Kotagiri facts: Nice to know
Admittedly, Kotagiri is not a beehive of a hill station like Ooty or Coonoor. But it has its quaint charms and wholesome eating places.
The local delicacy of hot masala vadas is a daily feature in this tiny shop. Made in front of your eyes in a small tin shed of a tuck shop, the masala vadas of Adengappa Tea Stall are truly the top of the pops. Locals and visitors alike gather in droves to eat the stuff right there on the spot or pack a good portion for later consumption. Our advice is, do both.
As fast as the husband-wife team can churn out the snacks, they disappear rapidly too.
Getting there
Adengappa—which roughly translates as Oh My God in Tamil—is on the edge of Kotagiri town in a place called Donnington. From Triptych Nilgiris, the shop is 16 km away before you enter Kotagiri, right next door to the golden MGR statue junction.
Right on the main road in Kotagiri town, close to the big Bharatgas petrol station, is a lovely little restaurant called Tea County. Run by a young, well travelled local entrepreneur, Tea County is a convenient place to pick up some sandwiches, burgers, rolls or other snacks before planning a day’s picnic in the hills. Or, when returning from nearby sightseeing, you can drop in at Tea County for a refreshing cuppa and a burger and then proceed home to Triptych Nilgiris.
Getting there
Kotagiri town is 18 km from Triptych Nilgiris, a 45-minute drive on winding and scenic roads. As you enter the town on the main road leading to Kamaraj Square, look on the left before you reach the Square. Tea County is just ahead of the big Bharatgas petrol station, also on the left of the main road. It’s a neat and clean place with good service, a decent menu and affordable prices. You will probably visit it a couple of times during your stay in the hills.
Hari Mess is a small, unforgettable place with a few tables and always crowded. It’s been around from the 90’s and it’s lately been spruced up although the tiny space is as before. The food quality – for non-vegetarians primarily – is as excellent as always. You can order – for lunch or dinner – a rice-based ‘meals plate’ with either fried fish or chicken on the side. It’s served on banana leaf and you will be dished out stupendous mounds of rice with unlimited fish/mutton/chicken gravy to keep your fingers busy.
You can additionally order mutton fry (very good!) or chicken fry or mutton/chicken liver. And, of course, there’s always the chicken biriyani which is outstanding. The chicken pepper fry is worth a try too.
Made in local style, the food at Hari Mess is on the zingier, spicier side, absolutely delicious. Be prepared to wait it out though when you reach. The place hardly has about 5 or 6 tables and the crowds can’t be kept away with such fab non-veg fare. A total delight for non-vegetarians. Conversely, there is nothing much to see here for vegetarians.
Hari Mess is on the main road of Kotagiri on the left side as you enter from Donnington. It’s a place so small that it is easy to miss. If you reach Tea County without having spotted Hari Mess, you’ve already missed it! Turn back and look carefully this time.
From Triptych Nilgiris, Hari Mess is 18 km away on winding hill roads and takes about 45 minutes to reach. If you’re a non-vegetarian, you perhaps owe it to yourself to visit this tiny and iconic bit of Kotagiri.
On a visit in and around Kotagiri, chances are you will make at least one day trip to nearby Coonoor. This more famous hill station in the Nilgiris is just about 20 km from Kotagiri and has its own charms.
Open Kitchen is a small place on the first floor for excellent pizzas, burgers and desserts. It serves pretty much nothing else. There is a good choice of burgers (try the Sloppy Joe, it’s delish) and pizzas. The veg options are quite nice too. The fries are top class. They play some classic rock with period posters on the walls, so if that’s your thing, it’s great on that count too.
Getting there
As you drive from Kotagiri go past the touristy Sim’s Park on the outskirts of Coonoor. As you enter the main town in a few minutes, Open Kitchen is just about a km or so away. Google Maps is your friend and will get you there. Parking is generally available on the narrow road itself somewhere within 200 metres. A must-visit eatery if you happen to visit Coonoor.
Narayan is an avid traveller, writer and photographer who has a home in the picturesque Niligiri hills called Triptych Nilgiris. It is a homestay with a welcoming ambience, a stunning view of a valley and some delicious home-cooked food. You can check availability by sending a WhatsApp message to 98400 78228.
Get to know the Nilgiris in and around Kotagiri. Must-see places are included.
