Honouring General Kodandera S. Thimayya
Published on: 22/09/2026

Photo title: Sunny Side Museum
|Photo Credits: Bindu Gopal Rao
While staying at Evolve Back Coorg I decided to visit ‘Sunny Side’, the erstwhile residence of General Thimayya that has been converted into a museum to showcase his indelible contributions to the Indian Defence.
General Thimayya, often said to be one of the most eminent soldiers of the Indian Army, called Timmy by his colleagues, served from 1926 to 1961. He has led several successful missions, including commanding the 19th Infantry Division in Jammu and Kashmir in 1948.
The expansive 2.6 acre plot that houses the museum has been carefully restored for two years under the guidance of the Field Marshal Cariappa, General Thimayya Forum and the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Nirmithi Kendra Kodagu. The best part is that there was special emphasis on the use of construction techniques of the past to keep the original ethos of the space intact. One of the infographics inside state that the old plaster was removed carefully with a brush, after which 'Wall Stitching' was done for the damaged bricks and the walls were given a limestone plaster finish to regulate temperature indoors. The original Mangalore roof tiles have been retained and refurbished from the original structure and was followed up by sandwich roofing process. For the floor mud and terracotta tiles were specially ordered and all window grills and woodwork have been scraped of layers of old paint and repolished to its former glory.
There are several outdoor exhibits here including the star attraction ‘Himmat’, an army tank that has been sent from the Kirkee War Cemetery at Khadki near Pune and was used in the India-Pakistan war in 1971. There is also the MiG-21, a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft that has been decommissioned now. A larger-than-life soldier’s boot opposite the main entrance is symbolic as it is meant to encourage youngsters to join the armed forces.

Photo title: The interior of the museum
|Photo Credits: Bindu Gopal Rao
Entering the museum that has displays in different rooms, the audio visuals are unmissable. Also, the front facing wall has a quote by late Lieutenant General Premindra Singh Bhagat, VC (Retd.) that reads ‘A General Thimayya is not born in every generation. The likes of him there will seldom be a soldier. The General is a man's man, the Army his soul and his soul the Army.’ The walls have several infographics describing the valour of Indian soldiers on the battlefield. Located on G T Road the war memorial has a range of displays from antique weaponry, war relics, a canon, and several articles used by General Thimayya like his military uniforms, books, light machine guns, medium machine guns, self-loading rifles, bore rifles, and rocket launchers, among others. The model of the Sindhughosh class submarine is also in the museum.
There are several artefacts on display that document aspects of the Kodava lifestyle – from the traditional attire of Kodava men and women to the jewellery they wear. The rooms have been neatly divided into sections – his early years, the bedrooms – one for the women of the house as well and his military journey. There is also a documentary film that you must watch when you are here. Once you are done with seeing the space, you can also pick up some memorabilia from the attached gift store and perhaps sip on some of the famed Coorg coffee. In all this is a great place to see and understand the many contributions of General Thimayya.
Bindu Gopal Rao
Bindu Gopal Rao is a freelance writer and photographer based in Bengaluru, who believes writing provides a unique opportunity to meet a variety of people while exploring new places. She has a keen eye to learn about offbeat, unusual and local angles when she travels. Her work is documented at www.bindugopalrao.com
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