|
Coonoor
Population : 48,000
Languages : Tamil and English
Best time to visit : October–March
STD Code : 0423
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.
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.
The best time to visit Coonoor is between the months of October
and March.
Places of Interest
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.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
