subject: Coorg: The Land Of Kodava [print this page] The place was originally known as Kodagu which later on got modified to its current name, Coorg. Kodagu is very less populated and is best known for the amazing coffee variety this place produces. These are exported throughout the world extensively. Madikeri is the capital of this town and the native language spoken in the region is the Kodava language which is the language of the original tribes occupying the region, Kodavas. Dakshina Kannada of Karnataka, Kannur of Kerala and Hassan, again of Karnataka, are some regions surrounding the place. Other than Kodava, Kannada which is the native language of Karnataka, is also spoken. The region never really had a writing model but Gregg M. Cox, the German linguist, developed a script called Coorgi-Cox alphabet for the region. This is currently in use by a handful of people living here.
Although Kodavas constitute most of the population here, people from other communities also coexist. Kodagu Gowda, Muslims are some of the other communities while other tribes living here are Maringi, Kapal, Malaya, Golla, Thatta, Banna and Yeravas. Cultivation of paddy and coffee production brings most of the places earning. Inhabitants worship many deities in this region, some of which are Bhagwathi, Mahadeva, Subramani and Ayyappa. Other than cultivating rice and coffee, other occupations include being drummers, wandering musicians and toddy-makers. All these people belonging to different communities and tribes coexist peacefully, in spite of having unique professions and traditions.
Talakaveri is referred to the place where the river Kaveri originates which is a very popular tourist spot. At this spot there is a temple which is one of the two Brahma temples in the entire of India and South East Asia. Kodagu is the most popular hill stations in Karnataka, visited much more during the summer time. Nisargadhama is an island formed by the river Kaveri. This place is a very common picnic spot near Kushalanagara. Mangalore,Mysore,Hassan,Bangalore, Kannur andWayanad are nearby popular locations which are connected with Madikeri via road. TheSampajeMadikeriGhat road, MakuttaPerumbadi/VirajpetGhat road and PanathurBhagamandalaGhatroad can alternatively be taken to reach the destination.
The beautiful valleys with mountain mist and clouds floating at a low altitude are some reasons Coorg is so popular. The beauty connects straight with the heart and refreshes the brain in the best way. Coorg does not have a railway station but nearby railway stations include Thalassery and Kannur stations. Also, Coorg is easily acceble from the nearby airports in MysoreandMangalore. New Mangalore Port at Panambur is the nearest seaport.
