Kadga

Kodava Jewellery

Paputtu

Multi-faith worship in Kodagu..

As I was heading towards Thithimathi, I found a church, temple and mosque located close to each other. I think the exact location is Devarapura.I was quite surprised and happy all at once. The villagers seem to believe in communal harmony.Good going folks!


Church

Mosque

Temple

Ginger harbinger!

The once fertile paddy fields of Kodagu are now being depleted of its fertility through widespread ginger cultivation. The ginger cultivated land becomes unsuitable for the cultivation of paddy later. Apart from draining away of soil nutrients by the ginger crop which is a voracious feeder, disease causing organisms from ginger crop remain in the soil and infest the paddy crops in future.

Ginger cultivation is also responsible for environmental hazards like tree felling, soil erosion and destruction of the precious vegetation from the land. It is not only the wet lands that are subjected to misuse through ginger cultivation. The uncultivated virgin lands, which are rich in vegetation like medicinal plants and other rare species of plants, get denuded by the ginger growers. With the indiscriminate chopping down of trees and intensive shade lopping done to facilitate ginger crops, the land is cleared of all kinds of natural greenery, leaving behind only the stumps, shorn of foliage.
Another interesting point to be noted here is that most of the ginger growers who obtain agricultural land on lease for ginger cultivation are Keralites, because the Kerala government has banned the cultivation of ginger in several parts of the state.
It is high time that the government intervened in this matter in order the save the fertile soil of Kodagu. Intensive ginger cultivation must be banned and restrictions must be imposed against it so that we may not face scarcity of staple food in the coming days.
Source-CLN

Large-scale use of paddy fields to grow ginger can have disastrous consequences on the water-table, says C.G. Kushalappa, Associate Professor, College of Forestry.
Source-Hindu

Baimbale

Baimbale curry is made from tender bamboo shoots.

Nooputtu

While I could write a whole book on the joys of Coorg life, the best thing about going to my mother's home is to eat.I live in a grand city of culinary greatness. I have learnt many cuisines. Nothing can beat the taste of 'ottis and puttus' my mom makes:)

Kakotuparambu

A semispherical hill at Kakotuparambu

Kode kumm

Ever tasted Kumm(mushrooms)curry?

Did you know?

Kodumpuli (Garcinia cambogia)

Kachumpuli gives a distinctive sour flavor to Kodava cuisine. It is used as a substitute for tamarind and lime. It is an effective herbal alternate for controlling obesity and cholesterol.The extract helps in suppressing appetite. It may have gastric ulcer protecting properties also.

Do you know how Kachumpuli is made?

Pic-Flickr
Info-Internet

Meen market!

Ellithra meen market?
Can you tell?

Lone tusker

We started our journey in the evening (WRONG DECISION). Everything was serene and calm as we approached Kodagu. Suddenly a huge lone tusker came out from the forest. He appeared slightly perturbed and stared at the vehicle. We were nervous when we heard the tusker trumpeting rather ferociously. This continued for a good 5 minutes. Then the elephant casually walked towards the jungle and vanished.

That was our first encounter with a wild animal and we were thrilled!

We salute you soldier!

A Massive storm cloud looms over the statue of General K.S. Thimmaiah.

Kodagu Mysore Road!

We gave these greedy monkeys Poobale and they happily gobbled it down!

Mukkali

Praying Mantis in our garden, Kodagu...

Is this insect called Pache pukka in kodava thakk?? :)
I was excited to find this Praying Mantis in our garden. The Praying mantis appeared calm and composed, and posed for the camera like a pro. I told grandma "Don’t kill them Thayi. They are good for your garden. They are natural pest controllers.” Thayi (believes in Ahimsa) was pleased to hear that.

Thatha called the Praying mantis 'Pache Pukka'!

Goodies!

Baduva Kajaya
Chikkulunde
Kokkethathi puttu :)!!!
(Dunno what to call it)

Green fields!

Farm workers in the paddy fields(kale edpo)


After living in a concrete jungle for years, I can't convey the rejuvenation I feel when I go back to Kodagu. The sight of green fields enliven me. As a child I was simply drawn to those fields but as an urbanite I am more appreciative of the greenery.

Those wide-open spaces with green geometric rows are etched in my mind.When I meditate, I picture it!

Jamnerale panne!

When was the last time you ate this fruit?

Madikeri

How can you ignore the pothole in the heart of Madikeri?
Rain rain go away
Fresh paint come my way!!

Air Deccan reaches Polibetta Post office!

Air Deccan is partnering with Polibetta post office to offer e-tickets.

Air Deccan is attempting to reach the rural Indian market, as post offices are present in just about every village and town across India.

Country roads take me home!

Driving regularly on bad roads lead to Orthopaedic problems.
So says the doc!!
But who listens?
Who cares?

Pollibetta

Little girls walk on lone lanes,
Carrying heavy bags on the back.
Though shrouded by the monsoon,
Their spirit is not dampened!
Rain, Sun or Wind
They trudge along the country roads
tirelessly.. day after day
To achieve their dreams....

On a harrowing trip to Malethirike hills, Virajpet.

We were passing by Virajpet town and dad’s driver Gani excitedly offered to take us up the hills to see the Shiva temple. We hesitantly began the initial incline through the mist until we reached Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, at which point the sky opened up on us. We had to stop because the road became obscure.

Dental College


Later as we proceeded, half-hidden stream gurgled across our path. Each bend on the road seemed to have a drastically different view. After a point our driver said “Illinja road achak chayille.” I nervously queried, “What do you mean Chayille?” We entered a pot-holed narrow road with sharp hairpin bends and a steep drop-off on the left. Shrubs and boulders lined the road. There was no sight of guardrails. I forgot to respire after that. The sight of steep drop-off made me queasy. On several turns we could see a wide expanse of paddy fields, verdant hills with remarkably distant mountains appearing azure and hazy.

View


From one vantagepoint, I could see whole of Virajpet town. I nervously snapped some pictures. We were almost close to the Shiva temple when we heard unusual sound from the vehicle. “Brake sari unda?” I angrily asked the adventurous driver. “Notuvi,” he said. My heart was in my mouth. At this point we just wanted to return. Dad screamed at Gani “Shiva temple kakiyand poyande ulliya or Vaikunta samaradane madiruviya?”.

We were tensed while descending the hill. For a second it seemed like our fears turned to reality as the Jeep edged over the hairpin bend, halted and then teeter tottered!!Suddenly Gani found his bearings, backed up swiftly and drove us to safety.We were back on the main road within minutes but we felt as if we had narrowly escaped death. Phew!!!

Virajpet

Thook Bolcha

The Kodava holy lamp ' Thook Bolcha' in the Nellakki Nadubaday (the family worshipping place)