The Misty Hills of Coorg Photo Credit - enchant_me
The extremely picturesque district of Kodagu which is known popularly by its anglicized name ‘Coorg’ is a popular hill station which is located in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka. Madikeri is the main city of this verdant wonderland which has often been called the ‘Scotland of India’ for its luxuriant hills and dales which like Scotland are extremely conducive to walking and trekking.
A brief history
The history of the Coorgi people dates back to 888 AD. The Kingdom of Coorg was was ruled by a number of dynasties over the ages like Gangas of Talakad, Kadambas, Cholas, Kongalvas, Changalvas, Hoysalas and Nayakas. Today this beautiful region is populated by a number of indigenous communities like the Kodava, Tulu, Gowda and Moplah peoples of which the largest and most economically and politically prominent community is the Kodava community who control much of the plantation industry in Coorg.
The people of Coorg are also reputed to be the best looking people in the entire subcontinent and this gorgeous region has produced many prominent and famous personalities like Field Marshall K.M. Carriapa, the first Indian Chief of Staff who brilliantly led the Indian forces on the Western Front during the war with Pakistan in 1947, Ashwini Nachappa, a stunning female athlete who was called the ‘Flo-Jo’ of the Indian athletic scene and Joshna Chinappa, a budding international squash player amongst others.
Getting There
The closest big cities which provide a gateway to this lush green region located high in the hills of the Western ghats (the colloquial name for a range of hills in India) are Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore which are located at a distance of 260 km,136 km and 120 km respectively from the city of Madikeri
Your charming holiday home at Orange County Resort
When you choose to vacation in Coorg you can either choose to drive up from one of these cities or you can ride on the regular buses which connect these cities to Madikeri. International and domestic tourists usually either fly into one of the airports at Bangalore or Mangalore and then wing their way up to this beautiful region whose landscape is populated with misty hills, luxuriant teak wood forests, widespread acres of coffee and tea plantations and lush orange groves.
Your holiday home
Your holiday home in Coorg is located at the beautiful Orange county resort which is situated within the folds of a 300 acre working coffee and spice plantation. This stunning resort is nestled between the Cauvery River and the abundant Dubare Reserve Forest. Your holiday home at the Orange county resort consists of an airy thatched mock Tudor style cottage which may have one or two bedrooms depending on your preference. Also located within the resort is a lake which offers boating facilities and an authentic Ayurveda Village built in the native ‘Kodava’ style that offers a wide range of relaxing and stimulating massages to its guests. Depending on your mood, the resort management can arrange for a number of trekking and sight seeing expeditions for you if you are so inclined otherwise you can simply kick back and unwind while you take in the natural beauty that surrounds your holiday home in Coorg.
Recreational activities in Coorg
Once you are settled in your holiday home in Coorg you can choose to indulge in a number of recreational activities which are available here all throughout the year like trekking in Brahmagiri hills, golfing on the 9-hole golf course in Virajpet, fishing in the backwaters of the Cauvery River in Valanoor or White water rafting in the waters of the Upper Barapole River.
The Irrupu falls in the Brahmagiri hills -photo credit Tejaswi
Coorgi Cuisine
The cuisine of Coorg is as distinctive as its people and their unique language and customs and the region is well known for its flavorful cuisine which features largely non vegetarian dishes. Popular dishes of Coorgi cuisine include pandhi(pork), koli(chicken) and yarchi(lamb) which are prepared and seasoned with the fragrant spices that grow here in abundance like pepper corns red chilies and kokum( a local spice). While you are gorging on this wonderful food be sure to wash it down with some of the excellent coffee that is produced here.
Popular Sights
Though Coorg is a heaven for the adventure loving and thrill seeking tourist, there is much to do for sedentary souls as well. You could undertake a trip to the gorgeous thundering Abbey falls which are located just 8 km away from Madikeri on a path that leads to coffee and spice plantations or you could venture out to see the equally stunning Irupu falls located in southern part of Coorg in the Brahmagiri range where the River Laxmanatiratha forms the ‘Irupu falls’.
The thundering Abbey falls - photo credit Jeet Sen
You could also venture out to see the Talakaveri which is the source of the River Cauvery and is located 4500 feet above sea level in the Brahamgiri Hills. Located here are two temples one of which is dedicate to Lord Ganesh and the other to Lord Shiva or if it is wild life that interests you could make a trip to the Nagarhole National Park which is located in the foothills of the Brahmagiri hills and is the country’s first biosphere reserve which is home to animals like bison, elephants, spotted deer, sambhar and, barking deer, wild boars, mongooses, peacocks, jungle fowls and many other birds and animals including tigers, panthers and King Cobras.
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