Coonoor Town

Coonoor is situated at an elevation of  1,850 meters above mean sea level. This is a beautiful town in the hill station district of Nilgiris in South India. As you drive up to the town of Coonoor from the scorching heat and sweat of Metupalayam which is at the foot hills of the Nilgiri mountains, the hill town welcomes you with its fresh cool air caressing your cheeks and the earthy smell of eucalyptus and other green trees and leaves. You will immediately feel your soul going into auto pilot and your nerves relax. As you cross the railway crossing to enter the town, you might be lucky to hear the Coonoor  Bus stand Clock tower  welcome you with is chime.

Coonoor is famous for its pleasant climate and scenic locations.  In fact it has a residential area called as Mt Pleasant.  It is surrounded by many tea estates which produce Tea, most of which is exported. Coonoor has a Tea Auction House called UPASI ( United Planters Association of South India).

Its sad to mention that like any other developing place the population of Ooty and Coonoor has gone up in an alarming way with people clambering in to occupy the pleasant place.  The once scenic blueish mountainsides now look brown with many a house that has been built in its slopes.

Places to stay in Coonoor.

• The Taj Garden Retreat

• Hotel Riga Internationl

• Hotel Velan (Originally the Ritz Hotel in 70's and 80's)

• Hotel Blue Hills

• Vivek Tourist Home

• Hotel Ramachandra

And then you have the Brooklands Christian Guest Home.  This is an old Colonial building once owned by the British and later used by them until the end of the 20th Century. It is operated by the Christian organisation and still maintains the old aesthetics and grandeur it once had. They charge very moderately and I am sure people with taste would love this place.

There are many home stays which operate in and around the town of Coonoor and usually during the summer season is when the hill town is flooded with visitors and all these places scramble to en-cash in on the opportunity of making a quick buck


 Places to Visit in Coonoor

• Sim's Park

• Dolphins Nose

• Lamb's Rock

• Droog Fort

• High Field Tea Factory

• Tiger Hill

• Ralliah Dam

View of Bedford in Coonoor Town from Attadi

Sim's  Park 

At a distance of about 3 kilometres from the Coonoor Bus stand is Sim's Park. It is located on a sloping  hillside  and you will need to walk down after entering the Park. It has a small water body at the lower side of the Park where boating arrangements have been made for visitors. It has a green house where orchids are grown. The Park is home to rare and old trees and flower varieties.  The Park has a very pleasant atmosphere and you could get lost in its peace and serenity with the sound of breeze in the trees and birds chirping among them

Inside Sim's Park In Coonoor, The Nilgiris, India

Dolphins Nose

You could hire a Taxi or Auto Riksha to get to Dolphins Nose. If you are more of the adventurous kind, you could  hire a Bike or a Cycle which would be exhilarating, but take care of encountering a Bison or any other wild animals en-route. One might even spot a wild cat if lucky as Coonoor is now home to many.

Dolphins Nose

View of Catherine Falls from Dolphin's Nose View Point in Coonoor, Nilgiris

Dolphin's Nose is at a distance of about 10 Km from the Coonoor Bus Stand. After about 5 Kilo meters you will find a road branching off to your right and sloping down. That will take you to Lamb's Rock. If you continue for another 5 km's without taking any diversions you will reach Dolphins Nose our destination. Once you reach  it, Lo and behold, wasn't it worth all the trouble. You will never regret it. The Scenic experience will live with you for a very long time I am sure. Enjoy and float in happiness, but a note of caution : Be very very careful while driving or riding any vehicle as  the roads are narrow winding and at a gradient. You will need experience driving in the Nilgiri Mountains.

Lamb's Rock

Like I mentioned above one needs to travel for about 5 km's to reach Lamb's Rock. This is again a sheer drop precipice rock which gives you the world open in front of you. The feeling is humbling awesome and everything. Again a note of caution : Be very very careful while in these places, the rocks may be slippery from moisture or rain. Safety measures in these view points are not all that good.

Droog Fort

Another mind blowing place which will make you realize god and the beauty of his creation. You will realize what a small ion you are in this Universe. For a few years the Govt was allowing visitors to this place, but  now I hear that this place is closed for visitors. It is only accessible by car to about 5 km's close to it from where you will have to trek through tea gardens and a little bit of wild forest.  There is an old dilapidated Fort built by Tippu Sultan during his reign from 1782 to 4th May 1799. The fort is strategically located with only one accessible entrance and the rest of it has sheer drops and precipices. I can imagine how well the Fort would have been fortified to ward away enemies.  Once you climb into the Fort and reach the highest point in the mountain you will feel like you are on top on the world. I have not climbed and reached Mt Everest, but I could imagine how it will make you feel if you did. Such is the view and feel. You will have a 360 degree view.  All around you, you just need to keep turning round and round  to take in the view.  If you travel to Coonoor anytime I wish you get the chance to visit this place.