03/12/2016
One of the three popular hill stations in the Nilgiris besides (29 km), Coonoor (18 km), Kotagiri is your quintessential plantation. Situated at an elevation of 5,882 ft, the is located in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The name Kotagiri means ‘mountains of the Kotas’ (the Nilgiri hills have been the traditional home of the Kota Tribe).
Kotagiri’s importance fell when the ghat road from at the foothills of was built. Before the ghat road was built, every traveler going to Ooty had to pass through Kotagiri. Surrounded by tea estates and beautiful green landscapes, Kotagiri offers plenty of opportunities for trekking and rock climbing. Besides trekking, there is not much to do in Kotagiri except take leisurely strolls through the tea plantations, watch the workers pluck tea leaves and soak in the cool climate of the region. Needless to say, a visit to one of the tea factories that cater to international markets is a must.
The most popular trekking trails in Kotagiri are towards Kodanad, Falls and Shola. The trail leading to Kodanad goes through a meadow, tea estates and the Moyar River. The major attractions near Kotagiri include the Catherine Falls, Elk Falls, Doddabetta Range and the Rangaswami Pillar. Kodanad Point offers spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
The best time to visit Kotagiri is during October. Unlike in Ooty and Coonoor, the weather in Kotagiri is far more pleasant. It was earlier known as Kotakeri and Kotagheri which means ‘street of the Kotas’. In 1911, the government acquired the region and the Kotas were shifted to Aggal hamlet about two km away.
The region was discovered by two civil servants of the Madras government in pursuit of outlaws. They reported that there is a region beyond the pass in the hills after the village of Kil Kotagiri which has similar to a country. They called the region ‘Kotacherry’.
Sullivan, the then collector of , visited Kotagiri and was so drawn to the place that he built a home here making him the first to reside in Kotagiri.
