Faded colour, blackened walls, pathetic condition of the roof and plastic sheets to protect from rain…This is the story of historical Madikeri Fort. The fort throws light on the glorious grandeur of a bygone era. However, it is in a neglected state.
The magnificent fort is in ruins due to the negligence of the authorities of the Department of Archaeology. Due lack of maintenance, a portion of the fort has collapsed.
Owing to lack of government buildings in Kodagu district, the fort has been converted for the administrative purposes. It is referred to as ‘Hale Vidhana Soudha.’ The fort houses Zilla Panchayat office, land documents assistant director’s office, department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, offices of MLAs K G Bopaiah, M P Appachu Ranjan, MLCs Sunil Subramani and Veena Achiah, district library, court complex and Agriculture department.
“Hundreds of vehicles enter the premises of the Fort. The Fort is losing its identity. Though a signboard on the protected monument is placed, attempts are being made to disfigure the monument,” said local residents.
There is no protection for ‘Firangi’ and accessory of rulers. The tourists will be disappointed after viewing the Fort.
It was said that Haleri ruler Mudduraja had constructed mud fort and palace in the 17th century. Later, it was rebuilt by Tipu Sultan and named it as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Dodda Veerarajendra confiscated the Fort. The Fort came under British rule in 1834.
The magnificent Fort is visible from any corner of Madikeri town. The fort is in the shape of the circle and two rock-cut elephants attract the visitors. The museum of the Department of Archaeology and Museums is situated in a church built in 1855. The palace that was built by Immadi Lingaraja Odeyar houses government offices and the palace is in a shambles.
Tourist guide Prakash said, “Tourists are not keen on entering the palace. The rare photographs have lost its charm and beauty. The authorities have not taken any measure to conserve palace that may cease to be a heritage site shortly.”
DH News Service
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Adithya KA / DH News Service / Madikeri – October 21st, 2017
SuNi’s #Chamak is nearing completion. The team is currently filming a fight sequence, which involves the lead pair, Ganesh and Rashmika Mandanna.
Like most of SuNi’s films, he has tried to do something unique with this sequence.
“This scene involves Ganesh and Rashmika going to celebrate Holi. Over there, some people misbehave with them and this sets the prelude to a fight. We have Ganesh then taking on the miscreants, who he recognizes using colours. We’re currently shooting for this sequence in Bengaluru,” says SuNi.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies> News / by Sunayana Suresh / TNN / October 20th, 2017
Bahrain-based Délicieux company has signed up as a key sponsor for the second edition of the Bahrain International Chocolate and Coffee Exhibition which kicks off on December 7.
The three-day event is being held under the patronage of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority CEO Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa at Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The sponsorship marks Délicieux’s debut appearance at the Bahrain International Chocolate and Coffee Exhibition, following the success of event’s first edition in attracting visitors as well as active companies in the field.
Délicieux Company CEO Shaikha Noora bint Ali Al Khalifa said: “It expands on the company’s market presence in the promising Bahraini chocolate and coffee market, whilst offering an opportune networking platform with visiting suppliers and buyers from other countries, and simultaneously providing marketing catalyst to our Bahrain-based clientele.”
Sheikha Noora said the second edition was likely to attract high footfall with an anticipated spike in demand for chocolates and coffee on display, in preparation for National Day celebrations.
“Our presence at such expos will help us further in networking with companies in the same field, enabling quality enhancement and product development to meet the dynamic needs of consumers,” she noted.
As a result of the knowledge exchange, Bahrainis have become familiar with the varieties of coffee, recognizing the differences of premium and commercial coffee, she added.
Shaikha Noora said Délicieux was a first-of-its-kind company in Bahrain to specialise in premium coffee, offering Ethiopian, Colombian and Rwandan brew.
Amid growing demand for specialty coffee in GCC, Délicieux will soon be introducing its Yemeni and Saudi Arabian coffee starting from next month. The company already offers more than 15 distinct Belgian chocolate flavours, she added.
-TradeArabia News Service
source: http://www.tradearabia.com / Trade Arabia / Home / Manama – October 15th, 2017
EXHILARATING Bathing and feeding sessions are the most popular among the activities at Dubare and Sakrebailu elephant camps. PHOTOS BY AUTHOR
Everyone loves elephants. Whenever we see them, they bring out the child in us, with a craving to touch, photograph and ride on them, and if possible, take a selfie with them.
Elephants also play an important role in some of our religious festivals. We see the sculptures of elephants in heritage places as well. The best places to get close to these awesome pachyderms are Dubare Elephant Camp in Kodagu and Sakrebailu Elephant Camp in Shivamogga district.
Dubare Elephant Camp
Dubare Elephant Camp is located amidst lush green forest, on the picturesque banks of River Cauvery, about 14 km from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. This is a project undertaken by the Karnataka Forest Department and Jungle Lodges and Resorts. There are more than 22 elephants in the camp at present. All of them are tamed and trained, but are allowed to roam free in the forest in the afternoon and night. The elephants return to the camp for their bath and feeding sessions. Here, the visitors can not only observe and learn but also participate in various activities involving elephants through the ‘elephant interaction programme’ arranged by the naturalists of the Forest Department.
Driving down from Kushalnagar, we reach the bank of River Cauvery and have to cross over in small motor boats. The view of the river is breathtaking, with the water flowing gently over rocks and bushy trees hanging over the water’s edge on both sides. The chirping of different birds provides a pleasing background music. It is an open, seamless forest area and the only man-made constructions here are for training and feeding the elephants. Trained naturalists explain the various aspects of elephants like their history, biology, personality and food habits. They also facilitate our intimate interaction with the animals. This camp is said to have been started during the British era for taming and training wild elephants to be used for transportation and in war. Some of the trained elephants from this camp participate in the Mysore Dasara procession and other temple festivals.
The most enjoyable part of our visit was joining the mahouts in bathing the elephants. Every morning, the animals are taken down to the river for their bath, which lasts for an hour. It is a pleasure to see them lying down in the river and splashing water, with their trunks, all the while enjoying their bath. Visitors who are bold enough can roll up their sleeves and pants to give the mammoths a scrub. The bath is followed by an elaborate feeding session, in which we could also lend a hand. We can feed them with balls of ragi, jaggery, sugar cane, banana and coconuts provided by the Forest Department.
Elephant rides are arranged thereafter. It is an hour-long journey around the forest and this makes for a memorable experience. If we are lucky, we can catch a sight of animals like peacocks and Sambar deer during the safari.
There are places to stay near the elephant camp. Additionally, the elephant camp also conducts river rafting in the upper part of River Cauvery. In addition, coracle rides are provided for those who wish to ride the river in a different way and enjoy the blissful wilderness along the way. Boat rides and trekking are also possible for bird lovers as the forest is home to a variety of birds, which can often be seen flying across the river.
Sakrebailu Elephant Camp
Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is located about 14 km from Shivamogga town on the Thirthahalli road. This is also run by the Karnataka Forest Department for training wild elephants. Set amidst thick forest on the bank of River Tunga, this ecotourism centre attracts wildlife enthusiasts and tourists in large numbers. Here, also the elephants are taken to the river every morning for their elaborate bathing session.
Visitors are allowed to help in the bathing and feeding sessions. It is a pleasure to watch the giant animals enjoying themselves in the river. After feeding, all the animals are left free to roam in the forest. This an ideal place to enjoy a day out with the elephants.
Elephant rides and trekking are also allowed in this camp. An aane utsava is also held at the camp in the month of October.
Both the camps are open to the public throughout the year. When the waters of River Cauvery become very rough during the time of peak monsoon, the Dubare Elephant Camp closes down the route through the river for the public as it is not safe for people to go across in small boats. However, it can also be reached via road. But for obvious reasons, the bathing sessions are not held during rainy days.
Dubare Elephant Camp is open to the public from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm on all days. On the other hand, Sakrebailu Elephant Camp is open only in the morning, between 8.30 am and 11.00 am, on all days. September to June is the best time to visit as the elephants love to spend more time in the river when it is not raining and when the weather is humid and hot.
It is suffice to say that Dubare and Sakrebailu are a must visit locales for nature enthusiasts and those who love to have intimate encounters with the elephants.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by K Karunakaran / October 17th, 2017
Talacauvery is getting ready for annual theerthodbhava of river Cauvery on Tuesday. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the event. As part of the theerthodbhava, several religious rituals were conducted on Monday. DC Richard Vincent D’souza, SP Rajendra Prasad and other officers visited the Talacauvery on Monday and reviewed the preparations.
Madikeri:
The excitement in the air is palpable at Talacauvery, which is preparing for the Theerthodbhava of River Cauvery, an annual festival all set to take place at 12.33pm on Tuesday.
Popular lore holds that the river, considered the lifeline of Karnataka, gushes out of the ‘Kundike’ or spring at the auspicious Thula Sankramana hour, which occurs once a year.
With devotees expected to pour into Talacauvery from various parts of the state, besides Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the district administration has made elaborate security arrangements. Kodagu deputy commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza reviewed the security arrangements along with superintendent of police (SP) Rajendra Prasad and MLA KG Bopaiah, reviewed the arrangements made for the annual fete.
“Police have made adequate arrangements for parking at Talacauvery and Bhagamandala. Only vehicles with the valid pass will be allowed travel from Bhagamandala to Talacauvery,” said SP Prasad.
Prasad added that KSRTC would be running as many as 30 additional buses during the event. “Arrangements have also been made to ensure devotees are provided food and drinking water. Temporary toilets have been set up at several places,” he added.
The senior cop said that 600 constables, three DSPs, six inspectors, 50 sub-inspectors and 150 NCC cadets were deployed for security.
“Vehicular movement will be monitored at 10 different locations,” he said.
Police officials said that closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras had been installed at several locations to keep a watch on the celebrations. “Moreover, one-way system has been put in place on arterial roads to avoid congestion. Sale of liquor has been prohibited within a 10 kilometre radius. Since Deepavali is also being celebrated, district administration is expecting more people this year,” said a cop.
A series of cultural programmes have been organised as part of the event.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mysore News / TNN / October 17th, 2017
Ganesh and Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Chamak, directed by Suni, is nearly done with shoot for just one fight sequence left. Meanwhile, the team has just returned from north Karnataka, after shooting for a song.
Suni tells City Express, “It was for a romantic track, but what is exciting is that we got to shoot at unexplored locations, which we spotted around the coastal belt of Karwar.” The director shares photos from the location with us, and adds, “This speciality of this song is that Ganesh does scuba diving in it and the location is Tilmati, on the black beach during monsoons and along the mango grove”.
The lyrics written by Arjun Louis has been sung by Supriya Lohit and Abhinandan.
Suni is targetting a Christmas release and is working towards it. The romcom, which has Ganesh playing a gynecologist for the first time.The film is produced by T R Chandrashekar and has music by Judah Sandy and cinematography by Santhosh Rai Pathaje.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by Express News Service / October 11th, 2017
All roads will lead to Talacauvery where the Cauvery Theerthodhbava has been scheduled for Tuesday.
A large number of devotees from the State and outside the State are expected to gather at the hill temple in Kodagu district to witness the event, which is slated around 12.35 p.m.
With the Theerthodbhava happening in the afternoon this year, devotees are expected to turn out in big numbers and the Kodagu district administration has accordingly made arrangements. The road to Talacauvery has been repaired and Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza has reviewed the preparations for the event.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – October 17th, 2017
The district administration is all set for Cauvery Theerthodbhava, scheduled to be held at 12.33 pm on October 17.
The festive spirit has already engulfed Bhagamandala and Talacauvery with a large number of devotees visiting Bhagandeshwara Temple and taking a dip in Triveni Sangama. Some organisations have taken up the work on cleaning the surroundings of the temple andthe banks of the river. The work on filling potholes is in progress.
As Theerthodbhava will take place in the afternoon, a large number of devotees are expected to take part. Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga has made arrangement for the supply of meals for the visiting devotees. Rice, jaggery, oil, coconuts, and vegetables will arrive from Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts for the purpose.
Last year, there was a drastic decline in the number of devotees who visited Theerthodbhava, following violence over sharing of river Cauvery water. This year, the situation is back to normal and the state too has received bountiful rainfall too. As a result, a large number of devotees from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are likely to take part.
Further, Kodi family have made all preparations for the rituals. Traditional rituals will be held prior to Theerthodbhava on Sunday and Monday. Goddess Cauvery’s idol will be decked up with gold ornaments.
Normally, ‘Theertha’ (holy water) from Brahma Kundike is transported in vehicles. However, Talacauvery Moola Swaroopa Rakshana Vedike has opposed the move to transport the Theertha in vehicles.
Liquor sale banned
To maintain law and order, the district administration banned the sale of liquor from midnight of October 15 to 10 am on October 18, within 10 km radius of Bhagamandala gram panchayat jurisdiction.
Changes in traffic rules
To facilitate the movement of vehicles, the district administration has made minor changes in the traffic movement and has introduced one-way traffic on several roads from 6 am till 6 pm on October 17.
All the vehicles from Madikeri to Bhagamandala should pass through Thalathmane-Udothmotte-Appangala-Bhagamandala. All the vehicles from Bhagamandala to Madikeri should pass through Appangala-Panya-Katakeri.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Aditya K A, Madikeri / DH News Service / October 14th, 2017
After raking in appreciation for her song Jag Ghoomeya in Sultan , Neha Bhasin returns with a Punjabi folk single called Belihaziya .
Neha wanted a single that’s completely different from her previous singles and made it edgy and modern. The video was shot in Coorg and has a burst of colours to depict the altered state of mind of the one with a broken heart.
The song marks a collaboration of Neha, composer Sameer Uddin and London Thumakda lyricist Anvita Dutt.
Says Neha, “ Belihaziya is a dance ballad with meaningful lyrics. The video is dream come true. It’s an electro-pop dance ballad. The underwater shots were tricky as it was raining heavily in Coorg and the water was blurry. But I am always up for a challenge. I’m really happy with how it’s turned it out.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> New Delhi / October 14th, 2017
It is said that in order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence. But the silence these days is deafening. The avian population is leaving the city in droves and so are the birdwatchers, who are running off to the outskirts in search of the now-elusive chirps.
“I usually head to the outskirts of the city now, to areas like Nandi Hills, Kanakapura Road, Tumkur Road, Sarjapur and so on,” says Sudhir Shivaram, director and founder of ‘Sudhir Shivaram Photography’ and an avid bird watcher for the last 15 years. “Any area which is a good habitat for birds and has limited human activity is a good option for bird watching. And such areas are only on the city’s outskirts now.”
There are plenty of reasons why the feathered community is giving the city a miss. “The decline of water bodies and their beautification is a big reason. The bunds on the lakesides are making way for stones and concrete for aesthetic appeal but this is not favourable for birds,” points out Sudhir. Bopanna Pattada DP
“Apart from biological factors, like crows and pigeons edging out other species that feed on grains, external reasons like use of kite ‘manja’ and pigeon netting as well as an increase in the domestic cat population, has resulted in a decrease in the bird population in the city,” lists out Bopanna Pattada, who heads ‘Bangalore Birding Adventures’.
Like everyone else, he also prefers to head out of the city for bird-watching expeditions now and says places like Bannerghatta National Park and Rishi Valley School are good options. “So is Hoskote Lake which has regained its water level in the last 5-6 years and now attracts a wide variety of birds.”
But while enthusiastic birders and photographers don’t mind going the extra mile, the growing crowds around avian havens are becoming a cause for concern for many. “Even places like Nandi Hills are seeing huge crowds now. There is a lot of noise and garbage and thus the previously large numbers of birds is coming down,” says Punith Suvarna, a data analyst and bird photographer.
“A lot of offroading is happening now and vehicles are going very close to water bodies and green areas. We need to give birds some space. So intense is the desire and competition for unique clicks, that people are resorting to means like destroying the nests so that others can’t get the same shots,” he adds.
The birds are on their way out. Pretty soon we will only be left with their pictures on social media then.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Rajitha Menon, DH News Service / October 05th, 2017
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