Recently I was in Kotagiri.
Kotagiri a small hill town in The Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, India. Though, not much attracted by the tourists as Ootty which is about 22 kms from Kotagiri, it’s certainly a beautiful place. This picturesque hill station is bounded by green tea estates and offers a number of trekking options. The three popular trekking trails from Kotagiri are Kodanad; St. Catherine Falls and Longwood Shola.
Kotagiri is just below Coonoor and the slopes of the Nilgiri hills have been the traditional home of the “Kota’ tribes. The name ‘Kota-giri’ itself means ‘mountain of the Kotas’. While the ‘Todas’ (another tribe) are the traditional agriculturists of the Nilgiris, the Kotas are the traditional artisans and are experts in the art of pottery and terracotta baking. The ‘Kota’ tribe is known for their reclusiveness and their reluctance to meet or mix with any outsider. They currently number just around 1000 members, and are fast declining.
Kotagiri lost its importance when the new ghat road was built from Mettupalayam at the foothills to Coonoor (Ooty). Until then the only way to get to Ooty was the horse trail that led through Kotagiri. This trail was built in 1821 by Evan McPherson and was the only way up till around 1870 when a proper road was built.
Places of Interest
- Kodanad View Point is accessible by road, 16 km from Kotagiri or about 30 minutes by car. It provides a splendid view of the great Mysore Plateau to one side and the picturesque farming cooperative called ‘Thengumarahada’ on the other side.
- John Sullivan’s Bungalow, also known as the ‘Pethakal Bungalow’ is open to the public. The Nilgiris Documentation Centre and the Nilgiris Museum is housed in this bungalow. Village walks, tastes of the local cuisine and folk life etc. are some of the activities that are organized here. It is located in Kannerimukku, about 2 km from the town. Naragiri is a small village near here, which abounds in tea plantations and has beautiful views of the valleys and the mountains. About 6 km from Kannerimukku is the village of Kookalthorai in the plateau with breathtaking views.
- Located within Kotagiri town, Longwood forest, a tropical evergreen forest is an excellent place for those who want to spend some quite time.
- The Nehru park in the town is a complex which houses a temple of the Kotas, the Gandhi Maidanam which is the public playground, a Congregation centre and the flood shelter which is used in normal times for indoor games. A private park about 3 km from the town on Coonoor road, specialises in roses and is a must see from March to June.
Hotels in Kotagiri
There are a few medium-range hotels in Kotagiri which can provide you fairly good and comfortable stay.
Kotagiri adorns several good educational institutions run by private management. The chill climate and the hilly terrain make Kotagiri an attractive place to visit.
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