Description

Kodagu is an administrative districtinKarnataka, India. Before 1956 it was an administrativelyseparateCoorg State,[3] at which point it was merged into anenlargedMysore State. It occupies an area of 4,102 squarekilometres (1,584sq mi) in the Western Ghats of southwesternKarnataka. In 2001 itspopulation was 548,561, 13.74% of whichresided in the district'surban centres, making it the leastpopulous of the 30 districts inKarnataka.[4]

The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district tothenorthwest, Kasargod district of Kerala to the west, Hassandistrictto the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur districtofKerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala tothesouth. Agriculture is the most important factor that upholdstheeconomy of Kodagu and the main crops cultivated in this regionarerice and coffee. Coorg is rich in natural resources whichincludedtimber and spices. Madikeri (English: Mercara) is theheadquartersof Kodagu.

Kodagu is known for its coffee and its people. The dominantgroupare the indigenous (Kodavas) and other ethnic groups(ArabasheGowdas and Kodava subgroups). The chief languagespresently spokenin Kodagu are Kodava, Are Bhashe, Kannada, Tulu,Konkani and Urdu.Kodagu is home to the native speakers of theKodavalanguage.[5]