I have written time and again about the dangers of unregulated tourism in Kodagu. Each article has been both a warning and a plea to save our fragile homeland before it is too late. Today, that cry grows louder, because the numbers, the damage, and the indifference can no longer be ignored. Kodagu has always welcomed guests with legendary hospitality. But the need of the hour is regulated, community-driven tourism.
Kodagu – where mists whisper to the hills and rivers rise from sacred soil – is once again witnessing a movement born from love for the land. The Coorg Hotels and Resorts Association (COHERA) has stepped forward to remind everyone that protecting Kodagu’s environment is not a seasonal task, but a lifelong responsibility.
COHERAhas launched a district-wide cleanliness drive to bring citizens together under one cause , to keep Kodagu clean, green, and unspoiled. Its initiative goes beyond clearing litter; it seeks to restore a collective sense of pride and guardianship over this fragile landscape.
Yet, amid these efforts, one truth cannot be ignored – tourism’s growing footprint. Visitors, drawn by Kodagu’s serene charm, too often leave behind a trail of plastic, bottles, and wrappers that scar its hills and pollute its sacred waters. The litter at Talacauvery, Mandalpatti, and Abbey Falls tells a painful story of beauty taken for granted.
Tourism without responsibility is exploitation. Every selfie taken by a waterfall, every car parked by a forest path, leaves scars. And when paradise begins to decay, it does not happen in silence – it happens in shame.
Tourists must remember: Kodagu is not a picnic ground. It is a living heritage. When you walk its sacred paths, you are guests in a land that treats nature as divinity. Respect it. Carry back your waste. Leave behind gratitude, not garbage.
COHERA’s initiative is more than a campaign, it is a call to conscience. It urges every resident, every visitor, every heart that beats for Kodagu to act with responsibility. Because preserving the district’s charm is not the duty of a few; it is the duty of all.
Kodagu does not need another awareness drive. It needs awareness in action. Let us remember, once paradise is polluted, it never returns the same. The efforts of COHERA in keeping our beloved land clean and green are truly commendable. Such initiatives set an inspiring example for all of us.
While their tireless work keeps our hills and streams pristine, it is also a wake-up call for tourists and locals alike – our sacred land is not a dumping ground. Respect the beauty, preserve the heritage, and follow their example that makes Kodagu truly special.Â
– Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah
