| FACTS
& FIGURES
Population : 48,000
Languages : Tamil and English
Best time to visit : October–March
STD Code : 0423
JEWEL OF THE NILGIRI
HILLS
Coonoor is the second largest hill station
located in the Nilgiri hills. It is famous for its verdant
environs and for a variety of wildflowers and birds.
Coonoor provides a perfect setting for activities like
trekking and hiking. It is also famous for its tea plantations
and festivals. Travelers can also enjoy the ride on
the toy train, which connect Coonoor with other hill
stations in the Nilgiri Hills.
LOCATION
Coonoor is located in the western part of the
state of Tamilnadu, in the southern region of India,
at the head of the Hulikal ravine at an altitude of
1850 m above sea level. It is 19 km from Ooty. The weather
in Coonoor is pleasant. Summers (April–June) are
mild, while winters (November–February) are cool.
It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July–September.
VISITING TIME
The best time to visit Coonoor is between
the months of October and March.
THE PAST
The Nilgiri hills have been the home
of the Toda tribe for centuries. Coonoor began to develop
as a tourist destination in the 19th century when the
British made Ooty a popular hill station.
TOURIST SPOTS
Coonoor provides the traveler with the
panoramic view of the lush green Nilgiri hills, with
its ravines, valleys, and waterfalls. Bird watching
is a popular pastime in Coonoor, as the area boasts
of a large variety of species like cormorants, pipits,
thrushes, parakeets, skylarks, Nilgiri verditer, etc.
The Sim’s Park is an important place to visit
in Coonoor. It is a 12-hectare park, having a collection
of over 1,000 plant species, which include magnolia,
pines, tree ferns, and camellia. Travelers can take
a walk through the tea gardens. There are number of
trekking and hiking trails around Coonoor. Travelers
can enjoy the exhilarating and unique ride on the toy
train that connects Coonoor with Mettupalayam and Ooty.
The trip provides some breathtaking views of the Nilgiri
hills in all its natural glory.
SITES NEARBY
The Dolphin’s Nose viewpoint,
which is 10 km from Coonoor, is an important place to
visit. It not only provides a panoramic view of the
vast expanse of the Nilgiri hills but also of the famous
Catherine Falls. En route to Dolphin’s Nose, and
about 5½ km from Coonoor, lies Lamb’s Rock,
another vantage point to view the spectacular landscape.
The famous hill station of Ooty is 19 km northwest of
Coonoor. Ooty is the popularly known as the queen of
the southern Indian hill stations and is an immensely
popular tourist destination. Like Coonoor, Ooty is also
set amongst the green settings of the Nilgiri hills
and is famous for its lake, gardens, and colonial architecture.
Travelers can enjoy a number of outdoor activities like
horse riding, trekking, hiking, and boating in Ooty.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Every year in the month of May, a fruit
and vegetable show is held in Coonoor. A tea and tourism
festival is held every winter.
HOW TO REACH
Coonoor does not have an airport of
its own. The nearest airport is in Coimbatore. Coonoor
is on the toy-train line between Mettupalayam (28 km)
and Ooty. The toy train leaves Mettupalayam for Ooty
at 7:45 am and arrives at Ooty at noon. The total time
taken on the return trip back to Mettupalayam is about
3½ hours. However, this train service is often
disrupted during the heavy monsoon season. Coonoor is
well connected by bus with Ooty, Coimbatore, and Kotagiri.
|
