It is the land of coffee bushes resplendent with red berries, cardamom fields covered with white and purple blossoms, old silver oak trees laden with huge hives, and of a sturdy handsome people called the Coorgis who charm by their hospitality and cuisine, their intriguing customs and the reverence with which they worship their river, the Cauvery.
Nestled in the Western Ghats, near Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka, Coorg is the birthplace of the River Cauvery and home of some of India's bravest soldiers like General Thimayya and Field Marshal Cariappa. Hiking across the country, or simply motoring down mountain trails in Coorg, the visitor encounters panoramic views of the morning mist rolling down thickly wooded hill slopes and undulating paddy fields and neat rows of coffee bushes resplendent under the blue skies.
While addressing a public meeting in Madikeri (the district headquarters of Coorg), the late Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru remarked "Coorg has given great Generals to the Indian Army. It is noted for its choicest coffee and if I am permitted to add one more to these specialties, I can mention that Coorg is famous for its beautiful and comely women."
| Fast Facts |
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| Area |
25,5854,102 sq. km |
| Population |
25,585 |
| Languages |
Kannada, Malayalam, English |
| Best time to visit |
November to April |
| STD Code |
08272 |
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History
Little is known about the early history of this fertile land. From ad 1600 onwards, the Lingayat rajas ruled over Coorg and established their capital at Madikeri where they built a mud fort. The Kodavas, as the people of Coorg are called, harried the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan through sporadic rebellions. Finally, in ad 1785, Tipu marched into Coorg with a large army and devastated their little kingdom. Four years later, with the help of the British, Coorg regained its independence and Raja Veerarajendra set about the task of reconstruction. In ad 1834, the British took over power in Coorg. They impeached the last ruler Chikkaveera Rajendra and sent him into exile.
Best Season, Climate, and Clothing
The Best Time to visit Coorg is from November to April. The temperature variations experienced at Coorg are not major. The climate remains pleasant throughout the year. The temperature hovers between 30 and 16 degrees in summers and winters. Coorg being a hill station attracts a lot of tourists. You must carry a warm clothes while planning a trip to Coorg.
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