COORG
Coorg used to be an independent princely state but it is now just a district of Karnataka called Kodagu. The light skinned people of this area are called Kodavas (or Coorgis) and are thought to have migrated from Kurdistan. They still retain many of their traditions including their own language, style of dress and cuisine. Within the area (which is forested with many coffee plantations) there is a Tibetan settlement (the largest outside Tibet – many Tibetans fled to India when the Chinese invaded) and an elephant camp. Fishing is also a popular pastime in Coorg and the famous Mahseer fish can be found in the rivers.