Chapter Overview

Coorg is the second part of the chapter Glimpses of India. It is a descriptive travel piece about Coorg, also known as Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka. The author presents Coorg as a beautiful land of coffee plantations, rainforests, spices, wildlife, brave people and adventure sports.

The chapter gives readers a glimpse of India’s natural beauty and cultural diversity. It describes Coorg’s location, climate, people, legends of origin, martial traditions, wildlife, river Kaveri, adventure activities and tourist attractions.

Summary in English

Coorg, also called Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka. It lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. The author describes it as a piece of heaven that seems to have drifted from the kingdom of God.

Coorg is famous for its rolling hills, evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. About thirty per cent of the district is covered with evergreen rainforests. During the monsoon, it rains heavily, so many tourists avoid visiting at that time. The best season to visit Coorg is from September to March, when the weather is pleasant.

Coorg is known as coffee country. The air smells of fresh coffee, and coffee estates along with colonial bungalows can be seen under thick tree canopies. The region is full of natural beauty and greenery.

The people of Coorg are fiercely independent and brave. According to one theory, they may be of Greek descent because a part of Alexander’s army is believed to have settled there. Another theory suggests that they are of Arab origin because the traditional Coorgi dress, the kuppia, resembles the kuffia worn by Arabs and Kurds.

Coorgi homes are famous for hospitality. The people proudly tell stories of courage and bravery related to their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army, was a Coorgi. Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence.

The river Kaveri gets its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. The river has large freshwater fish called Mahaseer. Kingfishers, squirrels, langurs and elephants are also found in the region. Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed by their mahouts.

Coorg is also a centre for adventure sports. Tourists can enjoy river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and trekking. The area is rich in birds, bees, butterflies, macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris.

The climb to the Brahmagiri hills offers a panoramic view of the misty landscape of Coorg. Visitors can also walk across the rope bridge to Nisargadhama, a sixty-four-acre island. Nearby Bylakuppe, India’s largest Tibetan settlement, adds another cultural attraction to the region.

सारांश हिंदी में

Coorg, जिसे Kodagu भी कहा जाता है, कर्नाटक का सबसे छोटा जिला है। यह मैसूर और मंगलौर के बीच स्थित है। लेखक इसे स्वर्ग का एक टुकड़ा कहते हैं, जो मानो ईश्वर के राज्य से बहकर धरती पर आ गया हो।

कूर्ग अपनी पहाड़ियों, सदाबहार वर्षावनों, मसालों और कॉफी बागानों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। इस जिले का लगभग तीस प्रतिशत भाग सदाबहार जंगलों से ढका हुआ है। मानसून में यहां बहुत अधिक वर्षा होती है, इसलिए उस समय कम पर्यटक आते हैं। सितंबर से मार्च तक का समय कूर्ग घूमने के लिए सबसे अच्छा माना गया है।

कूर्ग को कॉफी का देश कहा जा सकता है। यहां की हवा में कॉफी की सुगंध बसी रहती है। कॉफी के बागान और पुराने औपनिवेशिक बंगले पेड़ों की छाया में दिखाई देते हैं।

कूर्ग के लोग स्वतंत्र स्वभाव के, वीर और मेहमाननवाज हैं। एक कथा के अनुसार वे यूनानी मूल के हो सकते हैं क्योंकि सिकंदर की सेना का एक हिस्सा यहां आकर बस गया था। दूसरी मान्यता के अनुसार वे अरब मूल के हो सकते हैं क्योंकि उनकी पारंपरिक पोशाक kuppia, अरबों और कुर्दों की kuffia जैसी दिखती है।

कूर्ग के घरों में अतिथि-सत्कार की परंपरा है। वहां के लोग अपने पूर्वजों की वीरता की कहानियां गर्व से सुनाते हैं। कूर्ग रेजिमेंट भारतीय सेना की सबसे अधिक सम्मानित रेजिमेंटों में से एक है। भारतीय सेना के पहले प्रमुख जनरल करियप्पा भी कूर्गी थे।

कावेरी नदी कूर्ग की पहाड़ियों और जंगलों से जल प्राप्त करती है। यहां Mahaseer नाम की बड़ी मीठे पानी की मछलियां पाई जाती हैं। किंगफिशर, गिलहरियां, लंगूर और हाथी भी इस क्षेत्र में मिलते हैं।

कूर्ग साहसिक खेलों के लिए भी प्रसिद्ध है। यहां पर्यटक रिवर राफ्टिंग, कैनोइंग, रैपलिंग, रॉक क्लाइम्बिंग, माउंटेन बाइकिंग और ट्रेकिंग का आनंद ले सकते हैं। ब्रह्मगिरी पहाड़ियों से पूरे धुंधले कूर्ग क्षेत्र का सुंदर दृश्य दिखाई देता है।

Part-wise Summary

Fact File – Coorg at a Glance

Important Points to Form Answers

• Coorg is written by Lokesh Abrol.
• Coorg is also called Kodagu.
• It is the smallest district of Karnataka.
• It lies between Mysore and Mangalore.
• The author calls Coorg a piece of heaven.
• Coorg is famous for coffee, spices and evergreen rainforests.
• Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of the district.
• The best season to visit Coorg is from September to March.
• The air in Coorg smells of invigorating coffee.
• The Kodavus are fiercely independent people.
• One theory says that Kodavus are of Greek descent.
• Another theory says that Kodavus are of Arab origin.
• The traditional Coorgi dress is called kuppia.
• Coorgi homes are known for hospitality.
• The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army.
• General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army, was a Coorgi.
• Kodavus can carry firearms without a licence.
• The river Kaveri gets its water from the hills and forests of Coorg.
• Coorg offers adventure sports like rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
• Tourist attractions include Brahmagiri hills, Nisargadhama and Bylakuppe.

Difficult Words with Meanings and Synonyms

Literary Devices and Writing Techniques

Important Question and Answers

HOTS Questions and Answers

Extract-Based Questions

Quick Revision Box

Final Conclusion

Coorg is a beautiful travel essay that introduces students to the natural charm and cultural richness of Kodagu. Through descriptions of coffee plantations, rainforests, brave Kodavus, river Kaveri, wildlife and adventure sports, Lokesh Abrol presents Coorg as one of India’s most fascinating regions.