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Kotagiri is a beautiful Hills Station located in the Nilgiris Hills. About 33 km southeast of Ooty. It is believed to have the world's second best climate.

[edit] Get in

Kotagiri can be reached only by Road. From Coimbatore it is 66 km via Mettupalayam. From Mettupalayam it is 33 km. From Coonoor it is 23 km.

There are frequent buses from all the above places. You can hire tourist taxis from these places at a nominal charges

[edit] Get in

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Tea Gardens
• Kodanad View Point

The town is surrounded by many tourist spots. One very popular place is the Kodanad View Point. Accessible by road, 16 km (10 miles) from Kotagiri or about 30 minutes by vehicle, it provides a splendid view of the great Mysore Plateau to one side and the picturesque 500 acre farming cooperative called Thengu mara haada, which seems like a green mosaic amidst the shrubland; lazily meandering this little village is the Bhavani River.

John Sullivan's bungalow, the one he built during his stay, has been renovated and is open to the public. It is located in Kannerimukku, about 20 minutes from the main town.

Located within Kotagiri town, Longwood forest, a pristine tropical evergreen forest is a secluded refuge for those seeking peace and quiet, it is home to the flying fox (a large arboreal squirrel) that is rarely seen, there is also a resident family of about 20 bison which can be seen grazing in the evenings just outside the forest on Milidhane road.

The Nehru Park in the town has a big complex which houses a temple of the Kotas, the Gandhi Maidanam which is the public playground, 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 in the months, March to June.

Other places of interest are the St.Catherine waterfalls near Aravenu, the uyilatty falls, 15km from kotagiri town and the 1,785 m (5,856 feet) high Rangasamy Peak. It is a conical peak and is the most sacred hill on the plateau. Being the Holy deity of the Nilgiris people, this shrine is visited by thousands of pilgrims from the 'kongu' region and other places every yearl. According to Hindu Legend, Lord Rangaswamy used to live at Karamadai in Coimbatore district on the plains but quarrelled with his wife and came to live alone here. Two-foot prints on the rock not far from Arakadu village below the peak, are stated to be the proof for this event.

On the northwest of Rangaswamy Peak, after "The Denad village" is found the Rangaswamy Pillar, which is an extraordinary isolated rocky pillar rising in solitary grandeur to a height of some 400 feet narrow and has sheer sides, which are quite unclimbable. Kil-kotagiri, Sholurmattam, Karagodumattam and Kadasholai are the places enroute to the Rangaswamy peak.

Kotagiri abounds in big european style bungalows built by the British and most of them retain their englishness, are still very habitable and have been conveted into upmarket homestays. New constructions too are aplenty but at the cost of aesthetics.

There are numerous tea factories producing the famous Nilgiri tea. The famous Nilgiri thailam (Eucalyptus oil) is distilled in small shacks in a rudimentary manner.

Kotagiri also has some gold deposits, which were mined to levels possible during the days of the British Raj. Presently research is going on to determine if it would be possible to extract more gold from the mines.

There is also some considerable bauxite in the area.

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[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

Hot Fresh tea is special in the cool climate. You get different favours of tea like Chocolate, Ilaichi, Ginger, Lemon etc.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out