Out of all the countless experiences one gets to have in Coorg, a spectacle for the senses is watching a bed of white blossoming flowers take limelight across the coffee plantations. Finally, the coffee plants are in bloom. Come February, Coorg is a wonderland of these delicate white flowers blanketing the area and filling the air with the sweetest fragrance. And it remains so until the beginning of April. Although it’s a common sight for the locals at Coorg, it is overwhelming for someone encountering the flowering for the first time. I, for one, was marvelled by the sea of white stretching across Coorg
While Raho Hospitalities are on their quest to diversify and redefine luxury escapes in various landscapes in India, I’ve been shadowing them to rediscover, chronicle and document everything. This time I was at Coorg and capturing everything – from the intricacies of its culture, its people to its land and nature. The past few months have found me exploring one such place that Raho has touched upon – Coorg. The name itself evokes a symphony of vast landscapes, emerald estates, and of course, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that rouses anyone from deep slumber. Now, I’m no stranger to Coorg’s infinite offerings but witnessing the land adorned with a blanket of white flowers was a revelation. Never thought I’d see coffee flowers, but here they are – tiny bursts of white against the emerald green leaves.What’s more is that these blooms are not just an ethereal visual treat, but also a sensory one. The air is thick with the most intoxicating fragrance – not the roast kind but something entirely different. It’s a sweet, heady scent of jasmine that never fails to captivate you.
As I walked amidst this breathtaking display, running my camera through these coffee blooms, I was filled with a deep sense of inquisitiveness. Every footage and photograph felt inadequate, unable to capture the true essence. It had to be linked to a story that I so eagerly want to tie it to. It’s a well known fact that coffee, the land and their heritage is something that is deeply respected by the Kodava people. Coffee is not just a livelihood here; it’s a way of life. My curiosity peaks as I approach a local farmer. In the conversation I had with him, I learned that this fleeting spectacle occurs just once a year. It’s a time of celebration for the coffee farmers, a promise of a bountiful harvest and the culmination of months of hard work. He said that it’s a crucial time of hope and anticipation for them; a sign of the harvest to come. Although he did seem a bit concerned, as he looked up to the sky praying for a good rainfall as he was concerned for this years’ yields. It’s moments like these that one realises that a good rainfall is one of many rewards that keep stories of generations alive. Nurturing the land, families toiling under the sun, and the shared joy of a thriving harvest transcends any other experience one gets to have in the cities. The mere beauty of these blooms symbolises resilience, tradition, and the lifeblood of a community.
As an outsider documenting the coffee blooms, I found myself captivated by these stories of coffee being a part of one’s life and culture. A cup of coffee will never remain just a beverage, it will be a connection to the source, a glimpse into the magic and heritage that goes into every brew. Watching this magical scene – the sun rising over the hills, painting the coffee flowers with a golden hue – is pure bliss.
