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.

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.