WoodStock Villas, Coorg
Coorg is known to many as the land of tranquil forests and hills, weekend retreats, coffee plantations, and home to the only community in India that’s allowed to carry a gun without a permit.
Just as wonderful as all that is the food from the region. If you’ve ever been to a Kodava wedding, their love for food and drink is on abundant display. Unlike many Indian communities, the Coorg people will happily serve you alcohol and non-vegetarian food at their weddings, especially their famous Pandi Curry or pork in a spicy and sour gravy made from Kachampuli, a black vinegar made from the black Kokum fruit.
Rice has always grown in plenty in Coorg, so it’s not surprising that rice in many forms is the foundation of most Coorg meals. Breakfast can be Akki Rotti (a chapatti-like pancake made from cooked rice and rice flour). Or perhaps you’d care for a range of Puttu, steamed rice dishes such as Nooputtu (rice threads similar to the Kerala Idiyappam), Paaputtu (a mix of steamed broken rice, coconut and sugar). To accompany these, you can have the famous Coorg honey or hearty curries not usually found elsewhere such as pumpkin curry, bamboo shoot curry, or a curry made from wild mushrooms.
Lunch and dinner too has rice as the base, and there’s usually at least one non-vegetarian dish to accompany it, usually chicken, mutton, or the much-loved pork. Coconut is a common ingredient in many of the tangy and spicy Coorg curries, ground with onions, garlic and spices such as chillies, cumin, pepper, etc. with Kachampuli providing the fruity tartness. As accompaniments, you will find chutneys made from dried or smoked meat and fish, or pickles made from tender bamboo, gooseberries, and mushrooms.
But vegetarians need not lose heart. Unique to Coorg are dishes like Kaad Maange curry, made from wild mango that’s got a more peppery tart flavour than regular mangoes. Also try the Chekke curry made from raw jackfruit, Kemb curry made from the colocasia plant.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Places to visit within and around the resort
Madikeri (Coorg)
Madikeri or Mercara is a place including a terrain of Coorg that inspired the British to occupy this area for over 100 years and they called it a Scotland of India.The people living in Coorg are known as Kodavas . The main crops grown in the Coorg is the coffee, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper etc. The main dishes of Kodavas include the Akki Roti ( rice roti ), kadubu and the special Pork curry. Hutarri and Kylepoth is the main festivals of Kodavas. The Huttari Dance and Bolak-aat are dance forms in Kodagu. Bolak-aat dance is performed by kodava men in back of an oil lamp in an open field.
Raja’s Seat (The king’s seat)
It is a seasonal garden of flowers and artificial fountains. It is one of the most important tourist spot in Madikeri of Coorg District. It is also known as a sunset point where kings of Kodagu who used to watch the setting sun and spend time with their queens here. It has a pleasant spectacle of refreshing layers of greenery, Chain of high and low – rise mountains attired with mist.
Abbey Falls
Abbey Falls is also called ABBE Jalaphatha in kannada. It is in Kodagu in the western ghats in Karnataka. The river is a part of the early reaches of the river Kaveri. Flow is much higher during the monsoon season. The waterfall is located between private coffee plantations with stocky coffee bushes and spice estates with trees entwined with pepper vines.
Omkareshwara Temple
This temple is the most famous temple in Coorg where the Lingarajendra II, the ruler of Kodagu in the early 1800’s who killed an innocent Brahmin. The reason for killing is not clear. This temple is built in Islamic style, the dome and minarets towering over the tiled roofs of the city. Inside temple is simple, with the shrine holding the main lingam surrounded by one corridor. There are plenty of fish in the pond, which are a huge attraction for childrens.
Madikeri Fort
Madikeri Fort was first founded by Mudduraja in the second half of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort and thus it is known as a “palace of Madikeri “ Coorg. There is a museum inside the fort where one can watch british era and a huge portrait of Kodagu’s eminent personality Field Marshal Cariappa. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad.
Gaddige (Raja’s tomb )
Gaddige also known as Raja’s Tomb located in one of the beautiful hill station of Karnataka, Madikeri, Coorg. It was built in Muhammadan style with tombs at the center and turrets at the corners. Nandi figures are carved on top of the corners. Lord Shiva is placed and worshipped inside the tomb since the king was Hindu. This is one of the most fascinating fact because most of the tombs belong to Muslim kings and dynasties.
Bhagamandala & Talacauvery
Bhagamandala and Talacauvery is located in the brahmagiri hills of Coorg namely Bhagamandala. It is one of the holy place where river kaveri took its birth. Many people take a bath in this river to resolve their issues. This place has a big temple and also has a pleasant spectacle of refreshing layers of greenery and thick forests.
Dubare
Dubare is known for its elephant camp, a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of kodagu, Karnataka. It is an important base for the Karnataka Forest Department’s (KFD)’s elephants. There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides, fishing, and river rafting. These activities are hosted by jungle lodges and resorts.
Mandalpatti Hills
It is one of the best trekking point in the hill station of Coorg. You will fall in love with the greenery that will envelop you from all sides during the trek. This point can be visited by jeep safari only.
Nisargadhama
Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. It is a 64 acre island, with lush foliage of thick bamboo groves, sandalwood, and teak trees. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge. There are deers, rabbits, peacocks, and children playground as well as an Orchidarium.
Bylakuppe – Tibetan Monastery
The Tibetan Monastry or the Tibet Camp as locally called is located in Kushalnagar town towards Mysore Road. This Tibetan settlement is the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 7,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery.