Coorg has been called the 'Scotland of India' and
'Kashmir of the South' by the people who have visited it and been enchanted.
It is beautiful hill country most of which is between 3000 and 4000 feet
high. The tallest mountain peak is around 6000 feet high. Kodagu (formerly
Coorg) is a treat for the eye, with its' green forests, greener coffee
estates and pale green rice valleys. Coffee plants need both heavy and light
shade to grow well, therefore, most coffee estates resemble dappled forests.
Cardamom (the smaller variety) and black pepper are also grown alongside
coffee. Thus, a walk around a coffee estate is a fragrant experience!
Birthplace of the River Cauvery and home of some of India's bravest
soldiers, Kodagu is noted for its scenic beauty. Hiking, cross-country, or
simply motoring down mountain trails in Coorg, the visitor encounters
panoramic views of the morning mist rolling down thickly wooded hill slopes
and the undulating paddy fields and neat rows of coffee bushes resplendent
under the blue skies.
The Kodavas or Coorgs (not Coorgis) are a robust, martial race famous for
the generals and beauties it has produced in plenty. Said to be the
descendants of the Greeks (Alexander's soldiers), they are fiercely
independent. They were never conquered - not by Tipu Sultan, nor by the
British. And so, to this day, they retain the privilege of being allowed to
carry firearms without a license.
Unfurl the past
Little is known about the early history of this fertile land. From AD 1600
onwards, the Lingayat rajas ruled over Coorg and established their capital
at Madikeri where they built a mud fort. The Kodavas, as the people of Coorg
are called, harried the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan through
sporadic rebellions. Finally, in AD 1785, Tipu marched into Coorg with a
large army and devastated their little kingdom. Four years later, with the
help of the British, Coorg regained its independence and Raja Veerarajendra
set about the task of reconstruction. In AD 1834, the British took over
power in Coorg. They impeached the last ruler Chikkaveera Rajendra and sent
him into exile.
Explore nature in the arms of mountains that embrace Coorg!
»
Talacauvery : This forms the source of the river Cauvery. It is 45 km
from Madikeri and also offers a spectacular view. On Sankaramana day in
October, thousands of people gather to see a miracle, the sudden bubbling
and frothing of the small well, which symbolizes the appearance of the
Goddess Cauvery. Taking a bath here on this occasion is said to give long
term physical and spiritual benefits.
» Madikeri or Mercara :
This
charming hill station is the district headquarters of Kodagu and situated at
an elevation of over 5,000 ft (1,525 m) above sea level. The Fort at
Madikeri is very popular and has witnessed many fierce battles of the past.
The 19th century fort offers a panoramic view of Madikeri from its walls.
Inside is a chapel which has turned into a little museum.
» The Temple at Bhagamandala : This temple is built in the
multi-roofed Kerala style. There are various small shrines dedicated to
different gods inside the temple. It's a scenic 36 km drive from Madikeri.
» The Omkareshwar temple : Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it has a
mix of Islamic and Gothic style architecture.
» The Raja's Seat : According to legend, the kings of Kodagu
spent their evenings here. You can view spectacular sunsets from here.
» Nagarhole National Park : With over 250 varieties of birds,
panthers, tigers, and flying squirrels, this park is made up of teak,
rosewood, sandalwood, silver oak etc. Jeeps and elephants are available to
tourists for transport. You can reach the park from Mysore via Hunsur and
Murkal.
A very eco-conscious place
Coorg is a very eco-conscious place. Coorgs are environmentally aware of
their responsibilities towards nature and take great care to preserve it.
They are highly appreciative of efforts made by anyone to conserve nature
and applaud efforts
Connectivity
Coimbatore and Bangalore are the nearest airports. Mettupalaiyam/Ooty or
Mysore are the nearest railhead. All travel has to be by road because
neither Coorg nor the Nilgiri's are covered by other modes of transport
(except for the toy train). Comfortable buses are available but for
flexibility, it is recommended to hire a vehicle.
