Madikeri, Hill station in Karnataka, India
Madikeri is a town at 1061 meters elevation in the Western Ghats mountains, surrounded by the Kodagu district and set among coffee plantations and dense forests. The streets run through hilly terrain, and from the town center you can see forested slopes in every direction, while the air remains cool and moist.
The settlement began under King Mudduraja of the Haleri dynasty, who gave it the name Muddurajakeri before it was later shortened. The British took control in the 19th century and made the place the administrative seat of the district, which shaped the layout of streets and buildings.
The Kodava residents of the town celebrate harvest festivals twice a year, with traditional dances and dishes made from local rice taking center stage. On the streets you often see women wearing white saris with gold borders, the typical festive dress of this community, while men wear Kupya jackets and tied headcloths.
The nearest airport option is in Mangalore at 136 kilometers distance, while several railway stations within 115 kilometers are reachable. The town can be visited throughout the year, though the months from October to March bring less rain and make the streets easier to walk.
The red roofs on the houses are not just decorative, but help channel the enormous amounts of rain during the monsoon. The construction with slopes and overhangs prevents water from penetrating the walls, and makes the houses resistant to the damp mountain climate.
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