| Coorg Province | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province of India | |||||||||
| 1834–1947 | |||||||||
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 Map of Coorg Province in 1876 | |||||||||
| Capital | Mercara | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• | 1,582 km2 (611 sq mi) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 10 April 1834 | |||||||||
| 15 August 1947 | |||||||||
• Reorganized as a state under the Constitution of India | 26 January 1947 | ||||||||
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Coorg Province was a province of British India from 1834 to 1947 and the Dominion of India from 1947 to 1950. Mercara was the capital of the province. It was administered by a Commissioner and later, Chief Commissioner appointed by the Government of India. The Chief Commissioner, was usually based in Bangalore. From 1834 to 1881, the Chief Commissioner, was also the Commissioner of Mysore. From 1881 to 1940, the Chief Commissioner was usually the British Resident to the princely state of Mysore.
The province of Coorg was established in May 1834, when the Kingdom of Coorg was abolished and its territories annexed to British India in the aftermath of the Coorg War. Coorg Province was largely inhabited by the Kodava people who spoke the Kodava language. During the 19th century, a number of coffee plantations were established in Coorg with the result that Coorg became one of the largest producers of coffee in the British Empire. The Kodava people of Coorg were renowned for their bravery and supplied a vast proportion of recruits to the British Indian army.
A Legislative council was established in 1924 comprising 15 elected and five nominated members. Coorg Province became a Part-C state of the Indian Union when the Republic of India was inaugurated on 26 January 1950. In 1956, the state was merged with the neighbouring Mysore State was per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.