Amongst the picturesque green trees and the serene weather lies the magnificent Catherine Falls, in its seven shades of glory. Catherine Falls is a double cascaded waterfall, in Kotagiri, nestled on the heights of Nilgiris Hills, Ooty. With its impressive height and cool demeanor, the alluring Catherine Falls is said to be one of the most tourist attracted places in that district.
Coffee with the Hill
The Nilgiris District is known for its richness in the growth of tea plants, due to its fertile soil and suitable weather. In the early 1840s, the first coffee estate was planted in this area by M. D. Cockburn, who was a district collector with a keen interest on coffee planting. The abundance of water in this region aided his approach. Thus, the magnificent Catherine falls was named after the wife of Mr. Cockburn, to mark the successful launch of his coffee project. After a hundred and fifty years, the flora throughout the area is flourished with vast amount of coffee beans. It’s safe to say this region isn’t going to go down on caffeine anytime soon.
Trekking along the way
The magnificent Catherine Falls isn’t just a line of clear water flowing down the hills of Ooty, but it’s a journey along the rocks with its own twists and turns to get to the most beautiful part of the stream. The muddy regions of the hill, along with its trees and some huge rocks are scraped out, to make climbing downhill easier for the people. This trip is made even more exciting with this experience. The path leads down to a pool of water, where the cascade plunges into the bottom lake. This wonderful union of the top and the bottom of the hill sprinkles huge droplets of water along the sides where the people stand. This truly gives a picturesque moment!
The vantage point
The magnificent Catherine Falls isn’t just a beauty to be admired up close, but its impressive 250 feet of glory can also be observed at a distance, such that the whole fall is in view. The entire waterfall as one total impression can be seen from the top of Dolphin’s Nose. This view shows the huge break between the hills, joined in one corner by the fall, going all the way down to continue its course as Kallar River. This vantage point allows us to appreciate the beauty that Mother Nature has contained in this alluring waterfall and its surrounding landscape.
There are many cottages surrounding the magnificent Catherine Falls, for tourists to stay overnight in the area, making the trip even more comfortable for them. This fall is no doubt one of the most tourist attracted places in the Niligiris District.