If you wish to be transported into a different world, where nature gives you a wonderful therapy for relaxation, in an enfolding embrace of cool blue mountains, cascading waterfalls and gurgling mountain streams, with dense forests, silver oak trees, and flower dotted bushes, then Coorg is the place to be. This little district in the southern state of Karnataka called Kodagu, in local terms, is one of the most heavenly offerings in terms of natural beauty that make up the geography of India.
The State of Karnataka is enclosed by chains of mountains to its west, east and south. Birthplace of the River Cauvery, Coorg nestles amongst the Sahyadri range of mountains. Here, coffee plantations flourish, as do fields of cardamom, making up a colorful landscape. For, if you were to visit Coorg at the time when the coffee bushes flower with glistening red berries, and the cardamom fields burst into their purple and white blooms, you will be reminded of the English poet Wordsworth’s nature poetry.
Add to this, the ethos of the Coorgis are a people whose easy hospitality, intriguing customs, and distinctive cuisine, sets them apart from all the urban superficialities. It is a picture postcard background, mostly with scattered villages and hamlets that have quaint red tiled roofs, and the few townships that exist, too, have an old world charm about them.
|
|
There also the historical reminders of the colonial past, as you come across sprawling estate bungalows with British names, along the meandering roads, as these colonial settlers had set up the coffee plantations. Although, it is said that the coffee seed was probably introduced to the region by the Maplas, the Muslim traders from neighboring Kerala, who carried cardamom and pepper from Coorg to the Arabs. The fertile land with its plentiful rainfall was ideal for coffee cultivation. The Coorgis bought back their lands once the British left the land. Even today, Coorg accounts for more than half of Karnataka's coffee production, and this State is India's largest producer of coffee. The coffee bushes require partial shade and huge trees are grown on the estates. On these trail, dark green pepper vines, while the valleys below are resplendent in vivid green paddy fields. Basically, this region’s output is mainly agro-based, and other cash crops produced are pepper, rice and oranges.
Madikeri, the district headquarters is a bustling little town of about 26,000 people is the capital of Kodagu district. It is 1300 metres above sea level.
Getting there
The nearest airports to Madikeri are Mysore (120 kms), Mangalore (135 kms) and Bangalore (260 kms), while the nearest railheads are at Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan (146 kilometers). From these cities, the rest of the journey has to be made by road. There are regular state transport bus services that connect Madikeri with Mysore, Nagarhole, Tellicherry, Virajpet and Bangalore, and most of these go via Mysore and Krishinagar.
Historical Background
Places to visit
Excursions
|
|
