Coorg

Kashmir of the south - that's the name given to Coorg. The hill region of Coorg lies 100km west of Mysore in the western ghats. Birthplace of the River Cauvery and home of some of India' s bravest soldiers, Coorg is noted for its scenic beauty. Hiking, cross-country, or simply motoring down mountain trails in Coorg, the visitor encounters views of the morning mist rolling down thickly wooded hill slopes and the paddy fields and neat rows of coffee bushes resplendent under the blue skies. 

One explanation of the origin of the Kodavas traces their ancestry to the Arabs. This is because the traditional costume worn by the men of Coorg, the long black coat or kuppia, bears a striking resemblance to the kuffia worn by Arabs.

Kodagu has a few temples that are worth visiting. The Bagamandala Temple at the confluence of the Cauvery-Sujyothi Rivers is built in the multi-roofed Kerala style. The Omkareshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is almost 200 years old and is a surprising blend of Islamic and Gothic styles.