Till the sun sets and the moonlight burns the hill of Coorg.
At 253kms from Bangalore and 114kms from Mysore these hills of Coorg lie in the state of Karnataka.
Known as Scotland of India and Kashmir of South India, it has all one can ask for – nature at its best.
Lush greenery, Coffee plantations, teak wood forests and the mountain ranges welcome you to this beautiful land called Coorg.
Highlights
It has got everything one could ask for – fun, adventure, thrill, excitement, scenic beauty and delicious food.So if you have a desire for all these take your pick!
Flashback
Its the only land in India which has never been invaded by Foriegners, this land whose meaning stands for a land blessed by Mother Goddess, River Cauvery.
Ruled by Kadambas from 2nd to the 6th century,in the northern province; its The southern parts were successively connected to the Ganga Dynasty from the 4th to the 11th century. In the 11th century, the Cholas emerged as the sole rulers of the whole of Kodagu.
During the 12th century the Hoysalas, drove away the Cholas from Kodagu. From the 14th century, the Vijayanagara Kings ruled supreme. After their fall, the local chieftans or Nayaks and Palegars, became independent and started ruling from wherever they stayed.
Later on the Haleri Kings defeated them all and ruled Kodagu from 1600-1834. From then on Kodagu came under the direct rule of the British. Then on independence of India it became a part of Indian Government.
Fast Facts
Temperature
Winter - 11 Deg C to 15 Deg C
Summer – 27 Deg C to 33Deg C
Language - Kodava, Kannada, Malayalam
Best Time to Visit - April to November
Clothings - Anything light and handy including cottons and semi- cottons.
Winters will do with very light warm woolens.
Coorg at its Best
Nagarhole National Park – A home for a number of Flora and Fauna, its a delight to be here. Hundreds and hundreds of elephants move around here in these man made wilds. 93 kms away from Coorg it provides excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing. Here, one can see the swift-footed spotted deer, bison, elephant, wild boar and jackal, different species of monkey
Madikeri Fort - It was a fort made up of Mud till the King Tipu Sultan got it reconstructed into a stone one.Inside the fort is the palace of of the Lingayat rulers, a reflection of the grand palaces seen elsewhere. Move around here to have a glimpse of the design and simple architecture of Coorg. The museum inside the fort has the pieces of the past in the form of arms, Armour, paintings and precious jewelery of the past rulers.
Abbe Falls – In Koddava dialect Abbi means falls. One of the most beautiful places in Coorg this is a must watch for those who visit Coorg. The sound of falling waters will change your mood and make you feel light and happy.
Irrpu and Kakkabe Falls – If the sound of falling waters attracts you this is the place to go for. This dense forest area with the wilds has been an attraction for years and is bound to attract you. Far from the city lights it gives you a feeling of being in a real wild.
Omkareshwar Temple – For all those who love a visit to the temples, this is another masterpiece. Dedicated to Lord Shiva (God of Destruction), it has Islamic and Gothic style in its architecture. Built by Kodagu King Lingaraja in 1820, the temple has a remarkable shape. Made in Mohammedan style it has a central dome carved to beauty and four minarets(pillars), which are further surrounded by Basavas(Sacred Bulls). The window frames and the sculpted blocks make for an art in themselves.
Kalipodhu Festival - Falling on the 3rd of September,it marks the transplantation of paddy. On the Day of Kalipodhu all the arms are taken out from the Pooja (prayer) room and cleaned and decorated with flowers. They are then kept in the Central Hall of the house and prayed. Attend this festival to see the Culture of Coorg.
Kaveri Sankramana Festival – Normally celebrated in mid – October it marks the pooja (prayer)of the River Kaveri . In this festival a small fountain fills the bigger holy tank at Talakaveri. People throng in thousands to take a dip in this holy water. The water is collected in bottles and reaches every house in Kodagu, and this is called Theertha - holy water. This water is preserved in all Kodava houses, and a spoonful of this water is fed to the dying, in the belief that they will attain moksha (emancipation) and gain entry to heaven. Not much of music dance it is supposed to bring Nirvana. Attend this festival to get e true picture of Indias Culture.
Puttari – Marking the harvest of rice, this festival is celebrated in the last of November or early of December. Special food is prepared on this day and the path from the house to the paddy field is decorated. The Gods are prayed and thus it marks the harvest of the new paddy.
Where and Why
Its a trekking paradise, the food is a treat in every sense, nature is at its best in the form of falls and the wilds play with the tigers and elephants. What more you could ask for – Solitude! Did you say, even that is there. Began your journey with a trip to the Omkareshwar Temple. Devoted to Lord Shiva, its an architectural beauty to visit. More than that, its always good to begin a Journey from the doorsteps of God. After being blessed move on to see the nature and its various antics. What better you will find than the Irrppu and Kakkabe falls. The sound of the falling water humming down your ears gives you a pleasant feeling. Sit here for some time and you will forget the arch lights of city. Take photographs hanging out here – after all there are the memories which would follow.
Na, don’t let the adventure stop here. Go to the Nagarhole National Park- enjoy being among the wild and the wild animals. You will be welcomed by elephants (there are hundreds of them), the tigers (did i see them smiling at you!) and don’t forget the little birds which nestle down here.
If being near one Fall urges you to go for another, Coorg has more for you. So for the Abbe Falls, one of the most beautiful falls of Coorg. And as you fall in love with the scenic beauty of the nature, walk a little more to see the Madikeri Fort. Standing till today it tells you about the history of Coorg. Watch the Fort speak of its own history in the form of paintings, scriptures and the remnants of the past both inside the Fort and the Fort Museum.
Did we talk about the Coffee Plantations. If you are in Coorg than you must visit ones. See how the little saplings turn into fruits which further break down to coffee beans to make hot aromatic cup of coffee for you.
But that’s not the end, a trip to South India is incomplete without tasting the delicacies of South India. So go ahead, make each day of your day a cool respite of Indian flavors.
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