulfill the dream in his term. So, at last now the region is going to cheer up with new railway link.

“It is true that serenity of the region will be harmed, but any development we should accept. If railways come the travel will become cheaper. There are positive and negative points attached in it. Knowing such a type of development will harm the environment, it is difficult to accept,” Says Seetha Aiyanna, Vice president, Kodava Samaja, Bangalore.

But, Seetha Aiyanna and others residents of the region accept that protesting voices are becoming weak nowadays. Knowing the necessity of development everyone wants railway and air connectivity to this beautiful district.

source: http://www.TheSundayIndian.com / by N K Suprabha / Bangalore, January 07th, 2012

Coorg Wildlife Society

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

The last time i visited coorg was in March and i was captivated and wat captivated me more was the coorg logo than the scenery and i have a big one in the back of my car and when i went to coorg i went in a hired cab which had a sticker of an elephant with jungle beat return below and the driver explained me that thats a mysore sticker and there was some healthy competion between coorg and mysore but i have got both the stickers on my car as i love both the places both has its own charm and both are covered by forest

The other thing capivated me is my Jawa was originally a coorg regestired vehicle and the prev owner used to work in the coffee plantations and i imagine the good old days riding jawa in the twisties in the cold weather must have been amazing but gone are those days and now my jawa is in sunny chennai reminicing the age gone by

The best thing about coorg or mysore is that u have national park every within100km and free flowing river and the people are polite the food is funny but its good but the worst part is though coffee is from coorg coorgies make horrible coffee its unpallable but noting beats Madras for its coffee any way if its adventure u want then coorg and mysore it is.

source: http://www.jawaroyal.blogspot.com / Tuesday, January 03rd, 2012

Coorg person of the year

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Bangalore:

Pemanda Monappa Belliappa, a retired IAS officer from Tamil Nadu, has been voted as the Coorg person of the year by the website www.coorgtourisminfo.com, a new portal of Coorg. This comes on the heels of another honour: He was decorated with the title of the ‘Most Excellent Order of the Member of the British Empire (MBE) bestowed on him in 2011 by the Queen of England for his contribution towards improving the Indo-UK relationship in his capacity as the president of the Association of British Scholars (ABS).

Speaking to City Express, Belliappa said, “I am grateful to have been selected for this honour. I would like to dedicate this award to my parents. It is a tribute to their identity.” Despite having settled in Chennai, Tamil Nadu for many years and having developed his own identity” his ties to Coorg was through his parents. “I have lived outside Coorg all my life. I have evolved in my own way. However, my parents were full-blooded Coorgis,” he said.

Belliappa established the ‘Pemanda Monappa Scholarship’ in Cambridge University in the memory of his late father, Pemanda Monappa, former Karnataka Inspector General of Police. This scholarship will enable one student from the Southern states of India to pursue a post-graduation course in England.

In spite of his upbringing outside Coorg, he has retained his connections to the place and his family there. “After my father died, I inherited land in Coorg. Since I no longer live there, I did not know what to do with the land. After consulting my mother on the course of action, I distributed the land among close relatives. I do travel to Coorg every year and hope to come there soon,” he said.

His ties with Coorg and its culture still hold strong as he fondly speaks of Hockey and Coorg. “Though I play tennis, I understand that hockey is an integral part of the Kodava Community and the families come together to play the game annually. It is a great way to bring together the community and families,” said this former captain of Madras
University tennis team.

In his 35-year-long service, he has occupied important posts such as District Collector, head of the National Hydro Electric Corporation of India and the Chairman and Managing Director for Rural Electrification Corporation of India.

He was also the leader and member of several Indian delegations like the ESCAP, UNIDO, World Bank among other leading international institutions. He served as the Chairman of International Workshop on ‘Clean Technologies’ organised by the Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (RIET) Singapore, a European Union sponsored institution working on sustainable technology.

source: http://www.ExpressBuzz.com / Home> Cities> Bangalore / Expess News Service / January 05th, 2012

Second phase of Indian men’s hockey camp to start tomorrow

Sports


New Delhi :
The men core group of Indian hockey team arrived on Saturday from Bangalore for the second phase of the Olympic qualification preparatory camp which will get underway at the National Stadium from Sunday.
The probables were joined by chief coach Michael Nobbs and exercise physiologist David Ian John who arrived in the capital after a short break in Australia.

During the course of the camp, India will play a five-test match series against South Africa which will also serve as the selection trials for the Olympic Qualification Tournament to be held at the same venue from February 18-26.

The list of 45 core probable is as under:

Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri, PR Shreejesh, Naveen Kumar, Nanak Singh.

Defenders – Rupinder Pal Singh, VR Raghunath, Amit Rohidas, Harbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Sandeep Singh.

Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Ignace Tirkey, Manpreet Singh, Manjeet Kullu, Vikas Sharma, Birendra Lakra, Vikram Pillay, Bharat, SK Uthappa, VS Vinaya, Vikas Pillay, Belsajar Horo, Sardar Singh, Kothajit Singh, Pardeep Mor.

Forwards: Rajpal Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Sarvanjit Singh, SV Sunil, Ravi Pal, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Roshan Minz, Yuvraj Walmiki, Mandip Antil, Chinglesana Singh Kangujam, Shivendra Singh, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandker, Dharamvir Singh, MB Aiyappa, Shashi Topno, Ramandeep Singh, Pradhan Somanna, Nithin Thimmaiah, Akashdeep Singh.

source: http://www.ExpressIndia.com / Story / by Agencies / posted January 07th, 2012

Zulfi Syed to tie the knot

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Model-actor Zulfi Syed will soon be tying the knot with the girl, who he has been dating for the past three years now, Sheena Verma.

The couple plan to open a restaurant in Delhi and settle down there after their marriage. Sheena is an architect by profession.

Most from Mumbai’s high society have been invited to a nikaah ceremony and a reception to be held on January 14 at Mumbai’s Oris Hotel. Zulfi is also hosting a grand party at ITC Grand Maratha the very next day which all his pals from the modelling world and the film industry are expected to attend. The mehendi ceremony is also on January 14. Sources say that Sheena will be wearing a Sabyasachi outfit for the mehendi ceremony and a Manish Malhotra ensemble for the wedding reception.

“We have an elaborate guest list. We have invited Salman (actor Salman Khan), but he hasn’t sent us his confirmation yet. But the people who will be attending the wedding are Aditya Panscholi, Kangana Ranaut, Tulip Joshi, Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Atul Agnihotri, etc. The whole of Salman’s close friends are invited as well. Arbaaz-Malaika are close friends of Zulfi,” says a friend of the former model.

A grand post-wedding party is also being planned in Delhi as a precursor to his restaurant opening.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Home> Entertainment> Report / by Soumyadipta Banerjee / Place:Mumbai, Agency:DNA / Friday, January 06th, 2012