Coorg - Cofee Plantations in Western Ghats, Karnataka

Culture Dance, Coorg TravelsNot really too far from the bustle of metropolitan cities, Kodagu or Coorg as it is better known, has maintained its serene picturesque beauty over the centuries. Homesick always, the British called this land Scotland of India.

These breathtakingly beautiful rolling hills in Karnataka nestling cash rich coffee plantations, clear skies and a warm, friendly and hospitable people create a special aura unmatched anywhere else in the country.

The Kodavas

One explanation of the origin of the Kodavas traces their ancestry to the Arabs. This is because the traditional costume worn by the men of Coorg, the long black coat or kuppia, bears a striking resemblance to the kuffia worn by Arabs. Another story credits the Greek mercenaries, who come to India with Alexander the Great, with having founded the race.

Whatever their true origins, the Kodavas have a distinct ethnic identity, which they have preserved zealously over the centuries. The great cementing factor has been their concept of clan or okka. Each clan had its ancestral home or ainmanea huge fourwinged structure with imposing doors. Many of these ancestral homes are still in existence though families and land holdings have fragmented.

Famed for their hunting skills, the Kodavas have now turned ardent conservationists, assuming guardianship of their homeland’s natural wealth. Today, if you hear shots ringing out in Kodagu, rest assured that some Kodavas are only testing their marksmanship on the coconuts up in the trees. Recently, the camera is replacing the gun as more and more people succumb to the lure of this beautiful, unsullied Eden and its fun loving, hospitable people.

Land

From the deep reds and dark browns of the shola forests, from the fluorescent green of paddy fields and shimmering blue of summer skies to colourful costumes and bright faces, Kodagu is a splash of colours.

People

Kodagu is a land of many communities. Although Kodavas are the main ethnic group, Gowdas, Brahmins, Christians and Jains are other communities who live in Kodagu. Besides these communities, tribes such as Yeravas, Kurubas, Airies and Kudiyas, who are believed to be the original settlers of the area, also live in Kodagu. Muslims from the Malabar coast, the Mapilles, to have been here for several years as traders and businessmen