Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Bored with trekking? Soak in this mini-Niagara in Coorg

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)

Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, experiences a surge in tourism post-monsoon due to heavy rainfall. The Chiklihole Dam, famous for its half-moon shape and serene water flow, attracts thousands of tourists. Accessible from Madikeri, tourists can enjoy the beauty of Coorg’s waterfalls like Abbifalls and Mallalli Falls.

Bored with trekking? Soak in this mini-Niagara in Coorg vkp

The Scotland of India has been blooming with tourists, with a surge in rainfall. Coorg sees a spike in tourism, post the monsoon season begins. With a hefty rainfall, the city has been spiking with tourism. The CHiklihole dam in the Kushalnagara of Coorg district has raised to fame with its beautiful half-moon shape, tagging along with the name ‘mini-Niagara’.

Though a dam, the water flows along a half-moon shape in the dam and attracts visitors. Each and every tourist place in Coorg resides with silence and quietness. The water flow along the reservoir is very peaceful, besides the noise created by the tourists and the birds chirping along the dam.

The Chiklihole Dam fills up every monsoon, and the dam attracts thousands of tourists every year. Tourists from far away places come to see this beautiful water flow in the dam.

How to reach?

Chiklihole Dam is about 26km from the district place Madikeri. There are no bus facilities, however, one can travel to Suntikoppa in their own vehicle and later Book an auto or a jeep until the dam. This dam is constructed in the Meenukolli reserved forest and provides water to the villages of Kushalnagara and Piriyapattana.

The breeze along the bridge beside the dam will make you dance to the waves of the dam. Meanwhile, the dam fills up during monsoon and calls the visitors. 

Tourists can also consider visiting Abbifalls, Abhyat Mangala Falls, Mallalli Falls and Iruppu Falls in the surrounding. Coorg always lives up to its name – Scotland of India, be it during the monsoon and summer.

source: http://www.newsable.asianetnews.com / Asianet Newsable / Home> English> Lifestyle / July 29th, 2023

Kodava community demands virtual constituency on the lines of intangible seat for Buddhists in Sikkim

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Kodagu district is one of the smallest districts in Karnataka. It was a Part ‘C’ State from 1952 to 1956. It was amalgamated with the then Mysuru State (now Karnataka) in 1956.

Guns are part of the Kodava culture in Kodagu district of Karnataka. They are used during auspicious occasions.

Members of the Kodava community, in the hill district of Kodagu, are demanding exclusive, intangible constituencies in Parliament and the Karnataka Assembly on the lines of the Sangha virtual constituency for the Buddhist monastic community in Sikkim.

The Codava National Council (CNC), a body fighting for autonomy for Kodava people, fears that the community may lose political representation after the delimitation exercise in the year 2026, since the population of the community is coming down.

Kodagu district is one of the smallest districts in Karnataka. It was a Part ‘C’ State from 1952 to 1956. It was amalgamated with the then Mysuru State (now Karnataka) in 1956.

Recently, CNC members submitted a memorandum to the President, Union Law Minister and Chief Election Commission of India seeking creation of a virtual constituency for the Kodava community.

Nandineravanda U. Nachappa, president of CNC, told The Hindu, “Indian government ratified the rights of Buddhist monastic community through the Sangha constituency, which was created in 1958.” He argued for a similar arrangement for the Kodavas, who are a unique community but are becoming numerically negligible.

What is the Sangha virtual constituency

Sangha Assembly constituency is one of the constituencies in the 32-member Assembly of Sikkim, a State in the northeast region of India.

“The Sangha constituency doesn’t exist on the map. This seat is reserved for the Buddhist monastic community of Sikkim — Buddhist monks and nuns. About 3,293 voters registered with the 111 recognized monasteries in Sikkim State are the only ones who can contest and cast their votes for the Sangha constituency seat.

“Kodavas want a similar seat in both the Karnataka Assembly and in Parliament so that we get our own representation since our population is now down to only 70,000 people,” Mr Nachappa explained.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshan Devaiah BP / July 15th, 2023

Cabinet Okays Mention Of ‘Kodava/Kodavaru’ In Caste Certificate Instead Of ‘Kodagaru

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Bengaluru:

Fulfilling a long-pending demand of Kodavas, the Karnataka Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, agreed to mention as ‘Kodava/Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate, instead of ‘Kodagaru,’ who are currently listed in the 3a Category.

Announcing this after the Cabinet meeting here yesterday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said the State Government has accepted the recommendations made by the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission to use the words ‘Kodava’, ‘Kodavaru’, instead of ‘Kodagaru’ in the list of Backward Classes and issue a notification in this regard.

The Commission, after a thorough study, in 2005 and 2010, had recommended the Government to use ‘Kodava’ and ‘Kodavaru’ in Kannada and  ‘Codava’, ‘Codavaru’ in English, instead of ‘Kodagaru’ in the 3a Category list.

The Karnataka High Court, on Dec.16, 2021, had directed the Government to use the name ‘Kodava’, Kodavaru’ as suggested by the Backward Classes Commission. Justice Krishna S. Dixit had passed the order while allowing a petition filed by Codava National Council (CNC).

The Court then had also cautioned the Government of imposing a heavy cost in the next level of legal battle if it does not comply with the order within an outer limit of three months.

CNC’s effort pays off

The Cabinet decision on Thursday is a victory of sorts for CNC and its President N.U. Nachappa, who had fought over the issue for over a decade.

With the change of Government in the State, Nachappa and other CNC members had met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah recently under the leadership of Virajpet MLA  and Advocate A.S. Ponnanna and reiterated the demand for mentioning ‘Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate. Nachappa had argued that in the past, it was mentioned as ‘Kodagaru’ in the Caste Certificate, which had an impact on the cultural and social values of the Kodavas.

He further maintained that the CNC had appealed to the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission Secretary to bring in changes in the Caste Certificate issued under Category 3a.

Now, CM Siddharamaiah, responding to the plea, brought the issue before the Cabinet yesterday, which approved using the term ‘Kodava’, ‘Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate instead of ‘Kodagaru.’

The Cabinet decision has also called the bluff of former BJP MLAs of Kodagu, who had turned away from their responsibility regarding the issue for years. When confronted over the issue, the former MLAs in the past had constantly argued that the matter does not come under the purview of the State Government and it is the Centre which has to do it.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / July 28th, 2023

Brik Oven and Food Lover Company Unite for a Breakfast Sandwich Pop-Up, Benefitting the Coorg Wellness Foundation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , ,

Bangalore : 

Brik Oven, the renowned Bangalore-based pizzeria is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Nikki Ponappa, golf coach and founder-the Food Lover Company, for a special breakfast sandwich pop-up event. This partnership aims to support the Coorg Wellness Foundation, with all proceeds from the event going towards the charitable organization. 

Brik Oven’s sourdough, meticulously fermented for 48 hours, will be generously packed with the most delicious fillings. The menu will be showcasing a range of breakfast sandwiches including scrumptious Burrata and Mozzarella cheeses and bread made in-house at Brik Oven. Drawing inspiration from the coffee heartland, the sandwich spread will feature an authentic Coorg delicacy as well, directly sourced from the estates of Coorg – the Pandi Curry. The offering will also include Veg, Vegan, Prawn and Brik Oven’s own Roast Chicken and Ham varieties, paired with fresh seasonal fruits for a harmony of flavours. 

Brik Oven and the Food Lover Company aim to create a memorable culinary experience for attendees while supporting a noble cause, a commitment to building a community and giving back to the Coorg Wellness Foundation. The Food Lover Company has made significant contributions to the foundation’s initiatives, including the construction of homes and the provision of higher education for children in Coorg.

Drop in at Brik Oven and dig into these mouth-watering sandwiches. Follow @brikovenblr on Instagram for more updates!

●  WHEN: 30th July 2023 

●  WHERE: Brik Oven Indiranagar

●  TIMINGS: 8:00am – 11:30 am

●  PRICE: INR 500/- onwards plus tax 

●  CONTACT: +91 98809 55129

●  LOCATION: 872/a, 80 Feet Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560038   

source: http://www.hospibuz.com / Hospibuz.com / Home> Buzzzing Now> Food Business News / July 25th, 2023

Rajkummar Rao and Gulshan Devaiah starrer series Guns & Gulaabs to stream from this date

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg,

The series is created by Raj & DK.

Rajkummar Rao and Gulshan Devaiah starrer series Guns & Gulaabs to stream from this date

Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK’s upcoming web series Guns & Gulaabs will premiere on Netflix on August 18.

The upcoming series brings together Rajkummar Rao with Dulquer Salmaan, Gulshan Devaiah and Adarsh Gourav.

The streamer shared the show’s release date on its platform. “Coming on 18 August,” the tagline read.

Inspired by the misfits of the world, Guns & Gulaabs is set in the 90s. It is billed as a story that depicts love and innocence though it is set in a world of crime, as per the official description of the series.

Produced under Raj & DK’s banner D2R Films, the show also features TJ Bhanu.

Guns & Gulaabs marks the first directorial venture of Raj & DK with streamer Netflix.

They earlier made shows The Family Man and Farzi for Prime Video and are currently working on the Indian chapter of Citadel for the streamer.

source: http://www.cinemaexpress.com / Cinema Express / Home> Hindi /by PTI / July 21st, 2023

Glass Bridge In Kodagu Offers Thrilling Encounter With Nature

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), , , , , , ,

Among the multiple famed tourist attractions in the hill station of Kodagu — a captivating destination for travellers from far and wide throughout the year — is a new must-visit place, a brand-new glass skywalk bridge.

It is made of tempered glass panels or flooring that provide visitors with a thrilling experience of walking above ground level, often offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape

The glass skywalk bridge in the district is the second such attraction in South India, the first one being at Wayanad in Kerala at 900 Kandi Eco Park. This remarkable Glass Skywalk Bridge of Kodagu is nestled amidst the forests and hills of the Western Ghats, attracting tourists like a magnet.

The bridge, standing approximately 78 feet tall, with a length of about 32 metres and a width of 2 metres, has been attracting tourists to the ‘Pappy’s Bridge of Coorg’ at Udoth Motte near Madikeri on the Madikeri-Bhagamandala Road. This bridge, with a capacity to support around 5 tonnes, can accommodate up to 40 to 50 individuals at once, providing them with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.

Through its stunning natural beauty, the tourism sector in Kodagu has successfully garnered global attention and the newly added glass skywalk bridge further enhances this tourism initiative.

Situated amidst the lush green hills, the bridge offers a breathtaking view. Standing and gazing from the bridge not only evokes a sense of fear but also provides an exhilarating experience. The surrounding hills seem to reach out and beckon, their peaks adorned with greenery.

Looking down from the top feels as if the sky is within reach and stepping on the glass, while enjoying the beauty of nature, brings joy to the visitors. While the natural beauty of Kodagu with its umpteen viewpoints has enchanted the tourists, the bridge, amidst the greenery of the hills stands this remarkable creation, skilfully erected by engineers.

Walking on the transparent glass surface, amidst the verdant nature, offers a thrilling experience that takes it to the next level. The facility, allowing tourists to indulge in the beauty of nature, was recently inaugurated by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna who also walked along the bridge.

He appreciated the significant contribution of the local community to this tourism initiative and noted that the facility holds significance as a unique attraction in the region, surpassing even the famous glass bridge in Wayanad.

He said that the facility will contribute to the Kodagu district’s development as a nature-friendly tourist destination, without causing any harm to the environment. He also mentioned that the implementation of this unique project will lead to an increase in the number of tourists visiting the district.

Fake image

Yet again an image claiming that cracks had developed on the glass bridge went viral and the video generated panic among tourists. Later it was found to be stable and the photo was confirmed to be fake.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles, Top Stories / July 17th, 2023

CNC Delegation Meets CM For Resolution Of Ethnic Issues

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, , , , ,

Bengaluru:

The Codava National Council (CNC) delegation met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday at the CM’s Home Office ‘Krishna’ and the meeting was facilitated by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnana.

The Chief Minister assured the CNC delegation that he would address the two major ethnic issues raised by the CNC. Firstly, he pledged to change the official nomenclature of the Codava community from ‘Kodagaru’ to ‘Kodava’ in accordance with the recommendations of the Dr. Dwarakanath Commission.

This change would be implemented soon after the Cabinet meeting and the updated name would be included in Government records and published in the State Gazette, the CM assured.

Secondly, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that a comprehensive ethnographic study would be conducted to determine the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Kodava community. The study will be initiated shortly.

The delegation was led by CNC President Nandineravanda U. Nachappa and comprised over 30 members from the community.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home > News / July 16th, 2023

Gulshan Devaiah pens heartwarming note for his manger Richa: ‘She has been my cheerleader, confidant & friend…’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, , ,

Gulshan Devaiah shared a heartwarming anecdote about his manager, who rooted for his film eight years ago.

Gulshan Devaiah was last seen in Dahaad. (Pic: Gulshan/Twitter)

Actor Gulshan Devaiah on Wednesday shared a heartwarming anecdote about his manager, Richa Bhoyar. The actor, who has been a part of unconventional cinema since his debut in Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl in Yellow Boots, expressed his gratitude for Richa’s support and revealed their unique connection.

In a Twitter post, Gulshan reminisced about the time when Richa, then a college student, unknowingly championed his film Hunterrr. Back in 2015, Richa came across the movie’s poster and instantly recommended it to her friends as a fun watch. Little did they know that their paths would cross again in the future.

Sharing the heartwarming anecdote, Gulshan Devaiah wrote, “Hello 🙂 The young lady in the picture is Richa Bhoyar. In 2015, she was 20 something years old, in college, perusing her studies. She saw the poster of Hunterrr one day & told her friends that they should go watch it in the theatre because it looks like a fun movie. She & her friends had never heard of me before that day, yet she convinced around 15 of her friends to buy tickets to watch my film. They all apparently really enjoyed the film.”

Revealing how Richa became his manager, he added, “Cut to …present day, Richa, now part of Bling Entertainment, is my manager. She has been my manager, cheerleader, confidant & friend for about 2 years now. She just told me the story about Hunterrr & it put a big smile on my face & lots of warmth in heart. She had no idea that she’d be a talent manager one day & I had no idea until she told me this story earlier today. The “power of attraction” she says 😀.. I am so happy that this is how things worked out for me. Thank you Richa & many cheers to you. Cinema Zindabad!! See y’all at the movies!!” Gulshan played the role of a sex addict in Hunterrr.

Gulshan Devaiah recently received accolades for his nuanced performance as a police officer in the Amazon Prime web series Dahaad. He will be next seen in the highly anticipated show Guns & Gulaabs, helmed by hit director duo Raj and DK. He also has Sudhanshu Saria’s Ulajh, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Roshan Mathew.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Entertainment Desk, Chennai / July 12th, 2023

Rajyogini BK Meenakshiji Passes Away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)

Gonikoppal (Kodagu):

Brahma Kumari (BK) Meenakshiji, a senior Rajyogini of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, who was popularly called as Meenakshi Akka, passed away on July 11 morning at a private hospital in Mangaluru.

A native of Chikkamandur in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, Meenakshiji was the eldest daughter of Kallichanda K. Machaiah and Parvathi couple and is survived by four brothers

The body was kept at the Gonikoppal Branch of Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya yesterday morning for the public to pay their last respects and the mortal remains were shifted to Chikkamandur, where the last rites were performed.

Brahma Kumaris Mysuru Zone Chief Convenor BK Lakshmiji, Kodagu Zone Chief Convenor BK Gayathriji and others have condoled the death of BK Meenakshiji.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 13th, 2023

DC urges resorts, homestays in Kodagu to upload details on tourism websites

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)

The list of homestays and resorts in Kodagu, which are run legally getting all the clearances from government agencies, should be made available on tourism-related websites for the benefit of tourists.

This message was conveyed at a meeting of the associations of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and homestays in Madikeri. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja who suggested uploading information on registered homestays and resorts operated in the district.

Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the police have kept a close vigil for controlling narcotics and advised resorts not to engage in illegal activities. The police will act tough if they comes across such activities being encouraged on their properties, he cautioned. Problems can be brought to the notice of the police immediately by calling 112, he advised.

Kodagu Homestays’ Association general secretary Monti Ganesh suggested simplifying the registration process for homestays. Kodagu has about 200 registered homestays. If the process is simplified, more homestays will voluntarily register, he felt. He also suggested establishing tourist information centres and more public toilets besides giving importance to hygiene in tourist spots.

Hotel Owners’ Association president Nagendra Prasad said the district administration must consider giving priority to easing parking issues, which aggravate during weekends when tourist footfall goes up. He suggested establishing more facilities in tourist spots in view of the rise in tourism revenue.

Kodagu Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary Ambekallu Naveen said tourists engage in cooking while on visit to Kodagu. There has to be designated places for cooking for tourists, he said. Honey and spices are being faked in the market and this has to be checked for safeguarding the identity of these products.

Somwarpet taluk homestay association president C.K. Rohit said there are no display boards with useful information for tourists on the way to Kote Betta and steps must be taken to install information boards on the route for the benefit of tourists. He sought a ropeway at Mallalli waterfalls and a hanging bridge to Pushpagiri hills.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 11th, 2023