Travel - International Indian

Kodavas Of CoorgCOORG....wake up and smell the coffee!Tucked away in the “highlands” of Karnataka is Coorg – a littledistrict that stands apart due to its natural beauty, serene tranquilityand most of all – its people! Coorg is to India what Scotland is tothe UK! Coorg weddings are distinct and perhaps the only Hinduwedding ceremony where there is no puja. Alcohol and meat (avariety of pork dishes) are abundantly served and truly relished,with everyone joining in the celebrations - eating, drinking anddancing till the wee hours of the morning. There is no concept ofdowry or child marriage.By: Sarina MenezesRIGHT:Beautiful CoorgladiesTuckedaway in the“highlands”of Karnatakais Coorg– a little district thatstands apart due to itsnatural beauty, serenetranquility and mostof all – its people!Coorg is to India whatScotland is to the UK!I had heard so muchabout Coorg and always wanted to visit,especially since I had friends from there. I wasat a university just three hours from Coorg, butI never made it.So, this summer, Coorg beckoned! Aftermuch deliberation, we landed in Mangalore,took a short holiday in North Kerala and thendrove two and a half hours to Coorg. Our firststop was Madikeri,a hill station dottedwith beautiful homes,verdant valleys andoh such wonderfulweather. The scorchingheat of the plains wassoon forgotten!We arrived inMadikeri at about 1pmtotally famished andheaded straight to EastEnd Hotel, a highlyrecommended clean, simple yet authenticstopover for lunch. After research and takingmuch advice from my Coorg friends, wedecided to drive through North Coorg andvisit all the tourist places, but actually makeour base in South Coorg, thus experiencingall of Coorg. We soon discovered that NorthCoorg is touristy compared to the south, with62The International Indian