Have you ever been โhigh on natureโ?? Are you the one who wants to pamper yourself over a weekend amidst the raw and pure sounds of nature!!
Then the idyllic hill town of Kotagiri can be your abode for a perfect weekend trip from Bangalore.
Tucked in the lap of Nilgiris, Kotagiri is a hidden gem of Tamilnadu. If you want to avoid maddening crowd of Ooty and Coonoor, Kotagiri is the place you should be. Surrounded by lush green tea estates, cotton clouds and misty mountains, Kotagiri will ensure your interaction with nature remain pure and undisturbed. Get yourself into a cozy corner, a cup of filter coffee or tea and enjoy this raw, enchantingly peaceful hill station.
Kotagiri or the โMountain of Kotasโ got its name from the Kota tribe who called this place home
When you unwind; you need a โHomeโ
If you ever come to Kotagiri for a weekend trip from Bangalore or any other nearby places, look no further and stay here.
Door to Nirvana is a hostel that caters to every kind of traveller. From comfy dorm beds to cozy attic rooms for couple, they have it all.
Amidst acres of tea plantations, next to a stream and Nilgiri mountains at the backdrop , this place is a bliss.
A lot of common spaces to hang out and play around, a hammock in the garden, good food, tea with a view and amazing hosts โ It did feel like Nirvana.
Akhil is a great host and mingles with his guests and makes them so comfortable; it never felt like he owns the property. We had some best times over a cup of coffee and few rounds of UNO and Monopoly!!
Trust us, you can easily spend an entire weekend just sitting in this hostel. Such is the location and vistas around. And never forget the warm hospitality that will pamper you even with basic facilities.
Love to explore? Kotagiri can be a perfect weekend trip from Bangalore
When it comes to sightseeing and activities, Kotagiri has quite a few things to offer.
Catherine waterfalls:
Catherine is one of the most famous among them. Trekking up to this waterfall is going to be a great adventure. This majestic double cascade waterfall makes an absolute stunning visual.
We have gone down and sat under the waterfalls to feel the power of it. It was a great adventure and a heavenly feeling
We hiked uphill for about 2kms through the tea plantations opposite to our hostel, crossing water streams and dodging bees, 3 kms or so straight on the roads and then a km again downhill to reach the prettiness โ Catherine waterfalls.
The sound of gushing water amidst tall trees was just what we needed. We played for about half an hour in chilling water and came out content and thrilled
Koddanad view point:
This place offers a grand view of the entire valley and famous for the huge bungalow of ex-Tamilnadu CM J. Jayalalithaa. The view can be enjoyed from a lower deck & an upper deck.
Apart from these two, you can also visit Elk Falls, Rangaswamy hills, Shola forests if you have time and wish.
A place for wild encounters:
While coming back from waterfalls, just about 50 meters away, we spotted a bear with her two cubs. a bear in its natural habitat, something we loved seeing but at the same time scared the shit out of us. With almost frozen legs, we ran in the opposite direction with all our might. There were few workers working in the plantations who then helped us cross the trail through the village. They told us that the Bear had recently killed one of the plantation workers and is usually dangerous when she is with her cubs. We came back to the hostel thrilled and with an experience beyond words. We saw the bear again the next day near our hostel but this time from a distance.
Donโt be surprised if you spot wild bison, bear and leopard here in Kotagiri. Thanks to the less human intervention, the nature is still supreme here. We did spot bison from our hostel dining area on the other side of tea plantation.
How to reach Kotagiri:
Kotagiri is close to 300 km from Bangalore and 350 km from Chennai. The nearest rail station of Kotagiri is Coonoor (21km) and Ooty (29km)
We rented a Zoom car and drove to Kotagiri from Bangalore, which took almost 8 hours including stops. But remember, there is significant ghat section driving at the last stage of this route. So if you are driving, be sure about your driving skills on the serpentine roads.
Surrounded by blue never ending mountain ranges and lush tea plantations, wrapped in mists and unaltered sounds of nature; Kotagiri is a destination all our urban souls have ever looked for a weekend trip from Bangalore or any other nearby cities.
If you are planning to break the long drought of travel and looking for an ideal weekend trip from Bangalore, choose Kotagiri and choose Door To Nirvana!!
Be assured, you will come back a different person. Such is the magic of this place !!
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