Erstwhile Kodagu – Kodagu prior to 1804 was inhabited by the Arebhashekararu the “ Gowda Kannada” speaking people in large number. It consisted of Eight Taluks- puttur, Sullia, Madikeri, Virajpet, Somwarpet,
Sakleshpur, Arkalagud and Periyapatna.
       Three dynasties were associated with the history of Kodagu in general and the Arebhashe Gowdas in particular- the Gangas, the Nayakas of Ikkeri and the Haleri Kings. They are said to have belonged to Dravida clan and migrated from the region of Sindhu river following the root of Bengal, Devagiri, Vijayangar, province of Ikkeri and ultimately setteled in South Canara and Kodagu districts. Religiously, they are associated with Tirupathi, Sringeri and Talakaveri. It also reflects on the root they followed to settle at Kodagu. In Commemoration of their stay in Vijayanagar and connection to Tirupathi, Hariseve an offering to Lord Venkateshwara is celebrated in every Kodagu Gowda family. An offering is being made to Sringeri Mutt in the form of ‘ Theravina Hana’. Kaveri Sankramana is being celebrated on the day of Tula Sankramana in the month of October every year. “ To praise the Joy of the people on the occasion of “ Kaveri Jathra” being celebrated in the ambiance of heavenly, peaceful and Natural beauty, one should be present on the spot” writes Hilton Brown, once the Chief Commissioner of Kodagu. Two Kodagu Gowda families- Kodi family and  Nidyamale family are incharge of the whole festivities being conducted at ‘ Bhagamandala and Talakaveri. It is the right
conferred by the Raja of Kodagu.
      The Practice and the concept of ‘ Ainmane’, living under a Single roof, the invocation “ Aramaneyavare, Gurumaneyavare, Maganemaneyervare, Kattemayavare and the cluster of 10 families consting of 18 clans popularly known as Hathu Kutumba Hadinentu Gothra forms the web of social life of the Kodagu Gowdas.
      The white robe and a Sash, popular as “ Kuppasa Datti” along with Turbon, peechekathi/ odikathi forms their Traditional and ceremonial dress. The right to Land popular as jamma land holdings associated with the right to posses the Gun is another feature of the socio- economic life of the Kodagu Gowdas.
      The Singingof Sobane, a folksong said to have started during the marriage of shiva with parvathi has been absorbedand sung by the Gowdas throughout their Journey to Erstwhile Kodagu and the present Kodagu. Sobane was popular in North India as ‘ Shadigeeth’, in the Andhra region as ‘ Kalyana Patalu and the Havyakas of Shimoga and North canara districts as Sobane. So among the Gowdas no marriage is celebrated without Singing sobane.
      During the death too, firing the gun, use of plantain and bamboo trees and conducting certain rituals in the reverse order are unique to the Gowdas.
      Arebhashe the language which the Kodagu Gowdas speak is of Dravida origin.Like the Havyaka Kannda and the Kota Kannada. Arebhase also belongs to a different strata of Kannada languages opines prof. Mariappa Bhat and prof. Kodi Kushalappa Gowda the prominent liguists. They named the Arebhashe as “ Gowda Kannada”.
      Altogether there are 920 Gowda families spread over south Canara and Kodagu districts covering an area of 2165 sq miles.Now population of the Gowdas is around 5 lakh.