Geography of Kodagu district is greatly influenced by its mountainous terrain. Kodagu district, located in the state of Karnataka, comprises of three taluks- Madikeri, Somwarpet and Virajpet. The headquarters of Kodagu is the hill station of Madikeri. Kodagu district runs a length of 96 Kms from the Hemavathi River in the North to the Brahmagiri hills in the south. Its greatest breadth from Sampaje in the west to Kushalnagar in the east is about 60 Kms. The district has an area of 4,102 Sq.km and 30 percent of the district is forest area.
The district has a mountainous configuration which presents a grand panorama of verdant valleys, ravines, fast flowing streams, lofty peaks and awe inspiring spurs. The major peaks are the Tadiandamol peak, Brahmagiri and Pushpagiri Hills. The largest river in Kodagu district is the Kaveri River with its principal tributaries Hemavathi, Lakshmanathirtha, Kakkabbe and Harangi or Survanavati, and it flows in an easterly direction and Barapole river flows towards west.
The climate of Kodagu is cool, equable and pleasant. The district has a very moist and rainy monsoon climate. Winter lasts from January to February, summer from March to May, South-west monsoon from June to September and the North-East monsoon from October to December. Heavy rainfall is experienced in the months of June, July and August, with July being the rainiest month. The rainfall during the duration of the South-West monsoon forms about 80 percent of the annual rainfall in the region of the Western Ghats Mountain range. Bhagamandala, Pullingoth and Makutta are three of the 14 heavy rainfall stations in India, the other station in Karnataka being Agumbe in Shimoga district.
The mean daily minimum temperature is the least in January at about 14.2 degree Celsius. During December to February the minimum temperature may go down to 6 degree Celsius. Temperature begins to increase from mid February and reaches climax in April and May with mean daily maximum temperature at 28.6 degree Celsius. With onset of south-west monsoon temperature decreases in June and weather becomes pleasant.
As is typical of all tropical rainforests, vegetation of Kodagu district is precariously perched on the thin layer of rich humus and topsoil which wash away the moment the trees and vegetation are removed from it. Torrential rains followed by landslides bare the land, leaving exposed rocks and stones on which no vegetation can be grown again, except perhaps eucalyptus, acacia tree or silver oak.
