Kotagiri is a municipality and hill station located in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. Situated at an average elevation of 1,950 meters (6,400 feet), it is one of the largest hill stations within the Nilgiri Mountains. The town's name, "Kota-giri," translates to "mountains of the kotas," referring to the Kota tribes who traditionally inhabited the region.
Historically known as "Kota-keri" or "Kota-gherry," the settlement developed around various knolls and valleys. It was discovered in 1819 by John Sullivan during a visit to the nearby village of Dhimbatty and previously served as a summer resort for the Madras Presidency. Kotagiri is characterized by its cool environment, ranking as the third coldest climate in South India after Ooty and Kodaikanal.