Kotagiri Hill Station - It Has Pleasant Climate Throughout The Year Following Swizterland

KOTAGIRI HILL STATION

AT

NILGIRIS

Kotagiri is the oldest and the third largest hill stations in the Nilgiris.  Situated at an elevation of 5,882 ft, the hill station 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 Mettupalayam at the foothills of Coonoor 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.

John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore, visited Kotagiri and was so drawn to the place that he built a home here making him the first European to reside in Kotagiri. Its climate is claimed to be one of the best in the World.

Kotagiri literally means the lines of the house of the Kotas. Kotagiri is quietly tucked away in the Nilgiris and used to be the summer resort of the British. Till date the beauty of hill resort of Kotagiri attracts tourists and the sun scorched souls from far and wide.

Kotagiri is just 16 km away from Ooty. Kotagiri experiences pleasant and comfortable weather all through the year. Thus you may plan your trip to Kotagiri any time of the year.

The Hill Station of Kotagiri has several tourist attractions. Kodanad View Point, St.Catherian's Falls, Elk Falls, Long Wood Shola, Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar. 

By Air

Coimbatore Airport is the nearest airport to reach 100km distance to kotagiri.

By Train

Coonoor railway station is the nearest railhead from Kotagiri. It is connected to Chennai, Bengaluru and other major cities in India. Buses, jeeps and taxis are available from the railway station to reach Kotagiri

By Road

State run and private buses are available from Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Ooty to reach Kotagiri. Kotagiri is well connected to many cities in Tamil Nadu by road.

Thanjavur Big Temple - UNESCO Declared World Heritage Sites In Tamil Nadu

UNESCO DECLARED WORLD HERITAGE SITES 

IN TAMIL NADU 

THANJAVUR - BIG TEMPLE

Sri Brahadeeswara Temple is also called as Big Temple or Thanjai “Periya Koil”. Raja Raja Cholan I [985-1012] and Big Temple cannot be separated from each other. Hence this was called as Rajarajeswaram too. This temple was built in 1010 A.D and celebrated its Millennium year of existence in 2010. It’s Unique Architectural Excellence prompted UNESCO to declare this temple as World Heritage Monument in 1987. It is located amidst fortified walls added during 16th century. The beautiful Chola Fresco Paintings on the inner walls are often matched with those of Ajanta Caves.

The 14 tiered Pyramid Shaped Tower above the sanctum Sanctorum, is 216 feet tall. This tower is one of the tallest of its kind. Kumbam orSikaram a bulbous structure above the tower cut out of one rock weighs 80 tons. This 80 ton Cupola or Sikaram, was rolled up to pinnacle with the help of Elephants, through an incline , beginning from the Village called Saara Pallam now called as Vayalur 6 Kms from the temple. This process is a testimony to the engineering excellence skill of the Chola Architects. The shadow of the Cupola does not fall on the ground.

The presiding Deity, Lingam is 13 ft. tall with a circumference of 54 ft, chiseled out of single rock. The Monolithic Nandi [sacred bull mount] is 12 ½ feet tall, 8 feet long, 5 ft wide and weighs 25 tons. This Nandi is installed outside, in front of the sanctum Sanctorum. Contact : 04362-274476 for further details.

                      

                                 

Valley Of Flowers – It Is One Of The Must Visit Places Of Uttarakhand As Well As The Country

VALLEY OF FLOWERS

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CHAMOLI

Valley of flowers is a beautiful national park, located in Uttarakhand. It is an enchanting place, like a garden in heaven , full of flower meadows and fresh greenery.

The magnetic attraction of this place will lure you with the vibrant colours of endemic alpine flora, and with its unforgettable scenic beauty. The captivating valley is situated in the chamoli district.

One can trek to the splendid remote location to make some interesting memories of the place.

Nestled in the Garhwal region of the Himalayan range, the valley offers a great range of fauna, such as snow leapord, red fox, blue sheep, brown beer, musk deer, and Asiatic black deer.

According to popular belief this valley is considered to be the place from where Lord Hanuman collected the Sanjeevani buti to cure Lakshmana, in the popular legend in Hindu Mythlogy. The amazing backdrop of mountains adds to the charm of this gorgeous valley.

The valley is the core zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. It is situated at an altitude of 3658 mts above the sea level.

The place was undiscovered until 1931, when three mountaineers from Britain suddenly came across the place when they lost their way on a trekking adventure.

In 1939, a botanist named Joan Margaret Legge came to study the variety of endemic flowers found in the surreal valley. Her memorial can be found in the place.

The valley of flowers opens every year from 1^st June to 4^th October. You can visit the valley from 7am to 2pm. The valley is open for public only till%0’clock every day.

There is an entry free and the tickets is valid for three days , over which each day is additionally charged. One must remember that though the valley is one of the beautiful places on earth. It is also a dangerous place and one must take care while trekking.

Valley of flowers National Park is one of the most exciting places to be at. If you visit the place in August, you will see meadows of colours, filled with flowers of purple, pink, orange, blue, and other hues.

The cloudy skies, the backdrop of the Himalayan Range and the numerous waterfalls at this place will surely let you believe that you are at a fantasy land. The valley is one of the must visit places of Uttarakhand as well as the country.

By Air

Jolly grant airport is the nearest airports to valley of flowers but the roads are only connected upto Govind Ghat from where you have to commence trek of 16km to reach valley of flowers.

By Train

The nearest railway station to valley of flowers is rishikesh but the roads are only connected upto Goving Ghat from where you have to commence trek of 16kms to reach valley of flowers. Rishikesh railway station is situated 273 kms before Govindghat on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India.

By Road

Valley of flowers is connected upto Govindghat with motorable roads and from here you to commence trek of 16kms to reach valley of flowers. Govindghat is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand state.