Wednesday, 10 October 2018

Nostalgic Notes Kutta (Coorg, Karnataka)3



Kutta (Coorg, Karnataka)3


Many a time I had a feeling in Kutta – whether it is a dream or reality or a scene in a film - such beautiful scenery of natures beauty, multi colored plants trees creepers flowers 

Magnificent, amazing estate houses architecturally and artistically finished with all modern facilities and comforts    so neatly maintained – I have seen houses with in built basket ball and foot ball grounds 

Coorgis  or Kodavas  is a distinct tribe .Most of the coorgies  both men and women  are tall well built with good features and complexion .: well educated  With a  good standard of living , never tired of physical work . Longevity combined with good physical and mental health is a blessing to coorgies.   Very senior people can be seen climbing hilly terrain and driving 4 wheelers

Coorgi language has no script. It is a combination of Tamil. Malayalam and Kannada
In Madras Christian College, Chennai there is a reservation of seats for Coorgies.
A middle class family will have a car, jeep, lorry, generator and solar power unit
Language was not a problem to us because all in Kutta can speak Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Coorgi. Muslims can speak Urdu .Educated people can speak very beautiful English  

I used to go to the mosque for early Morning Prayer. Then I was warned that that it is not safe to go there in the twilight time because of elephant movement there 

My son and daughter came to Kutta with family in vacation. We visited a few estates where we saw the pepper creeper, ginger plant and so many flower plants .More beautiful was the cleanliness of the estate garden.

During coffee plucking season estate owners engaged the services of a hilly tribe from a nearby place.
Their livelihood mingled with nature is a beautiful one. It may be bitter cold or heavy rain- the gents move bare bodied and sleep only in open space .They cook their own food and won’t even touch outside food.. .They collect ground water by inserting bamboo sticks in the ground 

We got a very good servant maid in Kutta .Not a single day she went on leave during our stay at Kutta

Many Nattukkottai Chettiars own coffee estates in Kutta. We visited one such estate where we saw the processing of coffee beans 

Iruppu falls near Kutta is real grand sight to see with a hanging bridge. We didn’t dare to have a bath seeing the force and sound of the  water falls

 Image result for iruppu falls
 Iruppu Falls

Compared to Iruppu falls, Abi falls near Madikeri was a great disappointment..
There is a big park in Madikkeri with Raja Seat 
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Thalaikkaveri, the origin of River Kaveri is near Madikeri 

Very near Kutta is is the Rajiv Gandhi National Park otherwise known as Nagarhole reserve forest. It is a tiger sanctuary 

We visited many tourist spots in Kerala and Karnataka. But to me the natural beauty around my house was more appealing. Sitting in my house I enjoyed magnificent sunrise and sunset, melodious voice of birds, humming of insects, unclassified sounds- the specialty of forests, sound of a distant stream and so on
   Coffee plant from flowering to berry stage I enjoyed from my house .

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 Coffee Beans

One important tourist spot is the Buddhist Temple. Refugees from Tibet have formed a township and constructed a very big temple for Lord Buddha. The statue of Buddha is said to be made of gold 
The temple is surrounded by a very big park maintained neatly and beautifully .It will be surprising to see  kids with Buddhist monk dress 

The present Coorg District was once a Union Territory like Puduchery. Even now Coorgies enjoy some special rights – No need for Gun License, permission to keep liquor in house and to bury the deceased ones in the estate 

Well maintained Home Stay is available in Kutta in the estates, Starting rate at that time was Rs.1000/ per head per day for food and accommodation 

Kutta why Kutta the whole Coorg district is now becoming a very big old age resort. Youngsters are moving out of Kutta or Coorg for good. They settle abroad or in Bangalore or Mysore. They don’t come to Chennai because of hot weather.
Many coorgi ladies have crossed middle age without getting married due to paucity of suitable boys 

Field Marshal Kaariapaa , and General Thimmaiah of Indian Army , eminent sport persons like  Bopanaa,  Uthappa , Aswini Nachappa , Josua Chinapaa – all are Coorgies 

My 40 years and odd bank service was completed in Kutta 
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A long journey From Tirunelveli Junction Branch to Kutta crossing 18 branches/ offices in 7 states came to a pleasant completion 

I have not broken the rules of bank nor I have bowed in front of anyone. This gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction.

We shall meet next week 


 Blog Address
sherfuddinp.blogspot.com  

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