👤 Author / लेखक

• Author: Lokesh Abrol (textbook passage on Coorg)
• Focus: Coorg (Kodagu) ki prakriti, log, itihaasik-सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि, adventure tourism, वन्यजीव।

🧭 Summary (English)

Coorg (Kodagu), a small district in Karnataka between Mysore and Mangalore, is famed for evergreen rainforests, coffee and spices. Stories trace the Kodavus’ ancestry to Greek soldiers or to Arabs, reflected in their martial traditions and dress (kuppia). Coorgi homes are hospitable; the Coorg Regiment is highly decorated and General Cariappa hailed from here. The river Kaveri rises in these hills. Tourists enjoy river-rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock-climbing, mountain-biking and trekking. Wildlife includes macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender loris and elephants; kingfishers and mahaseer thrive in its waters. Access is easy by road from Bangalore (≈250–260 km); nearest airports are Mangalore and Bangalore; railheads at Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan.

🧭 सार (हिन्दी)

कर्नाटक का छोटा जिला कूर्ग (कोडगु) मैसूर और मेंगलुरु के बीच है—यह सदाबहार वर्षावनों, कॉफी व मसालों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। कोडव लोगों की वंशकथा यूनानी सैनिकों या अरबों से जोड़ी जाती है, जिसका असर उनके मार्शल जीवन और पारंपरिक पोशाक (कुप्पिया) में दिखता है। कूर्गी आतिथ्य, Coorg Regiment की वीरता और पहले सेना प्रमुख जनरल करियप्पा इसके गौरव हैं। कावेरी नदी यहीं की पहाड़ियों से निकलती है। पर्यटक रिवर-राफ्टिंग, कैनोइंग, रैपलिंग, रॉक-क्लाइंबिंग, माउंटेन-बाइकिंग व ट्रेकिंग करते हैं। यहाँ मकाक, मालाबार गिलहरी, लंगूर, स्लेंडर लोरिस, हाथी, किंगफिशर और महाशीर मछली मिलती है। बेंगलुरु से सड़क मार्ग (लगभग 250–260 किमी) सुविधाजनक है; नज़दीकी हवाई अड्डे—मेंगलुरु व बेंगलुरु; रेलवे स्टेशन—मैसूर, मेंगलुरु, हासन।

🧩 Characters (People & Places) / प्रमुख पात्र-तत्व

• Kodavus (Coorgi people): martial traditions, hospitality, distinctive dress kuppia.
• General K. M. Cariappa: first Indian Commander-in-Chief; from Coorg.
• Coorg Regiment: one of the most decorated regiments.
• River Kaveri: originates in Coorg hills; supports rich biodiversity.
• Wildlife: macaques, Malabar giant squirrels, langurs, slender loris, elephants; birds like kingfishers; fish—mahaseer.
• Landscape: evergreen rainforests, coffee/spice plantations, misty hills.

🗣️ NCERT Questions & Answers (EN + HI)

1. Q1. Where is Coorg?

   Ans: In Karnataka, between Mysore and Mangalore; the district is also called Kodagu.

   उत्तर: कर्नाटक में, मैसूर और मेंगलुरु के बीच; इसे कोडगु भी कहते हैं।

2. Q2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?

   Ans: Two popular views—some trace them to Greek soldiers of Alexander’s army who settled here; another links them to Arab ancestry (reflected in the kuppia resembling the Arab kuffia).

   उत्तर: दो मान्यताएँ—(i) सिकंदर की सेना के यूनानी सैनिक यहाँ बस गए; (ii) अरब मूल का प्रभाव (कुप्पिया का कुफ्फिया से साम्य) ।

3. Q3. What are some of the things you now know about—

   1. the people of Coorg? — Hospitable, brave, martial traditions; distinct marriage and religious rites.
   2. the main crop? — Coffee (with spices).
   3. sports for tourists? — River-rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock-climbing, mountain-biking, trekking; many walking trails.
   4. animals you may see? — Macaques, Malabar (giant) squirrels, langurs, slender loris, elephants; kingfishers; mahaseer fish.
   5. distance & how to reach? — ~250–260 km from Bangalore by road (via Mysore common); airports: Mangalore (≈135 km), Bangalore (≈260 km); railheads: Mysore, Mangalore, Hassan.

4. Q4. Find phrases from the text with the same meaning (paras given):

   Given sentence	Phrase from text
   (i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)	“During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away.”
   (ii) Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)	“A part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here.”
   (iii) Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of valour. (para 4)	“Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour.”
   (iv) Laidback people get attracted to high-energy adventure sports. (para 6)	“The most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure …”
   (v) Arab-origin theory is supported by their long coat with embroidered belt. (para 3)	“The theory of the Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt (kuppia) …”
   (vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you from the tree canopy. (para 7)	“Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy.”

📝 Collocations – Word Friends