Catherine Falls, Double cascade waterfall in Kotagiri, India
Catherine Falls is a two-stage waterfall in Kotagiri formed by the Kallar River, with a combined height of 76 meters that drops in two distinct sections. The two cascades create a dramatic feature in this part of the Nilgiri mountains where water rushes down the rocky terrain.
The falls were named after Catherine Jane Cockburn, wife of M.D. Cockburn, who established the first coffee plantations in Kotagiri during the 1800s. The name ties this natural site to the colonial period when the region was being developed as a hill station and agricultural area.
Locals call this waterfall Geddhehaada Halla, which means Foothills Dale River in Tamil, reflecting how the surrounding people understood the landscape and its waters. The name connects the falls directly to the terrain and geography that shaped it.
The waterfall is best reached via the Mettupalayam road from Aravenu, which provides good access to the viewing areas and surrounding trails. You should watch your footing on wet rocks and steep paths, especially after rainfall when the ground becomes slippery and uneven.
The waterfall pair is especially visible from the Dolphin's Nose viewpoint, where both cascades can be seen together against the mountain backdrop. This vantage point reveals how the two stages work together and how the water masses flow over the terrain.
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