History of Coorg

1. History of Coorg D iscover fascinating facts about the H ISTORY OF C OORG . E ver w onder how the beautiful region of C oorg (K odagu) cam e to be? D ive into its rich history and uncover the origins of the K odavas.

2. Coorg, a breathtaking destination nestled at the base of the w estern ghats in south India, is a true w onderland w ith m esm erizing m ountains, thick forests, and glistening stream s that are sure to leave you spellbound. The area receives up to 300 inches of rainfall annually during the m onsoon season, w hich adds to its beauty, creates an idyllic clim ate, and is the lifeblood for a diverse range of w ildlife, including w ild anim als, birds, and reptiles that roam freely in the lush forests. E nriched w ith fertile land, C oorg is prim arily an agricultural region, w here the m ost popular crops grow n are paddy and cadm ium . In addition to its captivating evergreen forests, iconic strips, and arom atic coffee plantations, Coorg is also a treasure trove of history, som e say as a piece of heaven that descended from the heavenly kingdom .

3. D espite the m ystery surrounding the K odavas' tribe origin, w hich has spaw ned over 11 intriguing theories about their roots and ancestry, one fascinating tale suggests that Coorgis are descendants of the G reeks w ho, during A lexander's invasion in India, w ere unable to return because of the daunting terrain that stood in their w ay. An Historical overview about the fusion of tradition and Culture of Coorg K odagu’s rich history is fascinating and has been shaped by a num ber of South Indian dynasties over

4. the centuries. You can delve into the intricacies of Coorg’s developm ent through the ages here. The Coorg region w as once under the rule of m any pow erful South Indian dynasties, including the K adam bas, G angas, Chalukyas, Cholas, Rastrakutas, H oyasalas and the Vijayanagara K ingdom . In the 9th and 10th centuries, the region’s history w as carefully docum ented. In the first few centuries of the Com m on E ra, K odagu w as governed by the form idable Chera dynasty. D uring that tim e, a w ar broke out betw een the Cheras and their neighbors to the north, nam ely Cholas. A s a result, the Thiru Jentham izhchirai, also know n as the Sivaganga Treaty, w as signed by both parties to delineate the boundaries of their territories.

5. A ccording to the treaty, K alaburgi becam e part of Chola territory and K odagu cam e under C hola dom inion. A t the daw n of the 16th century how ever, K odagu cam e under the sw ay of the Vijayanagar E m pire. In the 11th century, the Cholas overthrew the G anga dynasty and the Changalvas becam e tributaries of the Cholas. In K odagu, Changalvas and K ongalvas w ere aristocrats w ho shared a joint lineage. Raja Raja Chola w ielded considerable pow er in Tanjavur at that tim e, w hile the Changalvas continued to hold sw ay under Chola suzerainty. In the 12th century, local chieftains in the Chola kingdom revolted against their rulers, including the

6. A lupas of Tulunad and the Changalvas of K odagu them selves. It w as the H oysalas w ho ultim ately vanquished the Cholas from the K annada area of M ysore and the surrounding regions. A fter gaining independence, the Chengalvas rejected the H oysala rule. Pem m a Veerappa, the first king to engrave the w ord “K odagaru” (K odavas) on the stone asanas, christened the region K odagu. Coorg, also known as the Scotland of India, has undergone a significant evolution since gaining independence.

7. A fter India gained independence, K arnataka State w as form ed on linguistic grounds. A m ong the districts included in the southern region w as K odagu, w hich w as part of South K anara district. In 1956, m ost of the southern districts of M ysore State w ere m erged, and K odagu becam e part of M ysore State. The m odern state of K arnataka later em erged from this region, w ith K odagu as one of its districts. A s a result, K odagu is now the official nam e of the district, w hich is divided into three segm ents: M adikeri (M ercera), Som w arpet, and Virajpet. India's Coffee Capital has a rich history that dates back many years. Coorg's coffee industry boasts a rich history, w ith roots tracing back to the B ritish E ast India Com pany's first coffee estate established in 1801. Today, C oorg's coffee is revered w orldw ide for its

8. unique 'Coffea A rabica' bean variety that grow s exclusively in the area, producing a distinct flavor. This coffee is highly sought after, w ith exports to countries such as the U SA , Japan, Canada, and A ustralia. The beans are roasted tw ice, w hich enhances the flavor and arom a. It is said that Coorg's coffee is best served w ith equal parts of m ilk or cream and sw eetened sugar. Coffee connoisseurs and industry professionals alike highly praise the coffee from this region, such as L orali G old Coffee and M aura Tom kins, founder of L orali Coffee Com pany and international coffee buyer for Starbucks. A dditionally, a recent study has revealed the variety of coffees grow n in Coorg, w ith Robusta and A rabica standing as the m ost popular and highly esteem ed. Read More: https://www.ibnisprings.com/history-of- coorg/