Location of the Kodagu district with respect to the other districts of Karnataka.

Kodagu (ಕೊಡಗು) is a district of Karnataka state in southern India. It is often called by the anglicised name of Coorg. It occupies about 4,100 km² in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. It had a population of 548,561 as of 2001, 13.74% of which is urbanised. India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The divisions of a district. ... Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... Karnataka is divided into 4 divisions. ... Mysore   (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... A Tehsil is an administrative subdivision or tier of local government in some South Asian countries. ... Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... The town of Somwarpet (sometimes written Somvarpet) is in the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... The town of Virajpet is the second town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Indian Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... The Indian Postal services employ a 6 digit postal code known as a Postal Index Number (similar to the 5 digit ZIP Codes in USA) that is spanned and geopolitically ordered across the nation. ... Licence plates on the back of a taxi in Kolkata. ... This page as shown in the AOL 9. ... Image File history File links KarnatakaKodagu. ... Karnataka state is comprised of 27 districts, grouped into four divisions. ... Karnataka state is comprised of 27 districts, grouped into four divisions. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... The Agasthiyamalai range of the Western Ghats The Western Ghats are a mountain range in India. ...

It is bordered by Dakshina Kannada to the northwest, Hassan District to the north, Mysore District to the east, Kannur District of Kerala state to the southwest and Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. The district headquarters is Madikeri. The nearest airport to reach Kodagu is Mangalore. There is a frequent bus service from Mangalore to reach Madekeri and other places in Kodagu. Location of Dakshina Kannada district with respect to the other districts of Karnataka. ... Hassan is a district in Karnataka state, India. ... Mysore District is bounded by Mandya district to the northeast, Chamrajnagar district to the southeast, Kerala state to the south, Kodagu district to the west, and Hassan district to the north. ... For the town with the same name, see Kannur. ... Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം, — ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... For the district with the same name, see Wayanad District. ... Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... Mangalore  , (ಮಂಗಳೂರು in Kannada), is the chief port city of the state of Karnataka, India. ...

Geography

Panoramic view of Tadiandamol

Kodagu lies on the eastern slope of the Western Ghats. It is a mountainous district, presenting throughout a series of wooded hills and deep valleys; the lowest elevations are 900 m above sea-level. The highest peak, Tadiandamol, has an altitude of 1,750 m; Pushpagiri, another peak, is 1,715 m high. The principal river is the Kaveri River, which rises at Talakaveri on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, and with its tributaries drains the greater part of Kodagu. In the rainy season, which lasts during the continuance of the southwest monsoon, or from June to the end of September, the rivers flow with violence and great rapidity. In July and August the rainfall is high, and the month of November is often showery. The yearly rainfall may exceed 4,000 mm; in the dense jungle tract it reaches from 3,000 to 3,800 mm; the bamboo district in the west from 1,500 to 2,500 mm. Kodagu has an average temperature of about 15 °C, the extremes being 11 °C and 28 °C. The hottest season is in April and May. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1580x709, 343 KB) Summary Tadiandamol panorama, Coorg Photo by L. Shyamal, Coorg, 2006 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kodagu Tadiandamol Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1580x709, 343 KB) Summary Tadiandamol panorama, Coorg Photo by L. Shyamal, Coorg, 2006 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kodagu Tadiandamol Metadata This file contains additional... The Agasthiyamalai range of the Western Ghats The Western Ghats are a mountain range in India. ... Tadiandamol mountain behind the clouds Tadiandamol is a mountain in Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Pushpagiri (1,712 m)[1] is the highest peak in Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in south-western Indias Western Ghats. ... Siva Samudram Falls on the Kaveri River near Mysore The Kaveri River (also spelt Cauvery or Kavery) is one of the great rivers of India and is considered sacred by the Hindus. ... Categories: Stub ...

The principal town and district capital is Madikeri or Mercara, with a population of around 30,000. The beautiful Abbey Falls is located nearby. Other significant towns are Virajpet (Viraranjendrapet), and Somwarpet. The district is divided into the three administrative talukas of Madikeri, Virajpet, and Somwarpet. Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... Abbey Falls Abbey Falls (also Abbi Falls) is in Madikeri District in the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka, India. ... The town of Virajpet is the second town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... The town of Somwarpet (sometimes written Somvarpet) is in the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... A taluka is an administrative division in India below a district; called tahsil/tehsil in northern India. ...

Nagarahole National Park which is found to the south of Kodagu is a popular tourist destination. Nagarhole National Park is located 94 km away from Mysore. ...

Representation and politics

At present, three Memmbers of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) are elected from Kodagu to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, one each from Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet talukas. Kodagu is part of the Mangalore Lok Sabha Parliament constituency. Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... A Legislative Assembly in some parts of the Commonwealth refers to a legislature, or a chamber of the legislature. ... Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... The town of Virajpet is the second town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... The town of Somwarpet (sometimes written Somvarpet) is in the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka. ... Mangalore  , (ಮಂಗಳೂರು in Kannada), is the chief port city of the state of Karnataka, India. ... Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house in the Parliament of India. ...

After being reduced from statehood to the status of a district in 1956, organizations like Kodagu Rajya Mukti Morcha (the Kodagu State Liberation Front), now known as Coorg National Council have been active in the region, demanding separate statehood, dereservation of the scheduled tribe constituency, separate Lok Sabha constituency and autonomy. Coorg National Council, political party in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Ādivāsīs (आदिवासी) or tribal peoples comprise a substantial minority of the population of India. ...

Flora and fauna

Much of the district is cultivated. Characteristic scenery has rice fields in valley bases, with plantation crops with tree cover in the surrounding hills. The most common plantations are of coffee (especially C. robusta although some parts of south Coorg grow C. arabica); however many other crops are grown, including black pepper, para rubber, teak, and cocoa. In many regions there is still natural forest, especially the forest reserves in the south and east. Binomial name Piper nigrum L. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. ... Latex being collected from a tapped rubber tree Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer which occurs as a milky colloidal suspension (known as latex) in the sap of several varieties of plants. ... Species Tectona grandis Tectona hamiltoniana Tectona philippinensis Teak (Tectona), also called jati is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. ... Cocoa beans in a cacao pod Cocoa is the dried and partially fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which chocolate is made. ...

Kodagu is considered very rich in wildlife. The district has 3 wildlife sanctuaries: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and one national park - Nagarahole or Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is one of 21 Wildlife Sanctuaries[1] of Indias Karnataka state. ... Nagarhole National Park is located 94 km away from Mysore. ...

The flora of the jungle includes Michelia champaca (Champak), Mesua (Ironwood), Diospyros (Ebony and other species), Toona ciliata (Indian mahogany), Chickrassia tubularis (Redcedar), Calophyllum angustifolium (Poon spar), Canarium strictum (Black Dammar), Artocarpus, Dipterocarpus, Garcinia, Euonymus, Cinnamomum, Myristica, Vaccinium, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, Rubus (three species), and a rose. In the undergrowth are found cardamom, Areca, plantains, canes, wild Black pepper, tree and other ferns, and arums. In the forest of the less thickly-wooded bamboo country in the west of Kodagu the most common trees are the Dalbergia latifolia (Black wood), Pterocarpus marsupium (Kino tree), Terminalia tometosa (Matthi), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Benteak), Anogeissus latifolia (Dindul), Bassia latifolia, Butea monosperma (Flame of the Forest, made infamous in colonial Indian history due to its association with the Battle of Plassey), Nauclea parvifiora, and several species of Acacia, with which, in the eastern part of the district, Teak and Sandalwood occur. Among the fauna may be mentioned the Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Gaur, Boar, several species of deer. The area is rich in birdlife although they are threatened by hunting. Species about 50; see text Michelia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). ... Binomial name about 50; see text Species about 50; see text Michelia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae). ... Ironwood, Michigan is a city in the upper peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Species 450-500; see text Diospyros is a genus (including what used to be Maba) of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. ... Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ... species See text. ... Species Calophyllum amoenum Calophyllum angulare Calophyllum angustifolium Calophyllum antillanum Calophyllum australianum Calophyllum austroindicum Calophyllum bicolor Calophyllum biflorum Calophyllum blancoi Calophyllum bracteatum Calophyllum brasiliense Calophyllum cholobtaches Calophyllum calaba Calophyllum caledonicum Calophyllum candidissimum Calophyllum canum Calophyllum carrii Calophyllum cerasiferum Calophyllum collinum Calophyllum cordato-oblongum Calophyllum coriaceum Calophyllum costatum Calophyllum curtisii Calophyllum dasypodum... Species See text Canarium is a genus of about 75 species of tropical trees in the family Burseraceae, native to tropical Africa and southern Asia, from southern Nigeria east to Madagascar, Mauritius, India, southern China, Indonesia and the Philippines. ... Species See text Artocarpus is a genus of about 60 trees of Southeast Asian origin and the Pacific, belonging to the mulberry family Moraceae. ... Species About 70 species; see text Dipterocarpus is a genus of about seventy species, occurring in southeastern Asia. ... Species Garcinia atroviridis Garcinia benthami Garcinia cambogia - citrin, gambooge Garcinia hanburyi - Hanburys garcinia Garcinia hessii - lemon saptree Garcinia indica Garcinia kola - bitter kola Garcinia lateriflora Garcinia livingstonei - Livingstones garcinia, imbe Garcinia mangostana - mangosteen Garcinia merguensis Garcinia multiflora Garcinia myrtifolia Garcinia portoricensis Garcinia schombucgkiana Garcinia xanthochymus Garcinia is a... Species Euonymus alatus - Winged Spindle Euonymus americanus - Strawberry-bush Spindle Euonymus atropurpureus - Eastern Burning-bush Euonymus europaeus - European Spindle Euonymus fortunei - Fortunes Spindle Euonymus japonicus - Japanese Spindle Euonymus obovatus - Euonymus occidentalis - Western Burning-bush The spindles, genus Euonymus, comprise about 170-180 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and... Species See text Cinnamomum is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. ... Species About 100 species, including: Myristica argentea Myristica fragrans Myristica malabarica The nutmegs Myristica are a genus of evergreen trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia. ... Species See text Vaccinium is a genus of shrubs in the plant Family Ericaceae including the cranberry, blueberry, lingonberry, bilberry, and huckleberry. ... Genera 130; see list The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. ... Genera See text. ... Species See text. ... Species Between 100 and 150, see list A rose is a flowering shrub of the genus Rosa, and the flower of this shrub. ... Genera Aframomum Amomum Elettaria The name cardamom (sometimes written cardamon) is used for species within three genera of the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae), namely Elettaria, Amomum and Aframomum. ... Species (Betel nut palm) and about 50 more Areca is a genus of about 50 species of single-stemmed palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands. ... Species Musa × paradisiaca A big load of plantains in Masaya, Nicaragua Plantains are bananas that are generally used for cooking, as contrasted with the soft, sweet banana varieties (which are sometimes called dessert bananas). ... Binomial name Piper nigrum L. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. ... Tree Fern refers to any fern that grows with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level. ... Classes Marattiopsida Osmundopsida Gleicheniopsida Pteridopsida A fern is any one of a group of about 20,000 species of plants classified in the phylum or division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta. ... Genera See text. ... Diversity Around 91 genera and 1,000 species Subtribes Arthrostylidiinae Arundinariinae Bambusinae Chusqueinae Guaduinae Melocanninae Nastinae Racemobambodinae Shibataeinae See the full Taxonomy of the Bambuseae. ... Binomial name Pterocarpus marsupium Roxburgh The Indian Kino Tree (Pterocarpus marsupium), also known as the Malabar Kino, Benga (or Venkai) is native to India. ... Species About 50, including: Lagerstroemia indica Lagerstroemia speciosa The Crape-myrtles Lagerstroemia are a genus of about 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees or large shrubs native to east Asia and Australia. ... species Anogeissus is a genus of trees native to South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa, belonging to family Combretaceae. ... Species See text. ... Combatants British East India Company Siraj Ud Daulah, Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, La Compagnie des Indes Orientales Commanders Colonel Robert Clive (later Governor of Bengal and Baron of Plassey) Mir Jafar Ali Khan, Commander-in-chief of the Nawab, M. Sinfray, French Secretary to the Council Strength 2... The Battle of Plassey was a battle that took place on June 23, 1757, near Plassey (Palashee (পলাশী) in Bengali), a small village on the Bhagirathi River (a distributary of Ganges River) located just north of Kolkata and south of Murshidabad in India. ... Species About 1,300; see List of Acacia species Acacia tree in the Serengeti, Tanzania Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees of Gondwanian origin belonging to the Subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described from Africa by Linnaeus in 1773. ... Species Tectona grandis Tectona hamiltoniana Tectona philippinensis Teak (Tectona), also called jati is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. ... The branches of a young sandalwood tree found in Hawaii Sandalwood is the wood of trees of the genus Santalum. ... Binomial name Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 Asian Elephant range The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), sometimes known by the name of its nominate subspecies (the Indian Elephant), is one of the three living species of elephant, and the only living species of the genus Elephas. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis tigris Linnaeus, 1758 Tigris striatus Severtzov, 1858 Tigris regalis Gray, 1867 Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the Panthera genus. ... Binomial name Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis pardus Linnaeus, 1758 The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the four big cats of the genus Panthera. ... Binomial name Cuon alpinus (Pallas, 1811) The Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is a species of wild dog of the Canidae family. ... Binomial name Bos gaurus H. Smith, 1827 The Gaur (Bos gaurus, previously Bibos gauris) is a large, dark-coated ox of the hilly areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia, which may be found wild or domesticated. ... // Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig. ... Subfamilies Capreolinae Cervinae Hydropotinae Muntiacinae A deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. ...

People

The population in 2001 was 545,322, increasing 11.64% from 1991 to 2001, and 5.75% from 1981 to 1991.

The people of the district are of a number of distinct ethnic or caste origins. However, political and economic domination is with the Kodavas, who bear the name of the place and have been the lords of the soil since time immemorial. Other communities of Kodagu or Coorg are the Tulu, Are bhase Gowdas, Kodava Mophlas,Malayalis,Tamilians,brahmins,Moplahs,Kudiyas,Poleyas,Lingayats,Male Kudiyas,Billavas, Konkanis, and other smaller communities. Tulu is one of the minor languages of India with under 2,000,000 speakers. ... Gowda is usually the name given to the head of the family or family group in the state of Karnataka in India. ... Malayali or Malayalee is the Malayalam word used to denote a person (usually Dravidians) from the state of Kerala. ... Tamil New Year Ethnic problems In India After independence, Tamilians felt they and their dravidian race were ignored by the North Indians. ... Young Indian brahmachari Brahmin A Brahmin (less often Brahman) is a member of the Hindu priestly caste. ... Virasaivism is a religious movement of Hinduism in India. ...

The Kodavas

The Kodava community numbers about 100,000 in the district, out of a total population of over 500,000. They are of unknown origin, and are ethnically distinct from the other people of the area. However, they have been long established since time immemorial. The Kodava are a people of southern India. ...

The names of Kodava people are characteristic and include a clan name. The clan is central to Kodava culture and families trace their lineage through clans. Marriage within a clan is discouraged. A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. ...

The Kodavas differ from other indian communities in many ways, including culture, history, clothing, and language.Though they are nominally Hindu, Kodavas do not usually accept Brahmin priests, preferring that ceremonies are conducted by their own. The elders of the community play the role of the priests. The importance of fire god found in most of the hindu rituals is predominantly absent in the kodava culture. Usage of slokas and vedic chants is also not present. There are distinctive dresses, the men wearing wraparound robes called the Kupya (now only seen at ceremonial occasions), and the women with a distinctive style of wearing the sari. They have many distinctive practices such as carrying ceremonial knives, and martial war dances. The culture also includes communal gatherings where drink, dance and special meat dishes seasoned with Garcinia are central attractions. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of an upper caste within Hindu society. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... A chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, either on a single pitch or with a simple notes and often including a great deal of repetition or statis. ... Illustration of a sari-clad woman, c. ... Species Garcinia atroviridis Garcinia benthami Garcinia cambogia - citrin, gambooge Garcinia hanburyi - Hanburys garcinia Garcinia hessii - lemon saptree Garcinia indica Garcinia kola - bitter kola Garcinia lateriflora Garcinia livingstonei - Livingstones garcinia, imbe Garcinia mangostana - mangosteen Garcinia merguensis Garcinia multiflora Garcinia myrtifolia Garcinia portoricensis Garcinia schombucgkiana Garcinia xanthochymus Garcinia is a...

Enlistment in the Indian army has been common among the Kodavas. The most famous son of Kodagu is Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa the first Commander-in-Chief (as a general) of the armed forces of free India. He was elevated to the honorary title of Field Marshal at the age of 83. In addition, General Kodendera. S. Thimmaiah, of the same clan as K.M. Cariappa, also became a later commander in chief. Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa The first Indian Chief of Staff, Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa led the Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. ... Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was born in Madikeri, the district town of Kodagu, in 1906. ...

Other communities

The Yerava, or Ravula, live in Kodagu as well as in adjacent Kerala, where they are known as the Adiya. They are primarily Hindu agricultural workers. Among the other communities of Kodagu are the Heggades, cultivators from Malabar; the Ayiri, who constitute the artisan caste; the Medas, who are basket and mat-makers, and act as drummers at feasts; the Binepatta, originally wandering musicians from Malabar, now agriculturists; and the Kavadi, cultivators from Yedenalknad; all these groups speak Kodava Thak, and conform generally to Kodava customs and dress. Of the Tulu people, the Tuluva Gowdas, who live principally along in western Kodagu, are the most important; they speak Tulu and wear the Kodava ethnic dress during ceremonies. Other castes and tribes are the Thiyas and Nairs, immigrants from Kerala; the Vellala, who are Tamils; and the Marathi. Of the Muslims the most numerous are the Moplahs [Emigrated from Kerala], and the Shaikhs. Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം, — ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tulu is one of the minor languages of India with under 2,000,000 speakers. ... // Introduction Nair is the name of a caste in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into vellalar. ... The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ...

Languages

The local endemic language is Kodava Takk. Linguistically, it shows some deviations from the rest of the Dravidian languages. To cite one example, Dravidian languages have 5 short and 5 long vowels. In addition to these vowels, Kodava Takk has two more vowels, namely, /ï/ high central unrounded vowel and /ë/ mid central unrounded vowel which are also distinguished as short and long. (Balakrishnan, 1976).

These peculiarities and distinctness of the language had attracted the attention of the scholars even in the sixteenth century. However, they did not consider Kodava as an independent language. It was always considered as a dialect of Kannada, closer to Tulu (Ellis 1816), or closely related to Malayalam and Tamil (Moegling 1855). It was in early 20th century that the philologists and linguists recognized it as an independent language.

Kodava Takk is also the mother tongue of some other communities such as Airi, Male-Kudiya, Meda, Kembatti, Kapal, Maringi, Heggade, Kavadi, Kolla, Thatta, Koleya, Koyava, Banna, Golla, Kanya, Ganiga, and Malay. Many of these communities have migrated into Coorg from Malabar during the period of Haleri Dynasty. There is no research done so far to find out the variation in Kodava language in terms of these communities.

Kannada,Malayalam,Tamil and other languages of nearby communities are also spoken or widely understood in the district.

Economy

As a rural region, most of its economy has been based on agriculture, plantations, and forestry. Kodagu is one of the more prosperous parts of Karnataka. This is based primarily on its production of coffee and other plantation products. A plantation is an intentional planting of a crop, on a larger scale, usually for uses other than cereal production or pasture. ... A decidous beech forest in Slovenia. ...

Rice is cultivated in the valleys. A variety of other agricultural crops are also grown. Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa Rice is two species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) of grass, native to tropical and subtropical southern & southeastern Asia and to Africa, which together provide more than one fifth of the calories consumed by humans[1]. (The term wild rice can refer to wild species...

Plantations of coffee became a characteristic of the district through the 20th century. They are typically planted on hillsides too steep for rice growing, and using the shade of existing forests. It has provided much of the source of local wealth. A cup of coffee // Coffee is a popular beverage prepared from the roasted seeds – commonly referred to as beans – of the coffee plant. ...

In recent years tourism of various types have started to become more important. In particular, plantation houses have been converted to take visitors, and walking and trekking holidays have become common.

History

See main article History of Kodagu

Kodagu has been an independent or semi-independent kingdom through much of its known history. Its boundaries varied, often taking in some of the surrounding country, especially toward the east. The modern district of Kodagu was incorporated into the state of Karnataka (then named Mysore) in 1956. The district of Kodagu in present-day Karnataka comprises the area of the erstwhile princely state of the same name. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The name

The name is Kodagu in standard transliteration.

The name has alternative derivations. In one, it is said to be derived from the Kannada kudu, meaning steep or hilly. In the Puranas, Kodagu may be the land called Krodha desa, meaning 'Land of Anger' - the Kodavas here are described as Mleccha, meaning foreigners or barbarians. It is also said that Kodagu is derived from the word Kodava, Kod means 'give' and avva means 'mother', i.e mother Kaveri, the river Kaveri. Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ ) is one of the major Dravidian languages of southern India and one of the oldest languages in India. ... Purana (Sanskrit पुराण, purāṇa, meaning ancient or old) is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as distinct from oral literature). ... Mleccha (from Sanskrit म्लेच्छ mleccha, meaning non-Aryan, barbarian) is an Indian derogatory term for foreigners or people who do not speak Sanskrit and do not conform with conventional Hindu beliefs and practices. ... The Cauvery (sometimes written as Kaveri) is one of the major rivers of southern India. ...

The form often used by Europeans, Coorg is derived from this, by a transformation of the retroflex 'ḍ' to 'r' (cf. Maḍikeri to Mercara).

The people are called Kodava (sometimes pluralized as Kodavas in English). The people may also be called Coorgs or Coorgi in English. The name of the language is Kodava Takk.

Festivals

The people are traditionally agriculturists and most of their rituals, traditions and festivities center around agriculture. Originally almost six months of their lives were spent in the fields, cultivating and harvesting and the rest of the six months was spent in hunting as a community sport, and also in guarding their fields from destructive wild animals. It is in this context that weapons have become an integral part of their culture.

There are three main festivals; the Festival of Arms or Kailpoldhu, Kaveri Shankaramana, and the harvest thanksgiving at Puttari (puthari). These three festivals fall during the period of September to December.

Kailpoldu

Kailpoldu is celebrated in the first week of September.. The priests in consultation with their temple documents determine the exact date of celebration, which falls between the 2nd and 4th of September. Kail means weapon or armory and Pold means worship. The day signifies the completion of "nati"- meaning the transplantation of the paddy crop,

Normally, during the months in which the family is engaged in the fields, all weapons are deposited in the "Kanni Kombre" or the prayer room. The festival also signifies the day that men should prepare to guard their crop from wild boars and other animals. Hence, on the Kailpoldu day, the weapons are taken out of the Pooja room, cleaned and decorated with flowers. They are then kept in the "Nellakki Nadubade" - the place of community worship.

All the members of the family have a bath and worship the weapons. Feasting and drinking follow. The eldest member of the family will hand over a gun to the senior member of the family, signifying the commencement of the festivities. The whole family assembles in the " Mand " (a open ground), where physical contests and sports including shooting are conducted. In the earlier days hunting and cooking of the wild animals was part of the celebration, but, these days the shooting skills are tested by firing at a coconut target in a tree.

Kaveri Shankaramana

This festival normally takes place in mid October. It is associated with the river Kaveri, which flows through the district, from its source at Talakaveri. The Cauvery (sometimes written as Kaveri) is one of the major rivers of southern India. ... Categories: Stub ...

At a pre-determined time, a fountain from a small tank and fills the bigger holy tank at Talakaveri. People throng in thousands, and take a holy dip in this water. This water is filled in bottles and reaches every house in Kodagu and this is treated as Theertha - meaning 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. - On the day, married women wearing new silk saris, perform puja to a vegetable cut in the form of the goddess Kaveri. This is decorated with flowers and gold ornaments. This is called the Kani Puje. Three sets of betel leaves and areca nut is kept in front of the goddess, with bunches of glass bangles. All the members of the family pray to the goddess by throwing rice and prostrating before the image. The elder members of the family ceremonially bless the younger. Then an older married woman draws water from the well and starts cooking. The menu of the day is dosa and vegetable curry ( usually pumpkin curry (kumbala kari) ) and payasa. Non-vegetarian food is not cooked on that day. This is the only festival wherein non veg is not prepared. Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Illustration of a sari-clad woman, c. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflooding river Shipra. ... Binomial name Piper betle L. The Betel (Piper betle) is a spice whose leaves have medicinal properties. ... Species (Betel nut palm) and about 50 more Areca is a genus of about 50 species of single-stemmed palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands. ...

Puttari

Puttari means new rice, and is the rice harvest festival (also called huttari in adjacent Kannada speaking country). This takes place in late November or early December. Celebrations and preparations for this festival, starts a week in advance.

On the Puttari day, the whole family assemble in their ain mane ( the common family house ) which is decorated with flowers and green mango and banana leaves. Specific foods are prepared("thambuttu puttari mean kari(fish kari)poli poli(chant)")thambuttu is a dish prepared with rice floor and bananas. Then the eldest member of the family hands a sickle to the head of the family, and one of the women leads a procession to the paddy fields, with a lit lamp in her hands. The path leading to the field is decorated. A gunshot is fired to mark the beginning of the harvest, with chanting of "Poli Poli Deva" (prosperity) by all the people present there. Then the symbolic harvesting of the crop starts. The paddy is cut and stacked and tied in odd numbers, and is then carried home, to be offered to the gods there. The younger people then burst crackers and revel, symbolising prosperity. Group of youngsters then visit the adjoining houses and show their dancing skills, and earn monetary gifts. A week later, these monetary gifts are all pooled and a community dinner of the entire village) is celebrated. All the family members would gather for the dinner. Dinner would normally consist of meat dishes such as pork and fish curry. Alcoholic drinks are also served at such feasts.

Tourist attractions

Talakaveri: The place where River Kaveri originates. Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures. Talakaveri is located in the Brahmagiri hills, at about 4,500 ft above sea level. This place is marked by a kundike from where the river emerges as a small perennial spring, but supposedly flows underground again to emerge a short distance away. There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees bathe before offering prayers. There are 2 temples, a Shiva temple and with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva gave darshan (appearance) to sage Agastya. Legend also has it that every year on Tulasankramana day (approximately on 17 October) Goddess Parvati supposedly appears in the Kundike. This occasion is considered very auspicious and is known as theerthodhbhava. From Talakaveri, steps lead up to the nearby Brahmagri peak, where the 7 great sages called the Sapta Maharishis were supposed to had performed a special yagna. Categories: Stub ... The Kaveri River (also spelled Cauvery or Kavery) is one of the great sacred rivers of India. ... Categories: Stub ... Brahmagiri Hill is a peak in the Western Ghats of south India. ... Shiva (English IPA: Sanskrit: शिव; Hindi: शिव; Malayalam ശിവന്‍; Tamil: சிவன் (when used to distinguish lordly status), also known as Siva and written Åšiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as ) is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. ... Linga worship (Estate of Cynthia and Harlen Welsh) Lingam (also, Linga; Sanskrit , meaning gender in general, and also phallus in particular by some etymologists) is used as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu God Shiva. ... In Hinduism, Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश or श्रीगणेश ( ) (when used to distinguish lordly status) (or lord of the hosts, also spelled as Ganesa and Ganesh, often also referred to as Ganapati) is one of the most well-known and venerated representations of God. ... From left, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) is a concept that holds that God has three aspects, which are only different forms of the same one God. ... Brahma (written Brahmā in IAST) (Devanagari ब्रह्मा, pronounced as ) is the Hindu God (deva) of creation, and one of the Hindu Trinity - Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... In Hinduism, Agastya (अगस्त्य in devanagari, pronounced as /É™ gÉ™s tyÉ™/; also transliterated as Agathiar அகத்தியர் in Tamil, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ in Kannada, Agasthiar, Agastyar and in other ways) is a legendary Vedic sage or rishi. ... PārvatÄ« (Sanskrit: पार्वती), sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu goddess. ... Categories: Stub ...

Iruppu Falls: There is a sacred spot called Iruppu in south Kodagu on the Brahmagiri range of hills. River Lakshmana-tirtha flows nearby. Legend says that the warrior Gods Rama and Lakshmana, passed this way while searching for Rama's consort, Sita. Rama asked Lakshmana to fetch some drinking water for him. Lakshmana shot an arrow into the Brahmagiri hills and brought into being the river Lakshmanatirtha. The river descends perpendicularly into a cataract known as the Iruppu Falls. This place is believed to possess the power to cleanse one's sins and is visited by thousands of devotees on Shivaratri day. There is temple dedicated to Sri Rama, surrounded by paddy fields, from where it is a climb up to the falls through natural forest. This place can be visited from Gonikoppa on the way to Nagarhole National Park by taking a detour after Srimangala, situated on the Kutta Road. The Lakshmana Tirtha is a river of India that has its origin in Kodagu district and flows eastward. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, Watford, England Lakshmana (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मण; IAST Lakṣmaṇa) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana. Within Hindu tradition Lakshmana is considered to be... Sita Devi SITA ... Maha Shivratri or Shivaratri (Night of Shiva) is an Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month Phalguna in the Hindu Calendar. ... Nagarhole National Park is located 94 km away from Mysore. ...

Abbey Falls :A big attraction for tourists and filmdom alike is the Abbey Falls, 8 km from Madikeri. Even during the summer there is plenty of water in these falls. The roar of the falls can be heard from the main road, from where a path goes through coffee and cardamom plantations right up to the falls. Abbey Falls Abbey Falls (also Abbi Falls) is in Madikeri District in the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka, India. ...

Dubare : This is mainly an elephant capturing and training camp of the Forest Department, at the edge of Dubare forest, on the bank of river Kaveri, on the Kushalnagar - Siddapur road. The wild elephants are tamed and trained with the help of other tamed elephants and local tribals (the Kurubas).The tamed elephants attend to various jobs during the day and in the evenings they come down to the river to bathe and to be scrubbed clean by their mahouts. Afterwards the mahout obliges eager tourists for free elephant rides within the camp. The Cauvery (sometimes written as Kaveri) is one of the major rivers of southern India. ... Kushalnagar is a town located in the east of Kodagu district, Karnataka state, on the Mysore-Madikeri road, near the Kaveri river. ... Siddapur is a panchayat town in Uttara Kannada district in the Indian state of Karnataka. ...

Nagarahole :The place derives its name from the winding river - Nagarhole meaning "snake river" - which flows through the park. The 640 sq km of gently undulating terrain at the foothills of the Brahmagiri hills is covered with thick tropical forest, grassy swamps and numerous rivers and streams. The park and animal life is part of the country's first "bio-sphere reserve".The Forest Department conducts tours along well-defined routes for tourists, in the early mornings and evenings. One can be see the bison, elephant, spotted deer, sambhar, barking deer, wild boar, mongoose, peakcock, jungle fowl and many other birds and animals. Occasionally, a tiger or panther or even a King cobra can be seen. Both trekking and going by private vehicles is allowed, by prior permission. Huts have been built for those who wish to stay in the wilds. Nagarhole National Park is located 94 km away from Mysore. ... Brahmagiri is a tourist destination situated in Wayanad District, Kerala. ... Species B. antiquus B. bison B. bonasus B. priscus Bison is a taxonomic genus containing six species of large even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. ... Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas antiquus † Elephas beyeri † Elephas celebensis † Elephas cypriotes † Elephas ekorensis † Elephas falconeri † Elephas iolensis † Elephas planifrons † Elephas platycephalus † Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pachyderm, and the only remaining family in the order Proboscidea... Binomial name Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) The chital (also spelled cheetal) or spotted deer is a large spotted deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka and most of India. ... Sambar may refer to: Sambar, a kind of deer Sambar, a lentil-based dish common in South India This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Species 10 species, see text Muntjac are deer of the genus Muntiacus, also known as Barking Deer. ... Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. ... Subfamiles Herpestinae A mongoose is a . ... Species Gallus gallus Gallus lafayetii Gallus sonneratii Gallus varius Junglefowl are a group of four living species of bird in the pheasant family which occur in India, Sri Lanka and south east Asia. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis tigris Linnaeus, 1758 Tigris striatus Severtzov, 1858 Tigris regalis Gray, 1867 Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the Panthera genus. ... Binomial name Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Felis pardus Linnaeus, 1758 The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the four big cats of the genus Panthera. ... Binomial name Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, 1836 The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest of the venomous land snakes, growing up to 18. ...

Valanoor: Valanoor, situated about 30 km from Mercara at the back waters of river Cauvery is one of the Angling sites in Karnataka. Types of fish available here include Golden-Masheer, Maral and Mapp. Licence / permit can be arranged by local tourist agents. Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... Binomial name Cervus elaphus maral Linnaeus, 1758 The East European red deer (Latin name: Cervus elaphus maral) also known as the Caspian red deer and maral is a subspecies of red deer that is native to eastern Europe and parts of western Asia. ...

Bhagamandala: is situated at the confluence of three rivers - Cauvery, the Kanika and Sujyothi (Sujyothi is said to join from underground. The temple here, built in Kerala style, has smaller shrines dedicated to various gods. Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം, — ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

Harangi Dam : is a picnic spot 36 km from Madikeri.

How to reach

Kodagu can be reached only by road, as there is no railway or commercial air services that serves the area. The Mysore–Mangalore highway passes through Kodagu. The district headquarters Madikeri (Mercara), is 260 km from Bangalore and 120 km from Mysore. The distance from Mangalore is 136 km and is about 115 km from Cannanore and Tellicherry, it . There are regular buses plying from these places to Madikeri. Madikeri is the principal town of the district of Kodagu, in Karnataka state, southern India. ... Bangalore or BengalÅ«ru (Kannada: ; pronunciation: in Kannada and in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Mysore   (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Mangalore  , (ಮಂಗಳೂರು in Kannada), is the chief port city of the state of Karnataka, India. ... Kannur district in Kerala Kannur or Cannanore is a district (and also the name of the town which is its headquarters) in northern Kerala, a state in India. ... Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a small town on the Malabar coast of Kerala, South India. ...

Notes

	State of Karnataka Karnataka Topics | History | Politics | Karnataka people Image File history File links Karnataka_emblem. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Districts of Karnataka Chief Ministers of Karnataka Karnataka Political Parties Karnataka Issues ... This is a list of famous and notable people from Karnataka, India. ...
Capital	Bangalore
Divisions	Bangalore • Belgaum • Gulbarga • Mysore
Districts	Bagalkot • Bangalore Rural • Bangalore Urban • Belgaum • Bellary • Bidar • Bijapur • Chamarajanagar • Chikmagalur • Chitradurga • Dakshina Kannada • Davanagere • Dharwad • Gadag • Gulbarga • Hassan • Haveri • Kodagu • Koppal • Kolar • Mandya • Mysore • Raichur • Shimoga • Tumkur • Udupi • Uttara Kannada Taluks of Karnataka