Coorg or Kodagu

Coorg or Kodagu as it 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.

Climatically, Coorg can be divided into three seasons,
Winter Season : December To February,
Summer Season : March To May
Rainy Season : June To November

Source: http://www.CoorgCreek.com

What is love?

On a sabbatical evening something gets closer to my cheek and casts the warmth of its breath. I could feel a reluctant cascade of thin silky hair painting over my face. It wheezed into my ear and a wet surface varnished my chin and neck. Finally a flat drumstick bangs my chest and the revelry begins! Suddenly I am out of the eldarado!! I peeled my eyes and discovered my 1 year old girl child striving to settle over my chest. Ambrosia from her little mouth is spilled all around my neck and aloof giggles the smiling queen (my wife). My lips were dragged wide too.

Twilight beckoned me through the window. Perhaps, reminding me of a business meeting late in the evening. As I quietly analyzed the possible result of the meeting, my child gloats at me baffled. Zilch does her little eyes know about time and money!! I bid her bye by pressing my lips on her tender cheek and never forgetting my wife’s due, a kiss, I drove out.

A prolific meeting settled me for the day. From the meeting hall I took a solitary walk towards the elegant BMW and pondered about the trip to manhood from childhood. Inured to fetch wealth, the buccaneer transforms into a centaur in order to run faster to the target (money). Result? The coffer grows bigger and so does worries. The zest to exhibit posh self wrecks ones own soul. Money gives comfort and not happiness but man heeds it not. Money isn’t the panacea for grief. Rather it’s an obstinate disease killing you softly. Being mortals we all have our end someday………

Oops! I am in a peril of being a day dreamer. I confabulate a lot with my soul these days. After all why should I bother about it? I haven’t enough wealth for myself or have I? The chase for money never ends. In this rate race, I reckon, all we have got to share with each other is love and love alone. The only thing that’s available free of cost everywhere and with everyone.

Driving past the most sophisticated cars of the day that surpass each other in terms of value, I reached my little castle. The angelic lass stared at me somnolently. The rolex wrist watch in my hand ticked 2 past mid night! It was my time to apologize. …….hardly three words of explanation fell off my mouth, she leaned on me drowsily placing her hand gently upon my lips and I walked into the night carrying her in my arms.

(Actually written somewhere in 2004)