Several waterfalls in Suntikoppa hobli have been attracting people and tourists with their natural splendour.
Some of these waterfalls in Suntikoppa are located inside plantations.
As the region has witnessed intermittent rainfall from the past week, many waterfalls have regained their natural beauty.
The sound of the water flowing down the hills has been beckoning the tourists.
Haleri Falls is situated at a distance of 2 km from Boyikeri. The sound of the flowing water can be heard till 2 km.
‘D’ Block Falls in Kedakal Gram Panchayat limits near Suntikoppa, is one of the most attractive falls. The waterfalls cascade amidst the greens, providing a feast for the eyes.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Suntikoppa / August 24th, 2021
The mass blooming of the Neelakurinji flower (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in Kodagu district is giving the much-needed boost to the state’s tourism sector.
Neelakurunji flowers bloom at a hillock in Kodagu district | forest department
Bengaluru:
The mass blooming of Neelakurngi in Coorg has made it a rallying point for wildlife enthusiasts, botanists, photographers and tourists.
The blooming at the hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu, tourism has also taken up the north. Since the blooming has happened for the first time in a such a massive scale and is after 12 years, more so after tourism activities have opened up after the pandemic, every one are heading to India’s Scotland to see them.
The new entrant in the list to draw tourists is heli- tourism. As the state government and the tourism department are trying the revive the long pending heli- tourism, a firm in Bengaluru has undertaken a heli- ride to Kodagu and surrounding areas, giving an areal view of the blooming Neelakurunji flowers on the hillocks.
Govind Nair, Director, Thumby Aviation Private Limited said already one trip from Yelahanka air base to Coorg was done earlier this week. Now it is being offered as a part of the Nowhere trip to Coorg, a package tour, where a detour to Mandalapatti will be done.
Tourism packages and inineraries are being revamped on the go, depending upon the blooming and withering of the flowers. But since it is a once in 12 years sighting, many resorts are offering a visit to the region as a part of the package, to draw more crowds.
Trekking and flying has now taken the front seat to draw tourists. Even as the recent guidelines of the ministry of aviation states that drones are prohibited over national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other eco- sensitive places, conservationists and foresters object to helicopters flyover over the region. They point not just is the area a fragile Western Ghats region, little is know the species in Kodagu and so all precaution should be exercised to safeguard them.
Botanists point that utmost care should be taken in the area as the flowering in this part of Western Ghats has not been recorded and documented. Karnataka as around 45 species of Kurunjis and in different altitudes different species have been recorded. Each species blooms at different intervals like once in six years, nine years, 11 or 12 years. So administration must ensure that tourism and footfall is limited to the region, so that they are well protected.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Bosky Khanna, Express News Service / August 27th, 2021
Ayatana Resort in Coorg, a collaboration between architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower, uses prefabrication technology.
Set amidst 100 acres of lush landscape in Coorg is a cluster of cottages that are an experiment in eco-friendly luxury hospitality. Ayatana Resort is the glorious result of an attempt to sustainably manifest a luxury development in the middle of lush, untouched rainforest.
Landscape architect Paul Blanchflower crafted the grounds of Ayatana Resort in Coorg
The intrigue doesn’t end there; the cottages were constructed using prefabrication technology. The outer structure is made of prefabricated steel with 40-mm concrete used to craft the roof and the floor. If the word ‘prefab’ sounds familiar, it’s because Elon Musk recently made it one of the most Googled terms.
Prefabrication is an alternative to the traditional in-situ construction method, and uses precast components to build spaces.
A prefab living space similar to the one Elon Musk lives in. Photo courtesy: Boxabl
The Tesla CEO reportedly lives in a transportable unit of about 400 square feet. It is set up like a studio apartment and features a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. The unit is on the SpaceX Texas site.
How Ayatana Used Prefabrication Methods
Ayatana’s indulgent spaces offer a lot more to its purveyors than the spartan space chosen by Musk. Ayatana effortlessly mixes prefabrication innovations, which are touted to be more energy- and cost-efficient than traditional construction methods, with the latest in luxury hospitality, and a generous dose of a tropical escape.
The resort is a cluster of stilted cottages that offer stunning views
Ayatana Resort is the brainchild of architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower. Blanchflower, who brought a lifetime of experience and wisdom as a horticulturist to the project, explains the decision to use prefab components: “While planning Ayatana, the decision to retain as much as possible of the existing landscape including the waterfall, led to the use of prefabricated steel construction for the structures. This minimized the on-site work and its subsequent impact on the natural landscape.” The structures were fabricated in a workshop in Bangalore and just assembled on-site—to keep the site activity at a minimum.
How to Build Without Disturbing Mother Nature?
“Taking inspiration from the trees on-site, the initial thought was to create treehouses, which eventually manifested into stilted cottages. These provided a similar experience to that of a treehouse without doing much harm to the existing trees and giving us the opportunity to create luxurious abodes,” says Vincent, who is the managing director and founder of the Coorg property.
Blanchflower and Vincent also guided the team in understanding what the landscape was communicating to them and in turn its importance. “Paul helped identify critical aspects of the untouched site that needed to be retained in the final design outcome. He has been responsible for the entire design being more environmentally sensitive since its initiation,” adds Vincent.
A Look Inside The Luxury Resort
The open-plan lobby overlooks the cottages and has been minimally designed. Water is an important element that has been used in the design, with a reflecting pool and a still water edge detail providing a seamless visual connection to the surroundings. The lobby’s floating globes of cane lanterns make it easily identifiable from the rest of the site at night.
The resort has 36 standard cottages, 13 luxury suites and a presidential suite. The highlight of the cottages is the luxurious cantilevered balcony that almost brings the wilderness inside. The cottages are placed far away from each other, to allow a socially distanced vacation.
The interiors of Ayatana spell minimal luxuryThe cantilevered balcony is the USP of the cottages
The Restaurant, Pool and Spa
The in-house restaurant, The Glass House, offers an indoor area warmed with teak lights, panoramic views, and an outdoor bar and deck. The deck overlooks the infinity pool and doubles as a romantic candle-lit space for al-fresco dining in the evenings.
The view from the deck of The Glass House includes the swimming pool and the waterfalls beyond
The infinity pool, with a view of the waterfall, stands out from its surroundings, thanks to its blue mosaic tiles, which appear in sharp contrast to the yellow Jaisalmer stone that has been used on the deck. This deck leads us to the lobby of the Wilderness Spa, nestled under the deck of the restaurant. Its treatment rooms are crafted in exposed brick, with framed vistas of the surroundings.
The pool at Ayatana, CoorgA peek inside The Wilderness Spa
source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest / Home> Architecture & Design / by Bindu Gopal Rao / Photography by Ayatana Coorg / August 20th, 2021
“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF
Madikeri :
The two scenic hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu district are bleeding purple as the Neelakurinji flowers have taken over the spot like an army of soldiers. This rare sight has attracted many visitors including tourists as well as natives of Kodagu.
“I visited Kote Betta recently along with my cousins and it was a surreal experience. The major part of the hill was covered with these purple flowers and we later found out that they blossom once in 12 years,” said Dhanush Kaveriappa, a native of the district.
The Mandalpatti belt – which is mostly traversed in a jeep to get the off-road experience – has also become home to these flowers and visitors are enthralled by their beauty.
“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / August 17th, 2021
World Elephant Day was celebrated at the elephant camps in Kodagu and Chamarajanagar districts and at Mysuru Zoo yesterday.
World Elephant Day was launched on Aug. 12, 2012 to raise awareness about the issues threatening elephants. Shrinking habitats and illegal poaching for the trade of elephant ivory are just two of the most serious issues that the elephant population faces today. World Elephant Day is a way to raise awareness and rally support for these issues.
Dubare Elephant Camp
The day was celebrated at Dubare Elephant Camp at Kodagu in a simple manner by following COVID guidelines and performing puja to the elephants.
All the elephants were bathed in River Cauvery by Mahouts and Kavadis and were later decorated with flowers and garlands. The elephants were led near Basaveshwara Temple in the camp, where Somwarpet Sub-Division Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) K.A. Nehru, Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer (RFO) J. Ananya Kumar and Dubare Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) K.P. Ranjan and staff performed puja to the elephants. The elephants were fed with sugarcane, jaggery and banana by the Mahouts and Kavadis.
Dubare Camp elephants seen near Basaveshwara Temple at the camp.
Speaking on the occasion, RFO Ananya Kumar said that World Elephant Day is being celebrated on Aug. 12 every year at the camp during which various games were being held for the elephants. But due to COVID pandemic, games were not organised since two years and instead, puja is being performed to them at a simple function, he added.
Grocery kits were distributed to the families of Mahouts and Kavadis at a simple event organised at the Travellers’ Bungalow premises on the occasion.
Mathigodu Elephant Camp
World Elephant Day was celebrated at Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Anechowkur Range in Kodagu, where Golden Howdah carrying elephant Abhimanyu is housed. Apart from Abhimanyu, other elephants, namely, Surya, Varalakshmi, Bhuvaneshwari, Chamundeshwari, Bheema, Gopalaswamy, Sarala, Mahendra, Sriranga, Bheem from Maharashtra, Ramaiah, Manikanta, Krishna, Somashekar, Masti, Dhruva, Ravi, Kyatha, Ganesh, Balarama, Ashoka and other elephants are also housed here.
All the elephants were given bath at Kantapura Lake and were decorated for the occasion. The elephants were treated with sumptuous food and the guests too fed these gentle giants with fruits and jaggery.
Kodagu DC Charulatha Somal feeding bananas to an elephant at Mathigodu Elephant Camp.
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Charulata Somal, speaking on the occasion said that it is happy that elephants too have their day and added that the Forest Officials and staff were working honestly to prevent man-elephant conflicts, which are on the rise.
Pointing out that animals too have the right to live like humans, the DC said that human beings should give importance for forest and wildlife conservation as forest and wildlife play an important role in the ecology.
Nagarahole Project Tiger Director D. Mahesh Kumar, who too spoke, explained about the significance of Elephant Day and felicitated Ganesh, Mahout of Ashwathama and J.K. Ravi, Kavadi of Varalakshmi.
Games were organised for Mahouts and Kavadis, while their children took part in painting, clay modelling and cultural competitions. Prizes were given away to the winners. Keeping in mind the online classes being held now, a tablet was given to a PU girl student, while books, pens and other stationary items were given to students studying in Primary and Higher Primary Schools.
Kodagu Superintendent of Police (SP) Kshama Mishra, ACF Satish, RFO Kiran, ATPF staff, family members of Mahouts and Kavadis were present.
Bandipur
Bandipur Tiger Reserve Forest officials had organised a webinar to mark World Elephant Day yesterday. Retired PCCF Ajay Mishra, APCCF (Wildlife) Subash Malkade, APCCF (Project Tiger) Jagatram, Bandipur Project Tiger Director S.R. Natesha and Prof. Vidya took part in the webinar.
An elephant decorated at Rampura Elephant Camp in Bandipur.
Later, a simple event was held at Rampura Elephant Camp at A.M. Gudi Range in Bandipur in which S.R. Natesha, ACFs Sumeet Kumar, M.S. Ravikumar and K. Paramesh, Wildlife Wardens Krithika Alanahalli and Nanjundaraje Urs, Veterinarian Dr. Wasim Mirza, RFOs and others were present.
Elephant Day was also celebrated at Mysuru Zoo. Zoo Executive Director Ajit Kulkarni and Zoo staff participate.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 13th, 2021
The 18th day of the solar month ‘Ati’ was celebrated as ‘Kakkada Padinett’ in Kodagu on Tuesday.
Special dishes ‘Patrode’ of taro leaves and porridge of ‘Ati Soppu’ were prepared on the occasion.
It is believed that the leaves are rich in medicinal properties on the 18th day of the month of ‘Ati’.
Consumption of various dishes, with the juice of ‘Ati’ leaves, is believed to boost immunity. Side dishes prepared out of meat are also served on the occasion.
The greetings of the special day were exchanged, along with the special dishes.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Shanivarasanthe / August 04th, 2021
A stromatolite. Such fossilized microbial mats are the oldest sign of life on Earth. D.BRESSAN
Virtually all oxygen on Earth was and is produced by photosynthesis, which was invented by tiny organisms, the cyanobacteria, when our planet was still a rather uninhabitable place. Cyanobacteria evolved more than 2.4 billion years ago, as stromatolites – fossilized microbial mats – show, but it took almost 2 billion years until Earth transformed to the oxygen-rich planet we know today.
“We do not fully understand why it took so long and what factors controlled Earth’s oxygenation,“ said geomicrobiologist Judith Klatt in a statement published by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin. “But when studying mats of cyanobacteria in the Middle Island Sinkhole in Lake Huron in Michigan, which live under conditions resembling early Earth, I had an idea.”
Klatt worked together with a team of researchers around Greg Dick from the University of Michigan to study the microbes and cyanobacteria community colonizing groundwater inflows on the bottom of Lake Huron, where the oxygen levels are very low.
A scuba diver observes the purple, white and green microbial mats covering rocks in Lake Huron’s … [+] PHIL HARTMEYER/NOAA/THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
“Life on the lake bottom is mainly microbial, and serves as a working analog for the conditions that prevailed on our planet for billions of years”, says Bopi Biddanda, a collaborating microbial ecologist from the Grand Valley State University. “The microbes there are mainly purple oxygen-producing cyanobacteria that compete with white sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The former generate energy with sunlight, the latter with the help of sulfur.”
source: http://www.forbes.com / Forbes.com / Home> Science / by David Bressan, Contributor / August 02nd, 2021
With the Harangi Dam in Kodagu district full to the brim, thanks to copious rainfall in the past few days, Kodagu District Minister V. Somanna yesterday offered bagina at the Dam, in keeping with the tradition.
During the offering of the Bagina, Somanna performed puja to four crest gates of the Dam and also pressed the crest gate button to release 8,000 cusecs of water from the Dam.
Later speaking to press persons, Somanna said that Harangi Dam was the first major Dam in the State to have filled up this monsoon. Noting that the Dam feeds water to 1.65 lakh hectares of Kodagu, K.R. Nagar taluk in Mysuru and five taluks of Hassan district, he said that water will be released for standing Kharif crops and through all canals of the Dam.
Maintaining that the B.S. Yediyurappa Government is doing what all it can for expanding the irrigation network in the State, Somanna contended that there was no drought in the State for two years. However, rain has played havoc in some parts of the State, he said and added that scattered rains across the State has helped farming.
Clarifying that the Government has released money for de-silting of Harangi Dam, he said that tenders have been invited for the purpose. Noting that there were no successful bidders two times, he said that the Government was ready to hand over the works if a competent contractor comes forward for the third time.
Asserting that Kodagu DC has informed him that the district has so far suffered an estimated loss of Rs. 95 lakh due to heavy rains, Somanna said that measures will be taken for providing relief to the family of a person who was recently washed away in floods.
Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, in his address, said that though he was an elected MP for seven years, he could not offer bagina to Harangi Dam for one reason or the other. But he was happy now that he got a chance. Arguing that the State has been receiving good rainfall after B.S. Yediyurappa came to power, he said that nature too seems to be impressed by the works of the Chief Minister.
Referring to the damages caused to Madikeri-Mangaluru National Highway, Simha said that it has come to his notice and he will do all he can to repair the damaged sections of the road. Also, it has been planned to construct earth retaining wall at landslides prone 22 points of the Highway, for which he would render all help, he added.
Harangi Dam officials said that the Dam has a water storage capacity of 8.5 TMC and the maximum water level of the dam is 2859 ft. At present, the water level is retained at 2858 ft. as a precautionary measure and whatever additional water that the Dam gets (inflow) will be discharged through canals.
Earlier, the Minister and a host of other dignitaries offered puja to the idol of Goddess Cauvery at the lower level of the Dam.
MLAs Appachu Ranjan, A.T. Ramasway and H.P. Manjunath, DC Charulatha Somal, MLC Sunil Subramani, BJP District President Robin Devaiah and a host of other officials and people representatives were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore /Home> News / July 17th, 2021
Over 60 rafts have availed permission to provide their services to the tourists and the activity has re-started with stringent COVID-19 norms in place.
The district administration has released stringent COVID-19 norms that need to be in place while resuming the activity. (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
After a break of over two years, the much-sought-after rafting activity in river Cauvery at Dubare in Kodagu has resumed.
“The current water level of River Cauvery in Dubare is ideal for the adventure sport and we are happy to kick-start the rafting activity – which is our main livelihood,” shared DS Krishnappa, the president of the Dubare Rafting Association.
He confirmed that the association availed permission from DC Charulata Somal and the activity resumed from July 17.
He also analysed that tourist inflow is gradually picking up and said, “We are not seeing as much tourist flow. Nearly 40 to 50 tourists opted for rafting on Saturday. We are hopeful that the numbers will increase gradually.”
The district administration has released stringent COVID-19 norms that need to be in place while resuming the activity.
“We have bought sanitizer sprays and each raft is sanitized after every ride. We will not allow tourists to board the rafts without face masks. Also, the number in each raft has been reduced to six people (plus a guide) from the earlier eight people to ensure social distancing,” he explained.
The district administration has fixed Rs 600 per head for a seven-kilometre raft ride and the same is being strictly followed by the rafting staff.
While the rafting activity has resumed, Dubare Elephant Camp is still closed for tourists as the camp elephants are undergoing annual health check-ups.
Kushalnagar RFO Ananya Kumar confirmed that the Elephant Camp will be open only after the water level in River Cauvery decreases.
The Cauvery Nisargadhama tourist spot in Kushalnagar will, however, open from Monday.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / July 18th, 2021
Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant – Human Attacks using Bees) aimed at thwarting elephant attacks in human habitations using honey bees, seems to have yielded success with jumbos taking alternative routes to avoid coming into contact with bees.
With a view to reduce human-elephant conflicts in the country, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched a unique project of creating “bee-fences” to address this burning issue in several States including Karnataka.
The pilot project has been launched at few locations in Kodagu. These spots on the periphery of Nagarahole National Park are known to be human-elephant conflict zones. Total cost of project is Rs. 15 lakh.
Reality check has revealed that the wild pachyderms were maintaining a safe distance from bee boxes. Locals say this has reduced the elephant menace by 70 percent. Bee boxes have been placed at Kutta including Choorikaad and Tithimathi ranges. Jumbos were not seen in these places in the last 25 days. Villagers opined that elephants may have found alternative route.
In fact, the jumbos had damaged bee boxes near Kodange Haadi near Nagarhole recently. Since then, they have not come back. There are instances of young elephants straying into these fences. The cameras have captured the hesitancy of jumbos crossing the fence fixed with bee boxes and also taking de-tour within 27 seconds.
KVIC has set up 15-20 interspersed bee boxes at selected locations. The bee boxes are set up in the passage ways of elephant-human conflict zones to block the entrance of elephants to human habitations. The boxes are connected with a string so that when elephants attempt to pass through, a tug or pull causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and dissuade them from progressing further. Bee boxes have been placed on the ground as well as hung from the trees to block the passage way of elephants. High resolution, night vision cameras have been installed at strategic points to record the impact of bees on elephants and their behaviour in these zones. The collective buzz of the bees is annoying to elephants that force them to return. Elephants, which are the most intelligent animal and carry their memories for long, avoid returning to the place where they have encountered honey bees.
Nearly 500 people die every year due to elephant attacks in India. This is nearly 10 times more than the fatalities caused by big cats across the country. From 2015 to 2020, nearly 2,500 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks. Out of this, nearly 170 human fatalities have been reported in Karnataka alone. On the contrary, nearly one-fifth of this number, that is nearly 500 elephants have also died in retaliation by humans in the last 5 years.
In the past, Governments have spent crores of rupees on digging up trenches and erecting fences to dissuade elephants. Also, hundreds of crores of rupees have been spent on compensation for loss of human lives. These trenches and barbed wire fences have often caused the deaths of elephant calves and thus rendering these ideas largely impractical.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 05th, 2021
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