Malethirike shrine, located near the villages of Karada and Palangala in Kodagu. Photo by Mookonda Kushalappa. L ike many traditional Kodava shrines, Malethirike has no walls or roof. Worship takes place in the open, amidst nature. Five lingas—cylindrical symbols of Shiva—are placed at the base of large trees. A forest stairway leads devotees to this sacred spot. The shrine is linked to the Pandavas, who are believed to have worshipped here. Locals point to a nearby open spac

Background picture courtesy: Nagesh / X.com (@KodaguConnect) New Delhi: The Union Government has informed the Lok Sabha that no recent proposal has been received from the Karnataka government for the inclusion of Kodava/Kodavaru/Kodagaru communities in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Replying to a question raised by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on 24 March 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment stated that these com

The big cat was spotted in a coffee estate belonging to Sandeep Ponchettira, a local resident. Madikeri: Panic gripped residents of Ibnivalvadi village in Kodagu after a tiger was sighted in the area, barely two kilometres from Madikeri town. The big cat was spotted in a coffee estate belonging to Sandeep Ponchettira, a local resident. Its movement was captured on a CCTV camera installed on the premises, providing visual confirmation of its presence. Following the sighting, F