Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills that leaves a lasting impression in the minds of a sightseer, arousing remembrances of childhood dreams. Coonoor offers many breathtaking and dazzling views of the Nilgiri hills' lush bush and natural glory. Losing yourself in this beautiful hill station in proximity to the world-famous Ootacamund hill station is a wonderful experience. Located 1,850 meters above sea level, Coonor is full of natural beauty and ski slopes. From the greens of Nilgiri hills, valleys, and eye-catching cascades to trekking and hiking on adventurous slopes, Coonoor is the perfect epitome of a tourist place and left a strong impression for many other intangible reasons. You can enjoy the ambiance of this sleepy little town that immediately makes you fall in love with it. Even after the tourist crowd keeps pouring in, Coonoor has maintained itself wonderfully further -with all the hustle and bustle of visitors, the serenity and tranquility of Coonoor are not affected, which is why it can be aptly described as a valley that never sleeps.
Tourist Places In And Around Coonoor
Any visit to Coonoor is incomplete without a ride to the hill station on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The train starts at Mettupalayam, climbs uphill all the way to Coonoor and then leads to Ooty. The magnificent sights and splendour of nature en route are sure to leave travellers spellbound.
Tourists should not miss out on visiting Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose, Droog Fort, Lamb's Rock, Hidden Valley, Katary Falls, St George's Church, etc. as these are the most important tourist places in Coonoor.
The Flavo u rs Of Tea And Chocolates
The economy of Coonoor is mostly based on the flourishing tea trade. Most of the local population depends on the cultivation, processing and selling of tea for their subsistence. Home-made chocolate is another speciality of the Nilgiris and Coonoor is no exception. You can get home-made chocolates on every other street of Coonoor and they are not to be missed.
Coonoor is also famous for its horticulture and floriculture industries. Several rare species of orchids and other flowering plants are grown and sold in Coonoor’s floriculture farms. Observing varieties which you cannot find anywhere else in the world serves as a fulfilling experience!
Nilgiri Mountain Railway - A Trip To The Heart Of The Nilgiris
An experience that any and every visitor to the Nilgiris should not miss out on is the train ride to Coonoor and furthermore, to Ooty. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is esteemed as a World Heritage Site, along with the Darjeeling mountain railway as ordained by UNESCO. This is one of the few places in the world where the rack and pinion system is used.
Built by the British, it started its service in the year 1908. Originally it came under the jurisdiction of the Madras Railway but has since been run by the Salem division of the Indian Railways. It still uses steam locomotives to power the trains, but plans have since been formulated to change them to diesel engines to save money and time.
Coonoor Weather
Being a hill station, Coonoor is best known for its climate. Winters get excessively cold, but summers are pretty mild as far as temperatures are concerned. As a traveller planning a trip to Coonoor, summer months are ideal. The monsoon season sees good rain and is not usually the tourist season unless you are looking for the monsoon experience.
How To Reach Coonoor
Getting to Coonoor is pretty simple. Board a train from Coimbatore’s Gandhipuram bus stand to Mettupalayam and then you can board a train to Coonoor via the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. You have the option to board a direct bus to Ooty from Gandhipuram and get off at Coonoor too. Moreover, this hill station can also be reached by just an hour's drive from Ooty.
The journey from Coimbatore to Coonoor takes all of three and a half hours. Scenic beauty, abundant sightseeing options, chocolates, tea plantations and pleasant climate make Coonoor a much sought-after destination for both backpackers and honeymooning couples.