Coorg

Coorg or Kodagu

Coorg or Kodagu as it is officially known is one of the tiniest district in the southern part of Karnataka covering an area of 4,104 Sq Km.

Coorg was a state, before its merger with Karnataka in the year 1956, with an elected chief minister and The Legislative Assembly. At present it is a part of Mangalore Lok Sabha Parliament Constituencyand three MLAs [One each from Mercara, Virajpet and Somwarpet] are elected from Coorg to Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Coorg consists of three taluks or administrative units viz Madikeri or Mercara, the District HeadQartres, Virajpet and Somvarpet. Coorg borders Mysore district to its east, Dakshina Kannada district on the west, Hassan district in the north and the sate of Kerala to the south.

The largest river here, River Cauvery, which the local people worship, rises on the eastern side of the Western Ghats. Its tributaries drain the greater part of Coorg. Besides these there are several large streams that take their rise in Coorg.

Coorg is the largest producer of Coffee in India. Pepper, Cardamom and oranges are grown extensively in this part. Coorg is one of the major places that get heavy rainfall in India. The yearly rainfall may exceed 160”. In the dense jungle tract it reaches from 120” to 150”; in. the bamboo district in the west from 60” to 100”. Coorg, which is blessed with thick forest shelters Sandal wood, Rose wood and numerous variety of trees.

The loftiest peak, Tadiandamol, has an altitude of 5729 ft.; Pushpagiri, another peak, is 5626 ft. high. Coorg has an average temperature of about 60 F; the extremes being 52 and 82.

Coorg holds a Guinness record for the largest family sports tournament in the world. Every year the kodava families play each other for the Family Cup and over 300 family teams participate in it. Some of the teams even include women players, who have the choice to play either for their husband or their father’ team. All the participants aging from 6 to 60 are related by blood.