I went to Coorg for three days and came back rethinking how I take holidays and plan family vacations

Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)

A three-day stay at Club Mahindra Virajpet changed how I think about short holidays, with food, coffee, family time and plenty to do. 

A monsoon weekend at Club Mahindra Virajpet with coffee plantations, lazy breakfasts, family time, local food and plenty of green views. (Hindustan Times)

I think I have been doing short holidays wrong. For years, a three-day trip meant one of two things. Either I would pack the itinerary so tightly that by the time I was heading home, I needed another holiday to recover. Or I would book a lovely hotel, stay put for three days, eat, swim, sleep and eventually start wondering what we were supposed to do next. My three-day stay at Club Mahindra Virajpet in Coorg made me realise there is a third option. Find a property where the holiday is already happening. And suddenly, three days felt like a lot more.

Do you really need to leave the resort?

This was the first thing that struck me at Club Mahindra Virajpet. The property is enormous, surrounded by the green hills of Coorg, with its own coffee plantation, private lake, walking paths and plenty of open space. It is the kind of place where you can arrive, check in and then realise you have absolutely no reason to get back into the car.

That sounds like a small thing, but for me it was quite a revelation. I usually want to see the place I have travelled to. If I am in Coorg, I want coffee, viewpoints, local food, pretty roads, little shops and all the things that make Coorg, well, Coorg. But when you only have three days, trying to fit everything in can turn a holiday into a very attractive version of a timetable. Here, I could actually slow down. Our family room was spacious enough for two people to spread out properly, with a sofa cum bed and a balcony overlooking the greenery. And that balcony quickly became my favourite spot. Coffee in hand. Rain in the distance. Green hills in front of me. Honestly, I could have sat there for hours.

What do you do for three days without getting bored?

This was the other pleasant surprise. There was so much going on that everyone could do their own thing for a while and then come back together. There was a gaming zone, pottery, cycling, live music and a pool. You could book a pottery session and actually sit down to make something instead of simply watching someone else do it. There was also a cake decorating session where a pastry chef prepared the cake and brought out all the cream and decorations for us to use.

It was the sort of activity that made sense for the entire family because everyone could get involved at their own level. Then there was the spa. We tried a Swedish massage, and I think the weather decided to provide its own soundtrack. Sitting there while the rain fell outside was possibly one of the most relaxing parts of the entire stay. And when we did not feel like walking all the way across the property, there were golf carts to take us around. Which, considering just how big the place is, was very welcome.

The coffee plantation walk was my favourite part

I will admit I was slightly apprehensive about this one. A coffee plantation in monsoon sounds gorgeous until you remember that you have to actually walk through it. So we put on long socks, pulled on our boots and headed out. It turned out to be completely worth it. Walking through the plantation, surrounded by all that greenery, felt very different from simply looking at a coffee plantation from the road. We also got to do a coffee tasting, which made the whole experience even better. This was one of those moments when I realised the property was giving us a taste of Coorg without making us spend the entire day driving around Coorg. And that became the recurring theme of the holiday.

Then came the food. Lots of it.

I have to talk about the food because it was a fairly important part of our three days. Breakfasts became long, lazy affairs. We sat in the balcony area of the buffet restaurant, ate slowly and looked out at the scenery instead of rushing off to the next stop.

Then came the Chef’s Table, which was a completely different experience. The chef served us a menu that brought together Kodagu flavours and international cuisine. It was fun, a little fancy and very different from simply picking something off a buffet. We got to try dishes we probably would not have ordered on our own, and the whole afternoon felt like an occasion.

Then there were the Coorg thalis. What I particularly liked was how much attention went into individual preferences. Vegetarian meals were catered for vegetarians, ingredients could be left out for people who did not eat them, and the non-vegetarian thalis could be planned around the meat each person preferred. It made the meal feel personal rather than like a standard regional thali placed in front of everyone. And yes, I ate very well.

Maybe the property is the destination

There was something else I liked about the stay. You could still get a little local shopping done without turning it into another outing. There was a shop selling local coffee and chocolates, along with another space where you could pick up local silks. So even the little bits of Coorg that I usually look for while travelling were right there. Of course, you can leave the property and explore the rest of Coorg. The location gives you that option, and the drive itself is beautiful. But for this particular trip, I did not feel that familiar pressure to make sure we had “seen enough”. That was new for me.

This changed how I think about a weekend holiday

I came to Coorg thinking the destination was the important part. I left thinking the property might matter just as much. If the purpose of a three-day break is to spend time with family, catch up with friends, relax with your partner or simply get away from city life for a bit, you do not necessarily need an itinerary filled with tourist spots. You need enough things to do, enough space to breathe and enough variety that everyone can enjoy the holiday in their own way.

At Club Mahindra Virajpet, one person could be at the spa while another was playing a game. Someone could be walking through the coffee plantation while someone else was sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee. We could all come together for lunch, a thali dinner or an activity and then disappear into our own little corners again. That, I think, is what made the three days feel longer. Not because we were constantly doing something, but because we were never stuck for something to do. And perhaps this is what I have been missing from short holidays. I do not always need to see more places. Sometimes I just need to choose a place that gives me more holiday.

For three days in Coorg, Club Mahindra Virajpet did exactly that.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / by Neha Khandelwal / September 13th, 2026

The Roar Of ‘Tiger Bright’ At BRICS 2026: Odisha CM Hails Koraput Coffee Brewed For World Stage

Coffee News

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi:

The ‘Tiger is burning bright’! One of Odisha’s most celebrated homegrown brands has grabbed global spotlight amid efforts by the state to showcase its economic strengths and investment potential on international platforms.

Here we are talking about Koraput Coffee, specifically its premium Tiger Bright blend, which was included in special MEA’s media kit at the BRICS India 2026 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Curated under the Centre’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, the kit highlights India’s regional diversity alongside items such as Bihar’s sattu and makhana and a Bandhani-printed stole.

The recognition of the tribal-grown coffee was celebrated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who praised the milestone on X as a moment of immense pride that reflects the state’s rich natural heritage, hard work, and growing global identity.

“Over the past few days, I have been speaking about #Odisha on global platforms, inviting the world to see the opportunities, strength and potential of our State. Today, it is especially heartening to see Koraput Coffee telling another side of Odisha’s story at the BRICS India 2026 Summit,” he wrote.

Linking the moment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local” initiative, he added, “This is the Odisha I want the world to know—rooted in its soil, proud of its identity and confident in sharing its story with the world.”

Koraput Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan described the inclusion as a matter of immense pride. “Koraput Coffee is not just a product; it represents the hard work of our tribal farmers, the unique agro-climatic conditions of Koraput and the rich natural heritage of the district,” he said. The exposure, he added, would strengthen the brand’s identity, raise awareness of its quality and open new market opportunities that benefit local growers and the regional economy.

A Journey Rooted in History

The story of Koraput Coffee stretches back nearly a century. In the early 1930s, Rajbahadur Rama Chandra Deo, the polyglot ruler of the then Koraput (Jeypore) principality and a coffee enthusiast, experimentally planted the first seeds and established small gardens in the region’s rolling hills and forests. Government efforts followed in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Odisha Soil Conservation Department expanded plantations—particularly around the Machkund basin—to prevent siltation in the Jalaput reservoir, recognising the crop’s dual ecological and agricultural value. Private planters later joined, though commercial scale and organised marketing remained limited for decades.

A decisive revival began in 2017 with the formation of the Coffee Development Trust under the district administration, aimed at transforming Koraput into a coffee hub and providing structured support to tribal cultivators. The formal branding came on 11 September 2019, when TDCCOL—under the state’s ST & SC Development Department—launched “Koraput Coffee.” The initiative created an end-to-end value chain covering procurement, processing, packaging and marketing, ensuring a greater share of returns reached the tribal growers who form the backbone of production.

Today the coffee is cultivated as 100% Arabica, shade-grown under mango, jackfruit, citrus and other native trees in blocks including Laxmipur, Kashipur, Dasmantpur, Nandapur, Lamtaput, Koraput and Pottangi. Elevations of around 900–950 metres (and higher in places), cool climate, adequate rainfall and laterite soils create ideal conditions. Cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness, carefully processed (often washed), sun-dried on raised wooden beds and roasted under strict hygiene standards. The area under cultivation has expanded significantly—from roughly 2,000 hectares around 2018 to more than 4,400 hectares in recent years—with tribal farmers managing a substantial portion.

Tiger Bright and Growing Recognition

Tiger Bright, the premium Arabica blend, embodies the brand’s distinctive character: bright tropical citrus notes of orange, lemon and sweet lime balanced by undertones of caramel, chocolate and cocoa. A carefully calibrated mix of light, medium and dark roasts delivers consistency. The coffee has earned national accolades, including two Fine Cup Awards at Know Your Kaapi (KYK) 2024 and a fourth-place ranking in the Coffee Board’s Flavour of India Fine Cup 2024.

Procurement figures illustrate the transformation. In the 2025–26 season TDCCOL procured a record 102.54 metric tonnes of coffee fruit—nearly triple the 34.68 MT of 2022–23—benefiting around 360 tribal families, including 71 women farmers. Payments of ₹1.07 crore have been transferred directly to growers’ bank accounts, replacing cash transactions, while Smart Cards aid identification and tracking for a growing share of producers. TDCCOL operates eight Koraput Coffee brand cafés across Odisha and Delhi (including one at NALCO Damanjodi), which generated ₹1.64 crore in sales in FY 2023–24. More than 10,000 packs of Tiger Bright have been commercialised, alongside roasted beans and other value-added offerings.

“The presence of Tiger Bright at the BRICS Summit marks a significant milestone. What began as an experimental royal plantation and later a soil-conservation measure has evolved into a branded specialty product that carries the identity of Koraput’s tribal communities onto a global diplomatic platform. Officials and growers alike see the recognition as validation of sustainable livelihoods, value addition and the potential of India’s regional and tribal produce to compete and connect on the world stage, exactly the story Chief Minister Majhi wants the world to hear,” an official release added.

source: http://www.odishabytes.com / Odisha Bytes / Home> Odisha / by OB Bureau / September 12th, 2026

After Kodagu visit, Durga Stalin calls on GTD family in Mysuru

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Caption: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s wife Durga Stalin (centre) called on Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) at his residence in V.V. Mohalla yesterday evening as GTD’s daughter Annapurna, Durga Stalin’s sister Jayanti, GTD’s wife Lalitha Devegowda, GTD, former Tiruvallur MLA Rajendran’s wife Indira Rajendran and Annapurna’s husband Vishweshwaraiah alias Babanna look on.

Mysuru :

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin’s wife Durga Stalin, called on Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) at his residence in V.V. Mohalla yesterday evening, where she was accorded a warm welcome.

While Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin travelled from Kodagu to Tamil Nadu, Durga Stalin remained in Mysuru for a few hours, keeping her visit low-key and away from political engagements.

GTD’s daughter D. Annapurna and her husband Vishweshwaraiah, popularly known as Babanna, a businessman, share a long-standing acquaintance with the Stalin family. Annapurna, accompanied by her family, personally received the guests.

Arriving from Kodagu, Durga Stalin, accompanied by her sister Jayanti, Indira Rajendran, wife of former Tiruvallur MLA Rajendran and an aide Rajkumar, began the day with breakfast at a hotel on the Outer Ring Road.

They later visited Nimishamba Temple in Srirangapatna and Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru.

Annapurna told Star of Mysore this morning that Durga Stalin contacted her over the phone and informed her that she was in Mysuru and would visit the family after offering prayers at the temples.

After lunch at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, the group visited GTD’s residence in V.V. Mohalla at around 3.30 pm. Members of Devegowda family extended traditional hospitality and presented a memento.

In a light-hearted moment, Durga Stalin reportedly remarked to GTD, “I am former, you are current,” referring to her husband M.K. Stalin’s former status.

GTD responded warmly, wishing her and her family all the best in the days ahead.

GTD’s wife Lalitha Devegowda and other family members were present on the occasion. Former Corporators Prema Shankaregowda and Bhagya Madesh were also in attendance.

Before concluding her brief stay in Mysuru, Durga Stalin visited the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) showroom, where she purchased Mysore Silk sarees. The group later departed from Mysore Airport in the Chennai-bound flight at 7 pm.

source: http:www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / by Star of Mysore / June 02nd, 2026

Why do Coorg families still treasure their guns?

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For the Kodavas, weapons are treasured links to their ancestry, identity and a martial tradition.

Why weapons are still part of Coorg’s culture and traditions? AI- generated image

Walk into a traditional ancestral home in Kodagu, Karnataka, and you might notice something rather unusual- guns, daggers and swords displayed alongside family photographs and heirlooms. For the Kodava community, these aren’t simply weapons. They are tangible reminders of ancestry, identity and a martial tradition that has been passed down through generations.

Why are weapons part of Coorg’s family heritage?

Why Coorg families preserve these historic Heirlooms AI-generated image

The Kodavas are an ethno-linguistic community native to Kodagu (Coorg, Karnataka), with a long-standing association with hunting, agriculture and warfare. Their customs place a strong emphasis on ancestor and nature worship and their history has shaped many of their customs, where weapons continue to have a place in both everyday heritage and ceremonial life.

The relationship is particularly visible during Kailpodh (translated to festival of weapons), the Kodava festival associated with arms, traditionally observed after the agricultural season. It is said that families bring out their guns and traditional weapons, clean them and offer prayers. The festival also marks the beginning of the traditional hunting season, with gunshots forming part of the celebrations. Weapons also feature during Huttari, the harvest festival. Even important family milestones have been marked by gun salutes, including the birth of a child and the death of a family member.

Among the community’s best-known traditional weapons is the peeche kathi, an ornate dagger traditionally worn at the waist with the kupya chale, the distinctive Kodava traditional attire. The odikathi, a larger curved blade historically associated with warfare, has also found a place in ceremonial life. For instance, at Kodava weddings, the groom traditionally carries the odikathi as part of his wedding attire.

Historically, Kodavas have enjoyed a special exemption from certain firearms licensing requirements, allowing eligible members of the community to possess firearms under specific conditions. The roots of this arrangement go back to the British period, when the colonial administration formally recognised the Kodavas’ longstanding martial traditions.

Today the weapons are said to be more about what they represent. An old gun may have belonged to a grandfather; an ornate dagger may have been carried at wedding generations ago or a ceremonial sword may have its own family story.

source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The Indian Express, Indulge Express / Home> Society / by P Sangeetha / September 10th, 2026

K.J. George flags off Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon in Gonikoppal

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A total of 5,902 participants took part in the mega marathon, organised jointly by the Ashwini Sports Foundation (ASF), KALS, NEB Sports Entertainment and the State Tourism Department, according to a statement.

Minister for Energy and Tourism K.J. George flagging off the Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon at the KALS school campus in Gonikoppal on Sunday (September 6) | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George flagged off the Kodagu Monsoon Half Marathon at the KALS school campus in Gonikoppal on Sunday (September 6).

A total of 5,902 participants took part in the mega marathon, organised jointly by the Ashwini Sports Foundation (ASF), KALS, NEB Sports Entertainment and the State Tourism Department, according to a statement.

The event featured 21-km and 10-km categories, besides a special 5-km ‘Maja Run’.

Mr. George said Kodagu was known for sports and called upon the youth to make a mark at the national and international levels through sports.

He said youngsters could make a name for themselves internationally by giving greater importance to sports alongside their studies. 

Referring to a recent World Cup football face-off, Mr. George recalled that it was noteworthy that a small country such as Spain had defeated Argentina.

The Minister appreciated the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of people, including children and adults, in the marathon held at KALS School.

A.S. Ponnanna, the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary and MLA, who was also present on the occasion, said the conduct of such a sporting event in Kodagu, regarded as one of the finest sporting districts in the country, was a reflection of the sporting spirit of the people and the encouragement they extend to sports.

“Many outstanding sportspersons who have made a mark at the national and international levels have emerged from Kodagu,” he said, wishing all those who participated in Sunday’s competition a good sporting performance and success.

Sports Authority of Karnataka vice-president Arun Machaiah, institution head Ashwini Nachappa and others were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / September 06th, 2026

Kavery Nambisan’s Rising Sons Is a Witty, Tender Portrait of India in Transition

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

Kavery Nambisan’s Rising Sons traces generations, identities and a changing India through humour, tenderness and sharp social observation.

“At times, we observe a change in a person when, in actual fact, it is the situation that has changed. At other times, we fail to see the transformation, perceiving instead that the varied situation makes it appear so.” Our narrator in Rising Sons — an omniscient, non-bodied voice which carries the keen intelligence and wry sensibility of the book’s accomplished author Kavery Nambisan — knows the universal complexities of person and situation. There are other eternal truths observed by this narrative voice too, which occasionally address the reader directly and thus bring us into the story as characters produced by similar contexts of a country changing over a century.

Mud is life for the fifty-seven families in the village of Kesarugattu, and the rain-fed rivers are the water which sustain life. “We romanced the outside world through the newspaper. Knowledge burnished our rustic minds,” informs the narrative voice. “One day, we read the scandalous writings of a young wife of a Brahmin from Poona, about the plight of women,” and though the words of Tarabai’s letter resonated with our own book’s protagonist Gowru, who was also the young wife of a Brahmin, we will refrain from further description of her and instead move forward a couple decades to her titular sons. The eldest was Nanju, who dreamed of greatness, and “thought of himself in the guise of Vivekananda, of Aurobindo, of Tilak, but never as Gandhi. Personality and image mattered. His admiration settled on Naoroji, the elegant Parsi gentleman who had performed the unique feat of opposing the British while being friends with them.” The younger was Anna, who went to see owls with the Ai people at night, and spoke at a Congress rally in Mysoor “about growing up, his schoolboy dreams, his college days, the gradual understanding of how we were being ruled by a race of people from a faraway land and about the sure and steady swell of opposition to their rule”.

The father of these sons — and the husband of Gowru — is the twice-born Devaraya. He is a protagonist too. There are other fathers and sons, like Keshava Pujari and Vibhushana. There are also daughters: most notably Chinni, born to Gowru’s childhood friend Bhagya and her Malayali husband Dharma.

Chinni, who understood early that the world is tilted because people hide their real selves, had written a two-page letter to Bhagat Singh in prison expressing both her admiration and displeasure: “Displeasure about the way the shooting had been done, without careful planning. If I had been there, I would have helped, I wrote. I added that I was ready to marry him, in prison, and carry out the unfinished work. It was a serious proposal of marriage.” She had her reservations about Gandhi and the ideals of sacrifice which he advocated. Wearing khadi whilst privileging the language of the colonizer seemed like contradictory swadeshi to Chinni. Could simplicity of clothes genuinely lead to a corresponding transformation as simplicity of spirit? An ascetic is ascetic regardless of what they wear; external image is only one thread of internal coherence. But enough about Chinni — we must get back to the sons now.

These are the main characters we are introduced to in the novel, but there are many other fishes we meet in the pond of Kesarugattu, and in the rivers which bring them there. There are Ai tribals, Brahmins, Chandals, Mussalmans. There is Shantadevi, Muduki, Uzman and Maimoona, Sumana, Hanumantha, Gagana, Vaidehi… and even if we visit these others only briefly, their essential contours reveal themselves to us clearly through the narrative voice, which gives even minor characters the dignity of keen attention. When the scene shifts to Delhi, there is “the old mother of the driver Karthab Singh and the roasted mutton pieces she fed him while crooning love songs about the longing to shield her beloved from all danger by enfolding him in her long hair. Her husband was long dead, and she had short, wispy hair that could not protect an ant. But singing love songs gave her pleasure.”

There is also another protagonist from the village who may be listed here last but in no feasible circumstance could be considered the least, and that is Kuppu the dog: “He is still there, our beautiful all-black Kuppu — at times he is a playful little pup, at times an adolescent, and, at other times, an aged, lumbering, peace-loving fellow. Which is why people say, Kuppu is forever.”

The eternal archetypes which our transient human and non-human characters embody are depicted with such genuine tenderness that even if the book were indeed re-titled Ondu Kaththeya Atma Kathe or ‘Memoirs of a Donkey’ (as one protagonist suggests grimly), it could still trace many of the same waves of supple affection and insightful censure which characterize Rising Sons.

Donkeys do not seem to have pride or prejudice, however, which are among the main themes of this book. Character decides destiny because it shapes our choices, but a bruised ego leads to reaction rather than choice — the spirals which emerge from wanting to be seen in certain ways can extend to dangerous shadows. Nambisan is an observer of individual tendency as much as of the social structures of family and village and politics which shape new citizens of a new country, which have shaped us..

Humans have a deep desire to ease each other’s pain, and a difficulty in balancing that against the restoration of their own selves. Idealism fights the cynicism of reality and sometimes stumbles so frequently that it becomes entirely unsteady. In India, virtues of Brahmin non-covetousness and Gandhian restraint were unable to stem the blood-dimmed tide of greed and vanity which too are fundamental human vices. This slow percolation of a self-serving culture in the outward guise of piety pushes the Ai people – rooted to the earth and all her creatures – into wearing “half-pants” and “proper saris” instead of the simple lengths of cloth which they traditionally used to wrap around their bodies. There is also the implicit bleakness of rural India becoming urban in the strange erosions and sediments which have metamorphosed Bengloor into Bangalore. Much is found, much is lost. Yet despite the fact that this pace of change is almost tragic when viewed as a generational saga, it is delivered through an authorial voice so deft and irreverent that this reader found herself smiling often, and on more than one page even laughing out loud.

Rising Sons is a story on fertile ground and rich soil, with much to recognize in the moments it portrays, as a missive which illumines the heart. It weaves its chapters in leisurely visits to the interior lives of its characters and their contexts in a manner which justifies the Irawati Karve quote with which the book begins: “Human toil, expectations, hates, friendships—all seem puny and without substance, like withered leaves eddying in the summer wind. But the people who toiled and dreamed and loved seem unforgettable…”

source: http://www.indianmasterminds.com / Indian Masterminds / Home> Book Reviews> Features / by Yauvanika Chopra / September 05th, 2026

Kail-Poldh Festival get-together held at Kodava Samaja, Mysuru

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Mysuru: 

The Annual Kail-Poldh Festival-2026 get-together was held at Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here today.

The day-long event comprised Ayudha Puja, Sports and Games, Lucky Dip, honouring eminent Kodavas and distribution of scholarship to Kodava students.

Devanira Preeth Ganapathy, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Bengaluru, Chiriapanda S. Suresh Nanjappa, President of Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru and Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah, Chairman of Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, were the chief guests.

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Samaja President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy, Vice-President Machimada P. Nanaiah, Hon. Secretary Ketolira A. Belliappa, Joint Secretary Padeyanda Sumita Gopal, Hon. Treasurer Kottangada P. Pemmaiah, former President B.M. Nanaiah, former Corporator M.U. Subbaiah were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 06th, 2026

What is Kachampuli: Coorg’s secret ingredient?

Business & Economy, Records, All

Once a closely guarded kitchen essential, kachampuli is now finding fans in restaurants and cocktail bars.

Coorg’s culinary secret: Kachampuli

The first taste of a good pandi curry, a signature delicacy of the Coorg cuisine, is hard to forget. It is rich, peppery and deeply savoury, with a sharp tang that cuts through the richness of the pork. That distinctive sour note comes from kachampuli, a dark, concentrated fruit vinegar that is one of the defining ingredients of Kodava cuisine.

Meet the tangy secret Coorg swears by: Kachampuli

In the misty and lush hills of Kodagu, or Coorg, known as the Scotland of India, kachampuli has long been a kitchen staple. It is made from the fruit of the Garcinia gummi-gutta tree, also known as Malabar tamarind, considered a relative of kokum and mangosteen. Dark, intense and seriously tart, its concentrated juice is sometimes likened to balsamic vinegar, although its flavour is very much its own.

Kachampuli: The sour note that makes pandi curry unforgettable AI-generated image

Think beyond the usual squeeze of lime or splash of vinegar. Kachampuli has a deeper, almost smoky acidity, bringing brightness without overpowering everything else on the plate. A little goes a long way, cutting through rich dishes and giving curries their signature dark finish. Pandi curry may be its star turn, but it also works beautifully with chicken, fish and vegetables.

However, making it is anything but instant. Ripe fruit is collected and left to break down naturally, with the juice gathered before being slowly simmered in a deep clay pot. As the liquid cooks down, it becomes a thick, dark concentrate. No sugar, colour or preservatives are needed — just fruit, time and a fair amount of patience. Thanks to its natural acidity, a well-made batch can last five or six years, sometimes longer, with its flavour becoming more rounded as it ages.

The Kachampuli story

For the Kodava community, kachampuli is more than just a cooking ingredient. It is part of the region’s food culture, shaped by the landscape and handed down through generations. But this old-school staple is now getting a bit of a second life.

Kachampuli is having a bit of a cocktail moment as well of late with bartenders giving the usual citrus a miss and reaching for its fruity, punchy acidity instead. Mixed with spirits, jaggery, ginger and tropical flavours, it’s turning up in drinks such as the Kachampuli Sour, Coorg Collins, Kodava Old Fashioned and Black Pepper Mule. From pandi curry to cocktail hour, this Coorg staple is stepping out of the kitchen and into the spotlight — and honestly, it’s about time.

source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The Indulge Express, The New Indian Express / Home> Trends / by P Sangeetha / September 07th, 2026

Senior Hotelier Manoj Mathew Launches Debut Novel The World is Carried Within

Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru :

Drawing on a 40-year career in global hospitality leadership, Manoj Mathew V M FIIHM, Senior Vice President of Operations at Tamara Leisure Experiences, announced the release of his debut literary work, The World Is Carried Within: Volume I of The Third Eye Series.

The book was officially inaugurated today by S.D. Shibulal, Chairman of Tamara Leisure Experiences, during a launch ceremony held at the organization’s headquarters at the Verandah Boutique Lounge in Bengaluru and w delivered the opening remarks and presented the first copy to Shruti Shibulal.

Having spent over three decades with the Taj Group and held executive operational roles across India, Zambia, and Sri Lanka, Mathew applies his long-cultivated expertise in reading human behavior and organizational dynamics to the natural environment. The World Is Carried Within features 18 essays paired with original wildlife photography captured by the author across Coorg, Nagarahole, Gokarna, and Bentota. Rather than offering traditional corporate frameworks, each piece uses wildlife observations—from the movement of a Coorg snail to the behavior of a Stork-billed Kingfisher—as a catalyst for broader reflection on human nature, leadership, and personal awareness.

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Key Highlights of the Release:

  • Author: Manoj Mathew V M FIIHM, Senior Vice President — Operations, Tamara Leisure Experiences
  • Title: The World Is Carried Within (Volume I of The Third Eye Series)
  • Launch Venue: Verandah Boutique Lounge, Bengaluru
  • Inaugurated By: S.D. Shibulal, Chairman, Tamara Leisure Experiences
  • Format: 18 literary essays paired with original wildlife photography from India and Sri Lanka
  • Featured Speakers: The event included an in-conversation session hosted by mind coach Ian Faria, alongside addresses by Mahesh Iyer (Principal & Founder of Iyer & Mahesh Architects) and Kamal Bali (President & MD of Volvo Group India).

The World Is Carried Within is now available through select literary outlets and online distributors.

source: http://www.thisweekindia.news / This Week India /Home / September 03rd, 2026

Robin Uthappa retires from all forms of cricket

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Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 36-year-old announced his decision through a personal note which he shared on social media platforms.

“It has been my greatest honour to represent my country and my state, Karnataka. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. Thank you all,” tweeted Uthappa while sharing the note. 

Notably, Uthappa represented India in white-ball cricket. The wicketkeeper batter played 59 matches for India across the two formats and aggregated 1183 runs. Uthappa made his ODI debut against England in 2006 while he played his first T20I against Scotland in 2007. In IPL, he has played 205 games and has amassed close to 5000 runs. 

Although the 36-year-old did not play too many games for India, he was reckoned as one of the pinch hitters in the team. Uthappa’s pull shots were pretty famous among fans. 

“It’s been 20 years since I started playing professional cricket, and it has been the greatest honour to represent my country and state, Karnataka- a wonderful journey full of ups and downs; one that has been fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable and has allowed me to grow as a human being. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. While I will spend a significant time with my young family, I look forward to charting a new phase in my life,” wrote Uthappa in his note. 

“I take this opportunity to thank the President, Secretary and the office bearers of the BCCI for their support and encouragement throughout my cricket career. I would also like to thank Karnataka State Cricket Association, Saurashtra Cricket Association and Kerala Cricket Association for the honour of representing the respective states during the course of my career. Further, would like to express my gratitude to the IPL teams represented MI, RCB, PWI and RR. A special mention to KKR & CSK for all the wonderful memories and support my family and received during my time with them-something will always cherish.”

source: http://www.sportstiger.com / Sports Tiger / Home> Cricket / by Ritesh Pathak / September 14th, 2022