Category Archives: About Kodagu / Coorg

Exploring the Waterfalls of Coorg: 6 sites you cannot miss

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

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I often observe that most people tend to cover the popular and must-see sites or engage in a particular activity when vacationing. Take Coorg for example. Most travelers, including me, have visited this beautiful hill town to discover its rich, aromatic, coffee plantations, stay at a quaint retreat, and do what travel blogs advise us to do. Until I discovered a different characteristic of Coorg in its waterfalls. You heard that right. These sparkling water bodies are the real treasures, hidden from the common sight, waiting to be explored more, but only by those who want to see beyond the obviousness of Coorg. Inspired by my own experience of this unique facet of this scenic hamlet, I made a list of the seven best waterfalls you cannot miss while touring Coorg.

When to travel
While most of these waterfalls are perennial and you can visit them any time of the year, their beauty is enhanced during the monsoon months of June through October. From rocky slopes to thick plantations, or dense mountain bluffs, you will find these waterfalls in various natural settings, each making for a magical sight.

How to explore
The best way to tour Coorg, especially if you want to do a waterfall-hopping trip, is to drive down from the nearest metro city of Bangalore. The taxi fare from Bangalore to Coorg is cheap, and you can easily keep the car with you throughout your tour. Also, when traveling in monsoon, the hilly terrain could be tricky, so I prefer to have an experienced driver take me around instead of me driving.

The Cascades of Coorg

Abbey Falls
About 6 KM from Madikeri town, this is the most popular waterfall of the district and a tourist hotspot. You simply cannot miss this, even if you want to. From the parking area, you have to take a 5-minute walk downhill to reach the falls. During the rainy season, the upper streams of Cauvery River rise in volume and cascade through thick plantations of coffee and spices. For the best view, stop by the hanging bridge, right opposite the falls and enjoy the panorama of cloud-capped mountains.is

Best time to visit: August to November
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: Rs 15 per person.

Iruppu Falls
After Abbey, this is the next best waterfalls in Coorg. About 75 KM south of Madikeri town, Iruppu Falls sits in the Brahmagiri Hills. Note that you cannot drive up to the falls area. Once you park the car at the end of the road, you have to hike for 500 meters, down a steep path. The falls result from the overflowing Lakshmana Tirtha River dropping from a high altitude. The plush surroundings of monsoon greenery and the frothy waters of the falls is definitely a sight to savor.

Chelavara Falls
About 44 KM from Madikeri town, sitting on the edges of the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, you will find the rapid torrents of Chelavara. Tucked amidst dense deciduous forests, this waterfall hides in plain sight, away from the prying eyes of commercial tourism. But those who have managed to discover this like me, have found this to be the most picturesque waterfall of all. With its massive size and water volume, especially during the monsoon, the scenic vistas of Chelavara Falls attracts offbeat travelers and trekkers. It is also called the Emepaare or the ‘tortoise’, owing to the shape of the rock at the pool below.

Mallalli falls
To reach this spectacular waterfall of Coorg, you have to drive to Somwarpet. From there, it is another 26 KM, from where you have to trek through forested trails to reach the catchment area of the falls. Nestled within the Pushpagiri hills, this is a sight to savor.

Best time to visit: July to November

Napandapole Falls
This waterfall is truly a treasure to unravel. If you are a true explorer and an adventurous soul, you will love the torrential flow of the Napandapole Falls, dropping from 120 feet, lying at the foothills of the Kote Betta peak. Surrounded by three smaller waterfalls, and set in rocky terrain, this cascade is a great site for rappelling and invites adventurers from all over. There are plenty of unexplored corners around the falls, which also make for a great hiking destination.

Best time to visit: August to December

Burude Falls
This five-step waterfall is a marvelous and stunning site to explore. Trek through the narrow creeks flanked by forests. If you are traveling Coorg during the peak season and looking for a respite from the bustling crowd in town, the Burude Falls and its surroundings can be the perfect spot for a day trip. Drive for about 29 KM from Madikeri town, and then hike for 1 KM to reach the falls.

My travel tips:

If you are traveling directly from the airport, get an affordable and dependable Bangalore airport taxi for your Coorg tour.

When trekking around waterfalls in the monsoon, always wear well-gripping shoes.

Some waterfalls are remotely located, so be prepared for long walks, and stay hydrated.

source: http://www.headlinesoftoday.com / Headlines of Today / Home> Sponsored Content / by Team HOT / August 10th, 2019

70 Groups Come Together To Preserve Green Cover In Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

Over 400 volunteers to plant 50,000 seed balls, 10,000 saplings near Anechowkur on July 27

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Mysuru:

Year-by-year weakening of regular rainfall in Kodagu and depleting green cover along the Cauvery River basin and the resultant shortage of water has made environmentally conscious groups to come together to organise a massive tree-plantation drive in Kodagu, the principal catchment of Cauvery.

An initiative taken up by Kodavaame, Team Roots of Kodagu, Kodagu Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club and Forest Department of Karnataka, TATA Coffee, Madikeri Akashavani, Kodava Samaja Bengaluru and over 72 organisations and voluntary groups from Kodagu, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Chennai are coming together for the tree-plantation drive on July 27 from 9 am onwards near Anechowkur Gate, Thithimathi Forest Range in Kodagu under the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

This plantation drive is kick-started by individual volunteers to help rejuvenate and rebuild green cover in Kodagu. Volunteers have sourced more than 50,000 seed balls to be planted during the drive and the Forest Department will provide 10,000 saplings of various wild species that are native to Kodagu and the Nagarahole forests.

Kodavaame initiated this annual tree-planting drive three years back and last year, saplings were planted at Aanekaadu forest near Kushalnagar.

Speaking to Star of Mysore yesterday, Shammi Belliappa of Team Roots of Kodagu said that the Forest Department will identify the places where saplings are to be planted and all the necessary permissions and approvals have been taken.

“Different groups and individuals are coming together in Kodagu to work towards the common goal of protecting the flora and fauna. This event can be an ideal start to a great new direction in Kodagu and further can spread to other districts,” he said and added that as it is an annual event, the next plantation initiative is likely to be taken up at Chennangi in Kodagu.

All volunteers have been directed to wear water-proof jackets, rain coats and gum boots or rain shoes. While many volunteers will be grouped to plant saplings and seed balls, the rest will look into the supply of logistics and will ensure smooth traffic flow.

Organisers are expecting over 400 volunteers and as it is a Tiger Reserve, the volunteers will strictly follow the instructions from the Forest Department, he said.

While Lions Club-Gonikoppal and Rotary Club Kushalnagar will provide food and beverages for the volunteers, Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru, will sponsor the free bus ride to and fro for volunteers who are travelling for this greening event.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star Of Mysore / Home> News / July 24th, 2019

First General Elections In Coorg-1951 …Remembering The First Parliament Elections

About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

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Coorg, or Kodagu, was a province of the dominion of India and was declared as a State in 1950. Daya Singh Bedi, ICS, was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of Coorg.

Just before the General elections of 1951, Coorg was offered the choice of either remaining a State or joining the Presidency of Mysore. While many Congressmen were in favour of merging Coorg with Mysore, there were some others who favoured the alternate choice.

The latter group of leaders broke away from the Congress and formed a new party with “Weighing Scales” as their symbol. They aptly named themselves the Thakkadi Party.

Pandiyanda Belliappa was the leader of the Thakkadi party and my father, Koothanda Poovaiah, also joined him. So, the election fever gripped our family as well.

My father would canvass in a jeep along with his followers in Pollibetta and Siddapur. The contest in Coorg was for 24 seats from 18 constituencies. Six constituencies were to elect two members each and the remaining 12 were single-member constituencies. There were no reserved seats, though there were 4 members from the SC category who contested under the General category. I recall that 27,947 people across Coorg voted in the elections.

While campaigning for my father, teams would visit the homes of the voters each day and collect their names and other details. My siblings and I were tasked with transferring these details to postcards which were then sent to the voters’ home addresses. These postcards were meant to identify voters on Election Day, a precursor to laminated voter identity cards of today. We enjoyed writing these postcards. I fondly remember being gifted a “Swan” pen by my father for my efforts.

Among the candidates from Siddapur were Muruvanda Machaiah and Betta Kurubara Kala. To our disappointment, our father lost the election and Muruvanda Machaiah won.

For me, it was an interesting involvement with the electoral process. Thereafter, I married into the Army and had to be content with sending postal ballots. It would be more than 30 years before I stepped into a polling booth again.

In the Coorg Assembly elections, the Congress party won 17 seats while the Thakkadi party won the remaining 7 seats. The Coorg Legislative Assembly was convened at Madikeri by the Chief Commissioner on 27 Mar 1952. Cheppudira M. Poonacha was elected as the Chief Minister of Coorg.

He also held the Finance portfolio. K. Mallappa was made the Home Minister.

The Congress party was in favour of merging Coorg with Mysore. In accordance with the States Reorganization Act 1956, Coorg ceased to be a State and was merged with Mysore on Nov 1, 1956.

While in existence, the State of Coorg sent an elected representative to the Parliament as well. Niddemane Somanna was the MP from Coorg. After the reorganization of States and subsequent delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, Coorg and Mangalore were merged into a single constituency. More recently, Coorg was merged with Mysore LS constituency.

It is a matter of conjecture whether Kodagu and its people benefited from the historical changes brought upon it. However, its contribution towards nation-building has been significant and shall remain a matter of pride and fulfilment.

First Parliament elections

I am struck by a bout of nostalgia each time our country goes to the polls. There have been discussions about the lengthy election process this time around, consisting of seven phases and extending over four weeks.

Here, it is appropriate to recall that the first general election was conducted from Oct. 1951 to Feb. 1952, a period of six months. However, it is to be remembered that India was newly independent and conditions were very different.

The government of the day set up the Election Commission of India with Sukumar Sen, ICS, as the Chief Election Commissioner. He was given the mandate to conduct the Parliamentary election and all Assembly elections simultaneously “at the earliest”. The earliest dates proposed by Sen were between Oct. 1951 and Feb. 1952.

A massive enrollment drive was undertaken to prepare a list of the electorate. It is to be understood that in an era with rudimentary means of travel and communication, the exercise was an onerous one. The wide reach of All India Radio was utilised to create awareness about the impending elections and the importance of participating in them. As a part of the enrollment drive, volunteers and officials visited individual houses. The eligible voting age was fixed at 21 years and there was no discrimination between the sexes.

Quirky situations arose which made the task difficult. It must be remembered that 88 percent of our country was illiterate. Womenfolk were reluctant to reveal their given names and had to be coaxed to do so. Due to the overwhelmingly illiterate population, each booth had a set of ballot boxes with the party symbol pasted on them. The voter was advised to drop his ballot paper into the box of his choice; so much for a secret ballot!

Despite several handicaps, it was ensured that 45% of the registered electorate exercised their franchise by Feb. 1952.

Our country has been through 17 Parliamentary elections so far and the electoral process has been extremely streamlined. Modern ideas and technology have been employed to quell new challenges.

The modern Indian electoral process has been lauded by several countries and serves as a role-model to many of them. We should be proud of this achievement.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by Shanthi Ganapathy / May 22nd, 2019

Govt revokes temporary ban on land conversion in Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

The state government on Thursday revoked the temporary ban on conversion of land in the flood-hit Kodagu district.

The ban had come into effect after last year’s devastating floods washed away large chunks of land in the coffee district.

The Revenue Department on Thursday ordered tahsildars and assistant commissioners to allow conversion of land up to 15 to 20 cents for building houses by the locals after obtaining a ground report.

“Several people have been submitting applications seeking the conversion of land to build houses for a living. But since the floods, the government had ordered temporary ban on conversion of lands for non-agricultural purposes. But keeping in mind the public request, the government has directed to allow conversion of land up to 15 to 20 cents for building houses by the locals.”

The state government while revoking the temporary ban has also laid down certain conditions to prevent damages to the properties in future due to any natural calamity.

As per the conditions, no permission shall be given for construction of buildings in non-stable areas so identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its report; the buildings shall be at least 10 meters away from the rivers and rivulets and conversion shall not be allowed along the valleys and on those lands which had witnessed landslide in 2018.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / by Niranjan Kaggere, Bengaluru / May 09th, 2019

Delights of Coorg

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment

For centuries Coorg was quite inaccessible – a landlocked region, making it almost essential for the locals to make the best use of local ingredients and spices, that spawned few cuisines like no other.

When it comes to food having pan India presence, there are quite a few well known cuisines like Mughlai, Kasmhiri, Punjabi, Goan etc. These cuisines have earned their names from the areas they belong to and now have become must have dishes on almost every Indian dining tables. In fact, some of these cuisines also satiate the foodies from all over the world.

But is that all India has to offer in term of taste? Of course not, in fact it is an injustice to limit Indian food with these cuisines as every nook and corner of the country offers different taste. There’s a popular saying about India’s diversity; water changes every 3 kms, and the language changes every 12 km. Perhaps, the saying should have included food too, which also varies from place to place.

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India has many varieties of culinary delicacies and it becomes difficult to choose a particular cuisine. One such cuisine is the Coorg food, which is not so popular, but can be a tough competition to other cuisines in India or in world. Located in the southern part of India in Karnataka state, Coorg is not a name of a place but a whole region called Kodagu. It consists of three taluks, Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet and its inhabitants are known as Coorgi. Coorg is spread over an area of about 4000 sq kms and was quite inaccessible for centuries. The whole area is full of dense forests surrounded with coffee, bamboo, sandalwood, honey, cardamom and oranges plantations, therefore one could find a lot of influences of these in their food.

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The best way to know the food habits of the people is to know about the region and its inhabitants. Coorgis don’t belong to the Dravidians race, and as such they don’t have any similarities with other races in India. Most of the Indian traits are missing from them, and that includes food too. Almost all Coorgis are meat eaters, mainly pork.

“Food in Coorg is as delectable as the land. Coorgis love to relish alcohol and non-vegetarian food. The best way to sample their cuisines is at a Kodava wedding which can very well be the ultimate showcase of the region’s cuisine. Unlike any other communities is South India, Coorgis serve alcohol and non-vegetarian food at their weddings. Pondi Curry or pork in spicy and sour gravy made from Kachampuli is the most popular dish in any wedding that you might attend in Coorg,” informed executive Chef Ranjan Samal of The Tamara, Coorg. He added that that this dish was originally prepared with wild boars.

Why they have so much love for pork? To know the answer one needs to peep into their background. Coorgis believe themselves to be Kshatriyas, a community of warrior community. Therefore, they would eat whatever is easily available and gives them strength. Perhaps this is the reason they serve and feast on pork during community feasts. Pork is the most sought after food in any traditional Coorgi functions.

One also finds abundance of jackfruit, jungle mangoes, kembh leaves to in their food as ingredients.

Another important part of their cuisines is rice. Just like any other south Indian state, rice is the staple food in Coorg too. Rice grows in abundance in and around Coorg, hence one finds dishes oriented around rice. Local rice, called Sannakki grows plentifully in the lush, fertile valleys of Coorg and is different from the usual Basmati variety we use elsewhere in India and has a fragrance that unquestionably makes one fall in love with it.

“Akki Rotti, a chapatti-like pancake, is made of rice and rice flour. Similarly, another popular dish, Nooputtu, rice threads similar to Idiyappam from Tamil Nadu and Kerala can also be found on their dinner table. Paaputtu, which is a mix of steamed broken rice, coconut and sugar usually consumed at breakfast, is also made of rice. At lunch or dinner Coorgis eat rice along with at least one non-veg dish,” added Ranjan Samal. He added, “Wheat is scarcely eaten by them”.

Coorgis also love to eat various chutneys and pickles with their meals. Coconut along with onions and garlic is largely used in chutneys. The most amazing chutney is a non – vegetarian one and is the Crab chutney made with freshwater crabs usually found in the paddy fields during monsoon.

Vegetarians travelling to Coorg don’t loose heart; there are plenty of vegetarian options here. Lots of vegetable and shrubs like kembh leaves, edible colocasia and fruits like jungle mangoes are the part of their cuisines. Kachampuli, a thick concentrated juice from a local fruit (Garcinia Gummi Gutta) provides the sauce base for most Coorgi dishes.

“Dishes like Kaad Maange curry; made of wild mango, which has a more peppery tart flavour than regular mangoes, Chekke curry, made from raw jackfruit, Kemb curry made from the colocasia plant, the Kumm curry made from wild mushrooms etc. are a few popular veggie delicacies. The bamboo shoot curry is also a favourite during monsoons and is cooked in red chillies, mustard and ground coconut and served with rice,” ended Chef Swaminandan, Madikeri Foods, Madikeri. He added that his favourite dish though is the Kummu Cuury prepared with wild mushrooms available in the area.

Homemade Coorg wine also finds a distinctive place in Coorg cuisine. This wine is prepared with variety of locally-grown fruits like orange, grapes, gooseberry, chickoo, orange peel, orange plum or even betel nuts. Depending in the fruit used the wine is available in vibrant shades, from red and green to dark pink.

You have to be careful though; the cuisine is a bit too hot for people who are not used to it. Nothing much to worry though, to counter the hotness of their food, they have a dessert called Chikklunde, which is made with puffed rice. These sweet dumplings again are an essential part of a Kodava wedding. The bride normally carries these as part of the traditional goodie hamper when she goes to her in laws home.

source: http://www.millenniumpost.in / Millennium Post / Home> Sunday Post> Routes / by Pradeep Chamaria / April 20th, 2019

Kodagu: Emergency response mechanism strengthened

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

The Kodagu district administration has taken various measures to cope with any exigencies arising out of natural disasters and has constituted committees to deal with the same.

It has also urged the public not to panic over speculations of fresh outbreak of any natural calamity.

A release said senior officials of the district administration and the district in-charge minister had reviewed the existing system to cope with emergencies some time ago and strengthened the response mechanism in case of a natural calamity.

A file photograph of a landslide caused near Makkandoor in Kodagu district during the floods last year.
A file photograph of a landslide caused near Makkandoor in Kodagu district during the floods last year.

Consequent to last year’s disaster caused by incessant rains and landslips, the authorities have identified areas which are prone to such events and an Emergency Relief Response and Recovery Committee has been constituted.

In addition, there is an Early Warning and Evacuation Committee, Search and Rescue Committee, First Aid, Mass Casualty Management Committee, Shelter Management Committee etc.

This in addition to constitution of a specific groups to ensure nutrition in shelters, relief management, animal protection and carcass management, psychological first aid, damage assessment, reconstruction and rehabilitation among others. Such committees have been established at the taluk and gram panchayat levels as well, the release stated.

In addition, steps have been taken to put in place a Disaster Management Plan in consultation with the Geological Survey of India, Administrative Training Institute, District Training Institute, and other organisations.

The authorities said an awareness programme and a simulated exercise on response in case of any emergency, has been held in rural areas. In addition, a team of National Disaster Resonse Force (NDRF) has been allocated to the district and will be deployed by the end of May.

Besides, the final report of the GSI survey to identify sensitive and hypersensitive areas is expected in due course and all measures will be taken to minimise the impact of any calamity.

The district administration has also taken steps to ensure that there is no dearth of medical assistance in case of any emergency and hence the public has been asked to eschew fears over the issue.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 28th, 2019

All eyes on counting of votes now

About Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All
Women voters show inked fingers after casting their votes in the Maoist-infested Vanachalu polling booth in Madikeri taluk on Thursday. DH photo
Women voters show inked fingers after casting their votes in the Maoist-infested Vanachalu polling booth in Madikeri taluk on Thursday. DH photo

The calculations about who will be elected from Kodagu-Mysuru Lok Sabha seat, which have started with the electoral fortunes of candidates being sealed in electronic voting machines (EVMs) after the election on Thursday, will continue till the votes are counted on May 23.

The calculations on who will win or lose is being done on the basis of votes cast at booth level. Owing to a tough competition between the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) coalition in the constituency, both the parties have gone out of their way to woo the voters.

A voter turnout of 68.82 percent was registered in Mysuru-Kodagu constituency. Kodagu district has recorded a voting of 74.67%. The voting percentage in the 2014 parliamentary elections in the district was 71.88. Thus, the voter turnout has witnessed an increase by 2.79% when compared to the previous election.

Out of 2,21,157 voters in Madikeri Legislative Assembly constituency, 1,69,725 people have cast their vote, registering a voting percentage of 76.74. Of the total 2,19,573 voters in Virajpet Assembly constituency, 1,59,387 people have exercised their franchise (72.58%).

In 2014, 1,55,682 out of 2,10,819 people had cast their vote in Madikeri Assembly constituency. The voting percentage was 73.84. In Virajpet, 1,45,752 out of 2,08,514 voters had exercised their franchise in 2014. The voting percentage was 69.90.

There is an increase of 21,397 voters this time, compared to 2014. As many as 27,678 additional votes have been cast in this election. The BJP candidate had obtained a lead of 32,000 votes during the previous Lok Sabha election.

The question on whether the margin will decrease or increase due to the coalition of JD(S) and Congress parties, will be known when the counting of votes begins.

Kudos to PWD voters

As many as 3,022 out of 3,076 PWD (persons with disabilities) voters have exercised their duty, drawing appreciation from all sides. The percentage of voting by the PWD is a whopping 98.24.

The good turnout of PWDs has been attributed to the free vehicle facility provided by the district administration.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / April 20th, 2019

Abode of clouds

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Sports

A lesser-known destination of Madikeri is Mandalpatti where sky-high hills are covered with magical mist. Sunrises and sunsets here are phenomenal, writes B V Prakash.

Mandalpatti
Mandalpatti

Often described as ‘Switzerland of India’, Coorg is a district known for its hilly terrain, dense forests, waterfalls and unique temples. There are at least half a dozen tourist spots like Bylakuppe Tibetan Monastery, Dubare Elephant Camp, Cauvery Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls and so on. But in recent times, a new charming destination is gaining popularity and is being listed as an important sight not to be missed. Mandalpatti Viewpoint, not far from Madikeri, is a thriving tourist attraction. Virtually little known for long, Mandalpatti shot to fame after the popular Kannada movie Gaalipata was filmed here. The place is also known as Mugilupete or ‘abode of clouds’, as it was named in the movie. Now, this spot has indeed become a star attraction for visitors.

Up, up & away

During our last visit to the town, we had earmarked an extra day to make it to Mandalpatti. Perched atop a range of rolling hills and deep valleys, Mandalpatti, at 4,050 ft, is the ultimate viewpoint offering a 360-degree view of the spectacular landscape. The highlight of the place is the blissful mood it gets into, particularly at sunrise and sunset. As such arriving in Madikeri by the night, we at once called up Harish, the jeep service provider, and fixed the programme for the next day. As per his suggestion, we would leave at 5 in the morning to be able to reach the spot, some 30 km away, in time. It was still dark and cold when the jeep arrived, we were on the way soon.

As had been informed beforehand, the road to Mandalpatti is anything but a ragged trail battered to the core. After the recent deluge, the huge landslides have left their scar and the driving is all the more backbreaking. Only jeeps and 4WDs can venture up this terrain. There are two approaches to Mandalpatti which lies to the north of Madikeri. We skipped the road via Abbey Falls having been to the place many a time. Also, the water would hardly be copious at this time of the year.

The other road passing through Makkanduru and Hattihole is slightly longer but better. Nevertheless, the journey shook us off from the sleepy mood. Reaching the parking lot, we quickly moved up the short trail to the hilltop duly paying the prescribed entry fees at the check-post. Hordes of people had already gathered and were scrambling up. At the summit, we were simply blown off our feet by the stupendous views that opened up all around. The popularity of the spot goes by the ethereal beauty the surroundings have with a sea of rolling hills and the white fluffy layers of mist like waves.

Sunrise at Mandalpatti.
Sunrise at Mandalpatti.

Stunning beauty

The deep ravines that run down from the edge of the plateau are packed with seemingly impenetrable dense forests. In each direction, towering peaks soar with prominent ones like Kumara Parvatha or Pushpagiri, Kote Betta, Nishani Betta, etc. As the sun rose over the horizon, it was as if a huge light was lit over the whole valley. With the clouds painted with golden lines, it was truly an awesome sight. After a delightful experience of viewing breathtaking vistas and scrambling all over the place for a couple of hours, we made it back to Madikeri.

Nishani Motte

With half a day more at our convenience, we chose to climb the Nishani Motte Peak that loomed large in the northwest. Also called Nishani Betta, the 4,100-ft-high hill can be approached from different starting points each with its own difficulty level. The easiest route being from the town Gaalibeedu, 12 km away from Madikeri. We headed there in an auto. The driver was friendly and tried his best to leave us as near the foothills as he could, thereby reducing a third of the trekking distance which is 7 km to the peak. The initial path is a motorable road through coffee estates and a few houses. Soon, it was just the two of us with the trampling of the dry leaves being the only sound to be heard. At the top is a wide plateau with deep valleys to the east and west. As the sun went behind the distant hills, we retraced our steps.

Having visited a heavenly viewpoint and trekked up a beautiful peak, the experience was, for sure, pleasant and rejuvenating.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Travel / by B V Prakash / April 06th, 2019

‘Kodava community should be accorded tribal status’

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

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The Kodava community should be accorded tribal status in recognition of the unique customs of the Kodavas, Prof Balveer Arora, Political Science professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, has urged.

He was addressing the gathering at a seminar on the study of Kodava genealogy on account of the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination organised on Thursday at the Capital Village Auditorium in Madikeri.

Prof Arora welcomed the move of the government to conduct a study of the genealogy of Kodavas. The study will facilitate the conservation of Kodava heritage, he stressed.

He observed that the culture and tradition of the Kodava community, had a close resemblance to those of tribals.

“The government should consider the demands submitted at regular intervals by the tribal population. The demands are just and should be implemented by the government,” he said and added, “Kodava population has been dwindling in the recent years due to sociopolitical reasons.”

He also stressed that it is necessary to preserve the community.

Codava National Council (CNC) president N U Nachappa said that the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI) in Mysuru had been conducting a study of the genealogy of Kodavas for the last 72 years. He also urged the members of the Kodava community to extend full cooperation to the researchers from the Institute.

The Social Welfare Department has released grants to carry out the study, he added.

M T Nanaiah, president of the Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru, said that the Samaja will provide assistance to the survey. An awareness programme will be organised on the survey, he added. “Around one lakh members of the Kodava community reside in the district. There is a misconception that all Kodavas are affluent,” said Nanaiah. “The fact is that there are many Kodavas who are poor and have no access to government facilities,” he added. Dr Madhusudan of KSTRI and Kodava Samaja president K S Devaiah were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service / Madikeri – March 22nd, 2019

Down the royal memory lane

About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

The Kodagu principality was ruled by the Haleri dynasty between 1600 and 1834.

During this time, a Havyaka family moved from Adamane in Shimoga to Palathadaka near Subrahmanya in Dakshina Kannada. Hence, they identify themselves as the Adamane Palathadaka (AP) family. Many AP family members were related to the officials who served under the Kodagu rulers.

A member of this generation, Dr A P Lalit Mohan, has their family tree.

The AP family claims their descent from Subbarasaya, who served as a karnika (treasurer) in Kodagu, as well as his brother Thimmarasaya. A number of Subbarasayas and Thimmarasayas can be found in the family tree.

Dr Mohan claims that two female members Mahadevamma, the wife of Dodda Vira Rajendra, and Gowramma, one of Chikka Vira Rajendra’s 13 queens, were born in the AP family.

Two missionaries, Hermann Friedrich Mögling in his Coorg Memoirs and Georg Richter in his Gazetteer Coorg narrated the story of the Rajas.

Linga Raja I died in 1780 while his three sons, Vira Raja, Appaji Raja and Linga Raja II, were still young. Hyder Ali became their guardian of the princes and took up the direct administration of Kodagu. He maintained that when they would come of age, the throne of Kodagu would be restored to them. In the meantime, he appointed Subbarasaya, from the AP family, as the amaldar of Kodagu.

In 1782, Kodagu rose in rebellion. The princes and their family members were moved to Gorur Fort in Hassan. After the death of Hyder Ali, his son, Tipu Sultan, succeeded as the ruler of Mysore. The Kodagu princely family was again moved to Periyapatna Fort. They were being held in confinement and were prevented from reaching their capital, Madikeri. Tipu marched through Kodagu in 1784. When Kodagu rebelled again, he returned.

Subbarasaya was succeeded as amaldar by his nephew Nagappayya. Nagappayya was charged with treason by Tipu Sultan and was condemned to death. He then fled to Wayanad and took asylum under Kote Raja in Kotangadi.

During 1788, two Kodagu leaders, Appaneravanda Achayya and Pattacheravanda Boluka, helped Vira Raja and his family escape. Most of the family members settled in Kurchi in Kodagu. From there, Vira Raja with Achayya, Boluka and his other men led a guerrilla war against Tipu Sultan.

Nostalgia

The Kote Raja sent bandits to Kurchi where they killed the family members, including Vira Raja’s first wife, looted the place and burnt it down. Despite this setback, by 1791, Vira Raja reclaimed Madikeri. In 1795, a new palace was built in Nalknad. Vira Raja had a daughter, Rajammaji, from his first marriage.

He desired to have a son. Hence, the following year, a mantapa (pavilion) was built in front of this palace where Vira Raja married Maha Devamma in a grand ceremony. Maha Devamma later came to be called as ‘Maha Deva Rani’. Vira Raja and Maha Deva Rani had four daughters: Devammaji, Muddammaji, Rajammaji and Mahadevammaji.

Remnant Kalyana Mantapa in front of Nalknad palace in Kodagu. Photo by author
Remnant Kalyana Mantapa in front of Nalknad palace in Kodagu. Photo by author

Vira Raja had his will made before he died in 1809. Accordingly, Devammaji succeeded him to the throne. But two years later, her uncle Linga Raja forced her to abdicate the throne in his favour.

Linga Raja ruled from 1811 until his death in 1820. He got his four nieces married. Linga Raja’s son Chikka Vira Raja succeeded him. By 1826, Chikka Vira Raja got Muddammaji and her family members killed.

During the 1834 war between Kodagu and the British East India Company, Chikka Vira Raja surrendered to the British. After his exile, he went to London where he died in 1864. Karnika Thimmappayya, who was his brother-in-law, died in 1868.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum> Spectrum Statesman / by Mookonda Kushalappa / March 10th, 2019