Catherine Falls Kotagiri

Travel to India > Kotagiri > Catherine Falls Kotagiri

The right place to visit and feel the magnificent beauty of waterfalls is the Catherine falls in Kotagiri. Kotagiri is a small and very beautiful town. It is located in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu state, India. The name Kotagiri stands for the 'mountain of the Kotas'. Kotagiri enjoys the advantage of climate over the other nearby hill stations, which also includes Ooty. This town is very well protected against the southwest monsoon by the big mountain range i.e. Doddabetta.

The slopes of the Nilgiri hills have been the traditional homes of the Kota Tribes. The local tribal people are experts in the arts of pottery and terracotta baking. History says that at the time of British rule, John Sullivan was the collector of Coimbatore. During his service, he journeyed onto the top hill of Kotagiri and made a home for himself. John Sullivan was the first European to stay on the Nilgiri hills and surrounding areas. Later, many people started shifting to the hills during the summer, due to its lovely weather. Several English men settled here as they explored the delights of the Kotagiri town. However, the climate makes everyone feel like heaven!

Kotagiri is one of the first places where the cash crops such as tea, coffee and other spices were planted and made available in the market too. Nevertheless, India is well known worldwide for its spices. Moreover, Kotagiri is one of the important and attractive tourist destinations in southern India. Here, one can find numerous places to visit and enjoy the sight seeing places, which includes Kodanad View point, Catherine falls, Lord Rangaswamy peak, long wood shola, and many more.

Catherine falls is also known as St. Catherine's fall. These falls are double-cascaded. Catherine falls are located near about 7 kms from Kotagiri. These falls are situated on the Mettupalayam road branching off at Aravenu. From Aravenu, one will need to go via Moon Road to reach the Magnificent Catherine falls. This falls are crossed by the Mettupalyam Ooty road, which is beyond the mountains and forms the upper streams of the Kallar River.

However, the falls are named after the wife of M.D. Cockburn. M.D. Cockburn was the pioneer coffee planter of the Kotagiri town and Yercaud. Catherine fall falls from 250 feet high and it is the second highest falls in the Nilgiri Mountains. It is located amidst of the thick forest, which gives a panoramic view of the forests. Catherine falls is the upper course of the Gaddhehaadahalla stream. The other name of Catherine falls is Gaddhehaadahalla, which means the foothills of Dale River. The Gaddhehaadahalla stream drains the Kallar basin. From here, one can also see the Dolphin's Nose of Coonoor, which is across the mighty gap in the Niligiri Hills.

One will surely enjoying the Catherine falls in Kotagiri, Tamil nadu. You feel admire the magnificent beauty of the cascading waterfall.