A small, lush green village, teeming with snakes! Here, humans and snakes are neighbors! Spanning just 3 square kilometers, it stands at an elevation of approximately 2700 feet above sea level. Only 600 people reside in this settlement; the rest are all snakes! Do you know where?

Snakes evoke both fear and reverence—an eternal, paradoxical duality in Indian culture. Sometimes they coil around Shiva’s neck, at other times they strike farmers in rural Bengal. From folklore to mythology, from temples to mud houses, the shadow of the snake is everywhere.

But did you know there’s a village in India where snakes aren’t just mythical figures but kings of reality? A place where snakes are not merely neighbors but the focal point of its culture, biodiversity, and research. A village inextricably linked with the word ‘cobra,’ much like the Ganges with the Himalayas.

From ancient scriptures to modern rituals, this venomous serpent is a divine symbol. The ‘naga’ resides around Shiva’s neck, and Vishnu’s resting place is formed by Ananta-Shesha. Every year, during the Nag Panchami festival, Naga Devata (the serpent deity) is worshipped across the country.

Beyond mythology, some regions in India are renowned for their real-world snake dominance. One such place is a small village dubbed the “Cobra Capital of India”!

This verdant village measures only 3 square kilometers and is about 2700 feet above sea level. Only 600 people inhabit this area. Surrounded by dense forests, mountains, and waterfalls, this locale is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and wildlife researchers.

Beyond snakes, its dense forests are home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Some rare fungal species, such as Meliola agumbensis, Tarenna agumbensis, Hygromaster agumbensis, and Dactylaria agumbensis, were first discovered here—all bearing the ‘Agumbe’ name.

Where is this snake village? It’s Agumbe in Karnataka, nestled in the Western Ghats of India. It receives so much rainfall that it’s called the “Cherrapunji of the South.”

While it’s India’s Cobra Capital, Agumbe’s most famous resident is undoubtedly the King Cobra. It’s here that renowned herpetologist Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker established the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS), which launched India’s first King Cobra radio telemetry project.

For those unfamiliar, a herpetologist is a scientist who researches reptiles and amphibians like snakes, frogs, lizards, and turtles. They study the behavior, physiology, genetics, and evolution of these animals in fields, jungles, or laboratories. This research often plays a crucial role in conserving endangered species.

The King Cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake. However, they are distinct because, unlike other snakes that primarily eat rodents or frogs, they mainly prey on other snakes, even venomous ones like kraits.

The “snake-eater” sits at the apex of the forest food chain. Agumbe is India’s enigmatic natural treasury, where snakes are not just a source of fear but also a key to research, reverence, and biodiversity. There’s no other village like it in the country where snakes are such close and vital cohabitants!