Tag Archives: General Thimayya Museum – Madikeri

A Kodava Soldier’s Tale – Gowdanda Thimmaiah

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General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri, is one of the most visited attractions at Coorg. The museum houses images of the General, documents, weapons and other items, that the late illustrious General was associated with.

Gowdanda Thimmaiah at General Thimayya Museum

General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri, is one of the most visited attractions at Coorg. The museum houses images of the General, documents, weapons and other items, that the late illustrious General was associated with.

Subedar Major (Retd) Gowdanda Thimmaiah proudly wearing his medals.

Gowdanda Thimmaiah joined the Indian Army (8th Madras Regiment) in November 1987, and has seen multiple postings throughout India and also in Bhutan.

Thimmaiah has actively participated the following Indian Military campaigns:

1. Operation Rhino – Counter Insurgency operation in Assam (1990)
2. Operation Rakshak – Counter Insurgency operation in Kashmir (1990)
3. Operation Vijay – Kargil War in Kashmir (1999)
4. Operation Parakram – Military Mobilization on the border with Pakistan (2001)

The most challenging operation, Thimmaiah remembered was during his participation in counter insurgency operation in Kashmir. The militancy in Kashmir was at its peak and I have been witness to many casualties. If I recall correctly, from my battalion itself – around 10 to 15 casualties. It was tough to witness so many casualties of my brother soldiers, but we were not the be swayed by emotions and we were up for the challenge and ready to fight it out., he recalled.

The following is a list of medals that Gowdanda Thimmaiah has been awarded:

1. OPERATION VIJAY MEDAL
2. SAINYA SEVA MEDAL
3. SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL(SURAKSHA)
4. HIGH ALTITUDE MEDAL
5. SAINYA SEVA MEDAL (ASSAM)
6. 9 YEARS LONG SERVICE MEDAL
7. 20 YEARS LONG SERVICE MEDAL
8. 50 YEARS INDEPENDENCE MEDAL

Gowdanda Thimmaiah retired from the Indian Army after serving 28 years and 28 days, with his character being judged by his superiors as exemplary.

Today, this illustrious soldier mans the museum of one of the most famous Generals of Indian Army. To quote Field Marshal Cariappa: “An officer is nothing without the soldiers”.

Lt General Dhiraj Seth presenting the certificate and medallion to Gowdanda Thimmiah

On the 24th of March, 2025,  Lt General Dhiraj Seth (PVSM, AVSM) – Army Commander Southern Command, while on his visit to General Thimayya Museum, took note of Thimmaiah’s work as a curator and his dedication towards the museum.


General Dhiraj Seth, presented Thimmaiah with a commendation certificate and VETERAN HONOR MEDALLION in recognition of his contribution, post retirement.

True to the concept that a soldier never retires, Thimmaiah is also involved in every activity at Surlabbi village. The family is the Deva Thakka for the ancient temple and the Gowdanda family have the privilege of leading the sacred dance that takes place every year.


A hardworking farmer, beekeeper and sportsman. He played for the family in the ongoing Muddanda Hockey Namme, with his two accomplished daughters. One has recently completed her Aeronautical Engineering degree and the other is qualifying as a Dentist. His wife is currently serving in the Health Department as Taluk Nursing Supervisor at Madikeri.

Like Gowdanda Thimmaiah, in Kodagu – there are many such gallant soldiers. And all would have a story to tell. A story worth listening to and sharing. A story of serving the Indian Army and Nation with grit and determination.

source: http://www.clnews.in / CoffeeLand News / Home> Articles / by A S Aiyappa / April 19th, 2025

Karnataka’s Kodagu district records over 95 lakh tourists in last two years

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More than 95 lakh tourists visited the hilly district of Kodagu during the last two and a half years.

According to information provided by officials of the Tourism Department at a recent meeting of the Kodagu District Tourism Development Committee, the district had recorded 43.69 lakh tourists in 2023 and 45.72 lakh in 2024.

Sharing these numbers, Anita Bhaskar, Deputy Director of Tourism, Madikeri, said that Kodagu accounted for 23 out of the 778 tourist destinations identified under the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2020-26.

The tourist destinations in Kodagu included Raja Seat, Madikeri Fort, Abbey Falls, Mandalpatti, Harangi Reservoir, Mallalli Falls, Iruppu Falls, Dubare, Chikkahole, General Thimmayya Museum, and Nagarhole National Park among others.

A request had been made to shift the Talacauvery-Bhagamandala temples from the list of tourist sites to the list of spiritual destinations, the official said.

A total of 2,300 homestays in Kodagu district had been registered online and certified. This is in addition to the 150 hotels and resorts operational in the district, out of which 53 are officially registered on the Tourism Department’s portal.

Mandalpatti

The scenic peaks of Mandalpatti have been selected for development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the One District One Destination scheme.

The Galibeedu Gram Panchayat had approved the infrastructure development at Mandalpatti with an allocation of ₹50 lakh. However, as Mandalpatti falls under the Forest Department, cooperation of the Department has been sought for the repair of roads and other related works, the official said.

Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement on development of water sports and adventure tourism in his Budget speech of 2024-25 , the official said that Harangi reservoir will be open for such activities under Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), while rafting licenses had been granted for Dubare in Kushalnagar and Barpuhole in Ponnampet.

Ms. Bhaskar said that the Tourism Department had sought approval from the Lake Development Authority to float tenders for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing, jet skiing, and water zorbing at Honnamana Kere, a tourist destination in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district, which already has attractions like hills and caves.

Children’s mini train

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Venkat Raja, who presided over the meeting, said steps will be taken to start a children’s mini train at Raja Seat after receiving a report from the engineers of South Western Railways.

He said that engineers from the Railways had already inspected the site and gathered details with regard to the proposal to start a children’s mini train.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 31st, 2025

Akhilesh Yadav Takes Time Off To Visit Kodagu, Mysuru

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After Opposition alliance meeting in Bengaluru…

Stays at a resort in Galibeedu, visits General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri and Suttur Mutt in Mysuru

Madikeri/Mysuru:

After attending the Opposition unity meeting at Taj West End, Bengaluru, on July 18, former Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav headed to Kodagu to stay at Taj Madikeri Resort & Spa, Coorg in Monnangeri village, near Galibeedu.

Interacting with a few resort staff and the guests for a few moments, Akhilesh said that he had come to Kodagu a couple of times when he was a student at Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) (now JSS Science and Technology University) and had visited Madikeri to witness the night-long Dasara procession.

Before heading to Kodagu, Akhilesh had a stopover in Mandya where he rested at a private hotel and he met his old friends and classmates.

After his night’s stay in Kodagu, the Samajwadi Party leader took time yesterday morning to visit General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri which celebrates the life of former Army Chief General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, housing a variety of antique weaponry and war relics.

Welcoming the former UP CM, Museum Manager Subedar Major Gowdanda Thimmaiah, took him around the Museum and explained to him how ‘Sunny Side,’ the erstwhile ancestral house of General Thimayya, who served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961, has been renovated and converted into the Museum.

Accompanied by party National Spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhuri, Akhilesh Yadav went to every section of the Museum and was curious to know the tradition of warriors and how the Kodagu district became a nurturing place for Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, General Thimayya and other numerous Lieutenant Generals, Brigadiers, Majors and the other Defence Services officers.

The Kodagu Police had provided tight security to the visiting VIP and media persons were not allowed inside the Museum during his visit. Only one camera person was allowed to click photos. Here too, Akhilesh spoke about his warm association with Madikeri and Mysuru.

“I studied in a Military School and read about General Thimayya. I recently came to know about this historic and well-maintained Museum and I had made up my mind to visit Madikeri. I bow to the celebrated General and the soil of Kodagu,” he said.

Picture shows Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji blessing the Samajwadi Party leader during his visit to Suttur Mutt at the foot of Chamundi Hill in city.

Akhilesh returned to Mysuru where he caught up with a few of his friends and classmates. At SJCE, between 1990 and 1994, Akhilesh studied Civil Engineering before proceeding to Australia for MS in Environmental Engineering.

His classmate Dashrath Rai and others accompanied Akhilesh to Suttur Mutt where the former UP CM took the blessings of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji. The Swamiji felicitated Akhilesh and presented a memento.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> Top Stories / July 209th, 2023