Madikeri in Coorg

I was reminded of Asterix and Obelix when I read this on the menu card "To fight like warriors, you must first eat like warriors"

Had been to Madikeri (Coorg) last week to attend a wedding. 

We stayed at a place by the name "Udaya Home Stay"  The sight of the hammock right at the entrance makes you feel relaxed. 

The warmth and the hospitality of the hosts was genuine. 

Breakfast was complimentary and we had akki roti with scrambled egg and chutney on the first day. 

The next day it was Paputtu with egg curry 

I liked the fire place in the common room and they still use wood (as compared to the modern electric heater) 

The sheaf of grain is supposed to bring prosperity to the house 

The stay in Udaya was just relaxing and we wished we could have stayed for a few more days. 

One of the eating places that we liked was the Coorg Cuisine (which is opposite the post office) The pandhi curry is one of the popular dishes there and so is the bamboo shoot curry. 

The above mentioned menu card was from the same place. 

One of the pages from the menu card - Coorg cuisine is known for its meat dishes, the best known would definitely be the 'pandhi curry' or pork curry. The key ingredient, known locally as kachampuli gives the dish a unique sour taste, besides the dark and delicious look. kachampuli's Latin name is Garcinia Gamagachi. 

It grows in Coorg's rain forest and all along the western ghat mountains surrounding Coorg. Garcinia reduces fat, cools the body, purifies the blood and fights cholesterol. It is used in many Indian Aurvedic preparations. 

The Kodavas of Coorg is one of the few tribes in India who are allowed to posses a gun without a licence.

Visited a Honey bottling plant which was walking distance from Udaya Homestay. I found the area clean and well maintained and the product tasted really good. It was much cheaper than the bottled honey you get in the commercial market. 

They were good enough to open one of the containers and show us where we could see the honey in the crystalline form 

At the town square I found two statues and one of them had these wordings "Lest we forget" 

The usual tourist crowd was not to be seen. Probably due to the hyped news by the media about the recent landslide. I found these two boys carrying home firewood. 

Driving down to Madikeri is the best option, but those who don't want to drive, KSRTC Fly buses ply from Bangalore airport to Madikeri. The drive is very very comfortable and the roads are good.

On the way back we went by the Airavat bus (again KSRTC) Talking of KSRTC, I found that they are the most efficient and well organised road transport company in India. Very polite and customer friendly.