If you are a romantic person, a nature-lover and someone who looks for the perfect destination to spend a quiet, relaxed and secluded vacation for a few days, Coonoor is the place you should definitely consider. Here, we are going to cover some of the best attractions in Coonoor. Coonoor is the second largest hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu and is the second-most visited destination in the region after Ooty.
It has everything which can make someone fall in love with the nature again and again; the panoramic view of the hilly landscape, the lush green tea-fields, the romantic weather, the beautiful lanes, the unique toy-train ride, a feel of the colonial past and most importantly, its location little away from the busy and crowded Ooty.
Though most tourists prefer to stay in Ooty and plan a day-trip to cover the tourist attractions in Coonoor, we planned it the other way round. We spent two nights in Coonoor and apart from covering the tourist attractions in Coonoor and Ooty, we had the best time enjoying the serenity and tranquility of this tiny hill-station while getting lost in its exceptional natural beauty. Keep reading!
ABOUT COONOOR
Coonoor, located at the head of the Hulikal ravine at a height of almost 1800 meters above sea level, is one of the notable hill stations in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. It is about 20 KM from Ooty, another popular tourist hill station. Coonoor is known for its tea plantations and the breath-taking views of the hills and valleys in the presence of an incredible natural setting of birds and flowers. Trekking and hiking activities are also very common here. The town has a number of tourist attractions and they get filled with travelers and nature-lovers almost throughout the year due to its pleasant and calm weather. Coonoor is also very famous among movie-makers due to its perfect location and backdrop. A number of Indian movies were shot here (Kapoor & Sons, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and many more).
HOW TO REACH COONOOR
The nearest major city to Coonoor is Coimbatore (70 km away) which is very well connected to almost all the major cities in India by rail and air. From Coimbatore, you have two options:
1. You can either take a passenger train Coimbatore to Mettupalayam Railway Station and then take the Nilgiris Mountain Rail to Coonoor
2. You can get several state owned and private buses including Volvo and AC buses from Coimbatore to Coonoor. You also have private cab options available from Coimbatore to Coonoor.
If you are traveling from other cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Hyderabad and Chennai, you have plenty of bus options to choose from.
However, our suggestion would be to get a cab on rent and enjoy the drive through the hilly road and curvy hairpin bends with the view of lush green tea gardens, wildflowers and astonishing Nilgiri landscape. We obviously chose this option from Bangalore and that was one of our most memorable road trips ever.
WHERE WE STAYED IN COONOOR
Hotels in Coonoor are lesser in number as compared to Ooty. So we would suggest you book a hotel before reaching Coonoor. We did not book a hotel in advance, but fortunately we got a hotel in a nice location. We put up in Velan Hotel located in Bedford which is a prime locality in Coonoor. Almost all the major attractions were nearby and the hotel offers some breathtaking views of the Wellington Valley. The hotel is a bit old but we decided to stay here due to its excellent location and rooms with view.
BEST ATTRACTIONS IN COONOOR
There are a wide variety of attractions for tourist and travelers visiting Conoor. Here are some of the best places you can visit:
SIM’S PARK
Sim’s park is a botanical garden located in Bedford and is very close to the Coonoor Railway Station. It is the home to thousands of species of plants and flowers and is a perfect hotspot for nature-lovers. The park has eight major sections. The widely visited section is the one with winding footpaths with natural sholas. Apart from this, there are plenty of century-old trees and plants. An evening in Sim’s Park with your loved ones won’t be too bad!
- Adult Entry Fee: 30 INR
- Still Cameras: 50 INR
- Video Cameras: 100 INR
- Visiting Time: 9AM-6PM (Mon-Sun)
LAMB’S ROCK
Lamb’s Rock is another spectacular spot 8 km away from Coonoor. This offers some great cinematic views of the lush greenery, tea fields and the Nilgiri landscape with a view of the plains of Coimbatore. A must-visit delight in Coonoor.
- Adult Entry Fee: 10 INR
- Still Cameras: 20 INR
- Video Cameras: 50 INR
- Visiting Time: 8:30AM-6:30PM (Mon-Sun)
DOLPHIN’S NOSE
The Dolphin’s Nose viewpoint is 12 km from Coonoor. This also offers a great panoramic view of the Nilgiri Hills and this also comes with a view of the famous Catherine Falls. But, unfortunately, we could not see the falls due to the sudden arrival of loads of clouds which covered the entire area. We could only hear the sound of the falls. Bad luck it was!
- Adult Entry Fee: 15 INR
- Still Cameras: 20 INR
- Visiting Time: 9AM-6PM (Mon-Sun)
HIGHFIELD TEA FACTORY
Highfield Tea Factory is a famous but small tea factory in Coonoor and one of the top tourist attractions. Here you can watch the process of tea making and you can also taste different flavors of tea. This place also comes with a view of the nearby tea gardens. There is no entry fee to visit the factory.
HERITAGE TOY TRAIN RIDE
A toy train ride from Coonoor to Ooty on the second day was probably the best experience we had during our trip. While boarding the train in the morning, we just realized the decision of staying in Coonoor and going for a day-trip to Ooty worked in our favor. Instead of the rush during boarding from Ooty, we actually found boarding from Coonoor was pretty convenient and there was absolutely no crowd and rush. We clicked a few photographs with the toy train in the background. You can book First-Class or Second-Class tickets. The prices were 185 INR and 25 INR respectively. Unreserved tickets cost 10 INR. Current prices may be different.
We boarded the First Class compartment and it was completely empty. It was a wonderful experience travelling through the hills, forests and valleys overlooking the scenic tea gardens and waterfalls.
The train stopped at a few stations and at every stop the passengers were getting off the train to admire the natural beauty of the surrounding. The railway tracks, the tunnels and the bridges constructed by cutting the hilly rocks at such heights were proofs of the marvelous British engineering.
Overall, the toy-train ride was such a magical experience for us that day!
BEST TIME TO VISIT COONOOR
You can go to Coonoor for a short trip at any time of the year as the weather remains pretty much mild and pleasant throughout the year. However, during the summers, the tourist footfall reaches maximum and during the winters it remains less crowded. The hotel prices also drop during the winter season. But during the monsoon, Coonoor takes a different shape with the hills getting greener and more beautiful with occasional drizzles making the stay more enjoyable and romantic.
Let us know in the comment section below if you liked our blog on our visit to Coonoor. If you have already been to Coonoor, share your experience in the comment section below. You can also contact us if you need any information regarding the visit to Coonoor or regarding trip plan to South India.
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