Raja’s Seat, a historic viewing point in southern India that is popular with tourists, has had a new zip line installed.
The zip line, said by the Hindu Bureau to be 310m in length, was inaugurated by deputy commissioner of Kodagu, BC Sateesha, and additional superintendent of Kodagu District Police, KS Sundar Raj, who both took a ride on the new attraction.
Mr Sateesha urged the local authorities to “pay adequate attention to safety aspects and obtain a certificate from General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure.” He also emphasised to the Horticulture Department officials that “full compliance of the guidelines issued by the Academy for practice of adventure sports” should be achieved.
The zip line facility is being operated in partnership with a “private player” from the city of Bengaluru for the next five years.
source: http://www.intergameonline.com / iNTERGAME / Home> Coin-Op> Pay-to-Pay / by Joey Howey / April 13th, 2023
Whisk away your friends and folks to the mystical mountains of Coorg for a truly splendid wedding celebration. Step into your fabled forever surrounded by grandeur, nature’s bounty and impeccable hospitality.
The infinity pool at Coorg Wildnerness Resort & Spa bedecked for your special day.Delightful delicacies from the talented chefs of Coorg Wilderness Resort & Spa set at the decks of the resort.Helping you create beautiful memories amidst the hills of Coorg. Take your vows as the hills and valleys of Coorg stand witness.A dining experience like no other, at Habba, the resort’s multi-cuisine restaurant.
Gone are the days when wedding celebrations were limited to the grandest banquet hall in your hometown. Today, couples are going the extra mile to ensure their fairytale nuptials are an endearing memory that guests will relish for years to come. And what better way to craft a dreamy wedding than to fly to an exotic location? Allow us to introduce you to the Coorg Wilderness Resort and Spa. A grand luxury resort tucked amidst the lush wilderness of Coorg, this destination boasts every ingredient in the recipe for delightful weddings.
Be it a lavish occasion or an intimate affair, the experienced staff ensures your special day is every bit as perfect as you imagined. With inspired cuisines presented in grand buffet spreads or elaborate course banquets, trust that every whim and fancy of yours will be catered to.
Let wilderness celebrate with you! Our outdoor deck bedecked with wedding finery.
The resort brightens the canvas of festivities with an array of delightful services including experienced florists, decorators, photographers, live entertainment, and much more.
A peek into the property
The 4th of Paul John Resorts and Hotels’ premium luxury properties, Coorg Wilderness Resort and Spa offers 60 acres of virginal wilderness. The resplendent banquet hall—The Queen’s Court—proffers 2,000 sq ft of splendid space, ideal for pre-wedding festivities and kickstarting the celebrations with some pomp and show. Proceed to The Grand Ballroom to exchange your vows. This stunning, pillarless area of 3,500 sq ft with regal ceilings that tower high at 18 ft promises the perfect backdrop and grandiosity for the big day. One can also choose from the wide array of outdoor venues, be it by the infinity pool surrounded by hills and valleys, or the immense deck set right in the midst of lush wilderness or even at the peak of a hill with the setting sun as witness.
For that stylish, glamorous evening! The Grand Ballroom in its grandest finery.
In addition to the larger-than-life celebratory venues, the accommodation elevates the experience further. For starters, the luxurious European-style suites which span over 1,350 sq ft are tailor-made for a truly exotic experience. They feature plush interiors, electric fireplaces and large bay windows which promise a glimpse of the fleeting sights of nature and offer unmatched views of the famed hills of Coorg. The cosy studio rooms are reminiscent of elegant chalets nestled amidst the dense woods.
In a nutshell, the property harbours 52 stately studio rooms and 52 palatial suites to ensure your guests revel in the creme-de-la-creme of hospitality. We’re talking divine views, heated floors, cosy-chic decor and unbridled luxury.
An assortment of amenities
Spruce up the wedding festivities with the property’s unique offerings like a coffee-tasting experience, treks through untrodden trails, fish feeding, a rejuvenating dip in the infinity pool, and unparalleled proximity to the flourishing flora and fauna. The property also guarantees a treat for the palate with its myriad dining options. For a South Indian and coastal feast, head to ‘Vembanad’. To sample the bar menu, head to Tipsy, or enjoy sumptuous finger food and all-day dining at ‘Habba’.
Let wilderness celebrate with you! Our outdoor deck bedecked with wedding finery.
That’s not all: you can also pamper your guests with some tender loving care at the resort’s 18-room spa block with advanced traditional and western treatments.
Just a two-hour drive from the Kannur Airport, and three kilometres from the town of Madikeri, the resort is conveniently located and ensures all the tourist attractions are just a stone’s throw away.
source: http://www.vogue.in / Vogue, edition India / Home> Weddings / published by Coorg Wilderness Resort and Spa / by Yashita Vashishth / March 30th, 2023
Chef Naren Thimmaiah brings the flavours of Karavalli to Varq, a pioneer of award-winning modern Indian fine-dining
The timeless Taj Mahal, New Delhi and its award winning restaurant Varq proudly welcomed the culinary legend of the south – Karavalli from Vivanta Bengaluru, Residency Road. This year, as Varq embarks on its 15th year anniversary voyage, it will feature unique gastronomic pop-ups, new innovations and reinvented concepts in the year ahead.
Varq, symbolic of preciousness, luxury and elegance, is the birth place of modern Indian cuisine in the Capital. Karavalli’s voyage to Varq, was the perfect marriage of authentic Indian south-west coastal cuisine with contemporary flair and artistic presentation. The unique pop-up presented an exquisite experience wherein culinary legend Chef Naren Thimmaiah, from Karavalli, showcased a special coastal menu celebrating authentic flavours and treasured recipes.
The uniquely curated presentation included dishes like Malabar Prawn Roast, Meen Porichathu (Shallow Fried Black Pomfret), Calamari Fry, Attirachy Ularthu (Lamb Roast) Chattambade (Fried Lentil Patties), Patrade (Colocasia Leaf Roll), Chevod Balchao (Lobster in Pickled Spice), Alappuzha Meen Curry (Alleppy Fish Curry), Pachakkari Stew (Vegetable Stew), Kashi Halwa (Ah Gourd Pudding) and Ragi Manni (Finger Millet Pudding).
Celebrated Chef Naren Thimmaiah, Executive Chef, Vivanta Bengaluru, Residency Road said, “I am delighted to return to the iconic Taj Mahal, New Delhi and its renowned restaurant Varq. Karavalli’s coastal delicacies have made their way into the heart of the South and we can’t wait to share our passion with patrons of Delhi-NCR. We take pride in our authenticity, the promise of quality and the connection with our roots. With the capital’s bustling culture of food, there couldn’t have been a better place than Varq, the birth place of modern Indian cuisine in New Delhi, to showcase our special Karavalli culinary art.”
Speaking on the occasion, Chef Arun Sundararaj, Director of Culinary Operations at Taj Mahal, New Delhi said, “We have been committed to offering immersive dining experiences to our patrons. Varq has been the one stop dining destination for celebrating the unique flavours of India, pop-ups by Michelin Starred Chefs from around the globe and for curating culinary art and innovation. Chef Naren Thimmaiah is a legend in the epicurean world and we are humbled to welcome him once again at Varq. The confluence of Karavalli and Varq will present a tantalizing experience of exotic coastal recipes combined with fine dining with art.”
Chef Naren Thimmaiah has been the face of the iconic Karavalli for over two decades. He holds the distinction of participating in the World Gourmet Summit held at Singapore in the year 2005. In February 2009, at the Government of India, National Tourism awards held at New Delhi, Naren Thimmaiah was adjudged as the Best Chef of India. Economic Times rated Chef Naren Thimmaiah among Top 10 Chefs of India – 5th place. December 2018, Times Food & Nightlife Awards – Chef Naren Thimmaiah was awarded Chef of the Year. In August 2019, at the Eazydiner Awards, Naren Thimmaiah was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award. In March 2022, he was recognized among the Top 10 Chefs in India by Culinary Culture.
source: http://www.bwhotelier.businessworld.in / BWHotelier.com / Home / by BW Online Bureau / March 27th, 2023
An e-Prasad initiative has been launched at Sri Bhagandeshwara and Talacauvery Temples that are run by the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (Muzrai) Department.
The Department has tied up with India Post for delivering the prasad from the temples to the devotees. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish gave a start to the initiative yesterday.
The prasadam box contains 100 ml Theertha (holy water) from the Talacauvery Brahmakundike (holy pond), Panchakajjaya from Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple in Bhagamandala, Kumkum and sandalwood paste.
Devotees can book the prasad on India post website www.indiapost.gov.in or by calling the toll-free number 18002666868. e-Prasad costs Rs. 300. If paid, the e-prasad will be delivered to the doorstep by post and the facility is available all over India.
The prasadam box will be delivered within four to five days of the money being paid. However, the facility is not open for devotees abroad and will be open for devotees who cannot make it to the Temples.
Steps will be taken to increase prasad distribution after devotees’ response, the DC said. Additional DC and Bhagamandala Sri Bhagandeshwara and Talacauvery Temple Administrator Dr. Nanjundegowda, Post Office Manager Ramesh Babu, Temple Executive Officer M.S. Dore, Temple Paarupathegara K.T. Ponnanna were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 07th, 2023
Projects totalling Rs 2000 crore were inaugurated by the CM at a ceremony in Madikeri, which was attended by beneficiaries of the district.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
“Kodagu will be included in the international tourism map and plans are in place to ensure the same,” said Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai in Madikeri. He declared to extend free electricity to the irrigation pump sets, of up to 10 HP, installed across coffee estates in Kodagu.
Inaugurating various projects at a ceremony in Gandhi Maidan, he said, “Rs 100 crore has been released to the district under a special package in the state budget. Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the Kodava-speaking community. The state has also granted seven acres of land to the Kodava community in Bengaluru.” Projects totalling Rs 2000 crore were inaugurated at the ceremony which was attended by beneficiaries of the district.
The Chief Minister said that plans are being laid out to put Kodagu on the international tourism maps. “A plan similar to Mysuru Tourism Circuit will take shape in Kodagu shortly,” he confirmed.
He opined that the district has received increased funds from the central and state governments. “This year, Rs 132 crore has been released as compensation amount to the farmers of Kodagu,” he said. He explained that the state government is working towards the overall development of all the communities.
“Various schemes including the Kisan Samman Yojana have recorded successful implementation. Scholarships have been released to the children of the farmers, who are the nation’s strength. The work of the BJP government is speaking for itself,” he said.
He explained the various projects aimed at empowering women and called the guarantee card scheme of the Congress a bluff. “One can cheat someone a few times. But they cannot cheat people all the time. The guarantee card is bogus and is similar to a visiting card,” he mocked.
Handing over cheques to a few beneficiaries of the government schemes at the ceremony, he sought the support of the people for the BJP.
While the congregation with the beneficiaries had to be inaugurated by CM at 11.30 am on Saturday, the same was delayed as Bommai arrived in the district by 3.00 pm. He, however, apologised stating that the visit was delayed due to the ongoing PUC examination at the college located close to the function venue.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / March 18th, 2023
We recommend Pandi Curry, Koli Curry and Baimbale Curry.
Hyatt Centric rolls out special brunch menu
Chef Gaurav Ramakrishnan introduced a special Coorg cuisine brunch at The Bengaluru Brasseri recently. The special brunch includes dishes like Pandi Curry, Kadambuttu, Kummu Curry, Akki Roti, and more. We started off our brunch with Murgh Lasooni Tikka and Indonesian Grilled Fish. The former is a delicacy marinated in yoghurt and a few seasonings while the latter was flavourful and a bit on the spicier side.
We then decided to check out their special brunch dishes. We started off with boiled rice and Pandi Curry. Boiled rice with pandi curry is like a staple diet in the Coorg region. The pandi curry was made using chilli powder, green chillies, masalas, and Kachumpuli (a dark-coloured vinegar). The delicacy was flavourful and complemented the rice very well.
Kadambuttu
We went for another round of boiled rice, but this time along with the Koli Curry. This Coorgi-style chicken curry was cooked with grated coconut, tamarind paste, green chillies, and red chilli powder. The dish was more on the spicier side but we loved having it with the steamed rice.
Next, we tried the Akki Roti with Baimbale Curry. The curry was made with bamboo shoots along with cumin and mustard. The base of the curry was cooked using coconut paste. The dish was delicious and left us craving more.
Koli Curry
Our brunch came to a close with a couple of desserts – Thambuttu and Kaavale Puttu. The former was made with mashed banana pulp and roasted broken rice along with grated coconut while the latter had ripe jackfruit pulp, ghee and cardamom. This dessert was steamed and served in banana leaves.
If you are looking for a place to try out special Coorg delicacies, the special brunch at The Bengaluru Brasseri is one you should definitely look at.
When Karnataka is on the cusp of Assembly polls, Social Welfare Department and Backward Classes Minister Kota Srinivasa Poojari has stated that Rs. 5 crore will be released for the development of ‘Ain Mane’ (ancestral houses) in Kodagu and also, Rs.25 lakh will be released for the genealogical study of 18 Kodava language natives.
The Minister was speaking after inaugurating ‘Othorme Koota’ (get-together) and an exhibition at a gathering of 18 Kodava-speaking groups organised by the Kodagu Heggade Community Organisation and Kodava-Speaking Communities Association recently at Kodagu Heggade Community Hall in Bittangala. The issue of ‘Ain Mane’ is an emotional one for Kodavas and the community has been critical of successive State Governments for doing nothing to protect the ancient tradition and ancestral houses. Dejected by lack of Government grants, many families have contributed money, resources and time on their own to restore many ‘Ain Manes’ at their native villages.
Even the genealogical study by the Mysuru-based Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI) in 2016 has come in for intense criticism for a ‘biased and unscientific survey’ and there is a demand for a fresh order to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased, judicious and a meticulous ethnographic study.
“At the Government level, we can give reservations through genealogical analysis to the most unrecognisable ethnic groups. I will discuss with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and release Rs. 25 lakh for the study. It will be entrusted either to the University of Mysore or Hampi University. Later, reservation will be announced for the communities that are economically weaker in Kodagu,” the Minister assured.
He also said that implementing the Sadashiva Commission Report on internal reservation will be taken up with the CM. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah has made a request at the Government level to release Rs. 5 crore for the development of ‘Ain Mane,’ Poojari said and added that five acres of Government land will also be allotted to construct a community hall.
Former State Advocate General and Congress leader Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna said that though the Government has been planning to study Kodava genealogy for over six years, it has been of no use. “The study of genealogy, reservation, and political reservation is subject to legal struggle under the Constitution,” he noted, asking the Government to take concrete and concerted measures to uplift marginalised communities in Kodagu.
State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the book stalls and said that Kodava community is facing a stark reality of dwindling numbers and a rapid decrease in geographical areas owned and occupied by them. He criticised the Congress Governments for neglecting the marginalised communities.
MLA Kombarana G. Bopaiah, MLC Mandepanda Suja Kushalappa, head of History Department of Hampi University Tambanda Vijay Poonacha, President of Kodava-Speaking Communities Association Dr. Mechira Subhash Nanaiah, former Karnataka Western Ghats Conservation Task Force Chairman Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 24th, 2023
Two more cases have been booked against violators who were trying to shift garbage from Kerala.
Madikeri :
The forest and wildlife in Kodagu are facing serious threat due to illegal dumping of truckloads of waste arriving from Kerala. The forest fringes on NH-275 are also under threat from littering caused due to lack of public awareness and proper facilities for tourists.
The Makutta Reserve Forest and the Bramhagiri Wildlife Forest, which line the Karnataka-Kerala border, are gradually turning into an open dumping yard for waste.
Foresters during a cleanliness drive in Kodagu | Express
It was only after some alert residents from the district, including members of the Kodagu Seva Kendra, flagged the issue that the authorities started collecting waste from the forest fringes and burning it. The forest department has also increased checks at the Makutta check-post. Recently, a truck driver and a cleaner, who were allegedly transporting 15 sacks of plastic waste from Kerala, to dump in the Makutta forest area were nabbed by the foresters and booked under the Wildlife Protection Act. Two more cases have been booked against violators who were trying to shift garbage from Kerala.
“Foresters will conduct daily patrolling across the reserve forest area to prevent travellers from littering,” said Dechamma, Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Makutta forest.
Residents unhappy with burning of plastic waste
However, residents are unhappy with the foresters for their unscientific management of waste. They have voiced concern over burning of plastic waste inside the forest limits which can be hazardous to health. Further, hundreds of tourists take the Makutta route to reach Kannur International Airport and it has become difficult for the foresters to prevent littering, despite several awareness signboards being put up on the fringes.
Dechamma said that tree branches are being placed along the roadside to curb parking in the area. Meanwhile, the forest fringes lining the NH-275 on Kushalnagar-Madikeri Road are facing threat for which lack of public awareness is being cited as a reason. Foresters say they conduct cleanliness drives across the forest fringes once a month and collect truckloads of garbage.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2023
In the village of Bilugunda in Kodagu district is a Bhadra-Kaali temple. At the centre of its annual festival, is the ‘kudure’ procession — a group of Kodavas centred around a boy wearing a hollow frame with the head and body of a horse. During this festival, an oracle called Airira Devani accompanies the procession, as his father Boju used to in the past.
‘Kodava’ is both the name of a caste and a language. Around twenty castes of Kodagu, besides the Kodavas, speak the language. The Airi are one of them. Airira is the most common family name among this community.
According to researchers Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa, the Airi were once skilled artisans, often either achari (carpenters), thatta (goldsmiths) or kolla (ironsmiths) by profession.
Central to the Airi community and Kodagu is the local mythology built around six gods and a goddess. Igguthappa is the chief among these siblings. Pannangalathamme, the younger sister of Igguthappa, has three main temples dedicated to her in the villages of Yavakapadi, Kedamallur and Armeri.
The Pannangalatamme temple gateway in Armeri
Near the Armeri Pannangalathamme temple lives an Airi family. Kaveriappa, an elder of the family, was my guide. He led me from the temple to his ainmane in Ettmani hamlet. It is an old, two-storeyed house with a red-tiled roof and in need of maintenance.
The front yard is roughly paved with large stones. The veranda has traditional wooden pillars rising from a low wall and a plank used as a seat between the pillars. Inside the house, there are pictures of various Hindu gods on the wall.
Treasure chests
This family in Armeri is called Mookairira. The word ‘Mooka’ means ‘eldest’ in Old Dravidian. The family got its name because they were the elder of two branches of an Airi clan. The younger branch was called ‘Ele’ (younger) Airira.
A Sandooka made by the Airis of Armeri
The Mookairira clan used to make sandookas and troughs for the kings and lords of Kodagu. Sandookas are wooden boxes used to store jewellery, documents, and other objects. It has a hinged lid, and is called a chandooka in Kodava. The family showed me an old one in their possession which had several small compartments inside.
A sandooka is a treasure trove, used to store precious objects which invoke feelings of nostalgia, fondness, attachment and joy in its owner. Common in the old houses of the Kodavas, they were a symbol of family, heritage and inheritance.
Unfortunately, sandooka-makers are now on the decline. The Mookairira, like others in their community, have switched over to agriculture for a living.
Kaveriappa got his family members Sujay and Kiran to help him explain things to me. “We were originally from the Vishwakarma caste. We brought our family goddess Cheerambe with us and established her nearby. Every year, around April 25, we offer her paal-pann (cow’s milk and fruits),” Kaveriappa explained.
They were given to hunting in the past. A large odikaththi war knife, probably made and used by their forefathers, was displayed on a yellow plastic stool. Like the Kodavas, the family worships their Guru Kaarana (principal ancestors) and offers them food and drink during an annual ceremony. They showed five small metal plates with crude human figures in relief on them, representing their deceased relatives.
Small metal plates with the images of the deceased family members
The periphery of their settlements was lined with stone piles. They had two small stone troughs in their garden. There was an old bent stone post in the yard. A pair of old stone posts and a lane with stone steps which led down to the fields were nearby. There was a large stone trough in their fields. It was said that this was made for the elephant of Uththa Nayaka, a Kodava ruler from Armeri.
Kiran, a Class 9 student, led me across the fields to a stone quarry nearby. This must have been the place where the family procured stone for making troughs and other objects in the past. The quarry forms a depression in a hillock and hence holds a large pool of water.
The family reportedly used to make traditional knives, and woodwork in ainmanes, temples, forts, and palaces. They were also employed as goldsmiths and carpenters by the kings. Largely forgotten, these skills are no longer being learnt by the family descendants and their community. But there are people from across castes making some of these articles nowadays.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum> Spectrum Top Stories / by Mookanda Kushalappa / February 08th, 2023
An 18-member team from National Defence College, New Delhi visited Gen. Thimayya Memorial Museum at Madikeri in Kodagu district on Wednesday.
The team was led by Air Vice-Marshal Tejbir Singh who said that the museum is a source of inspiration for present and future military leaders and eulogised Gen.Thimayya’s role in strengthening the defence forces.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / February 01st, 2023
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