Located in the western part of Tamil Nadu, Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. The place has a variety of wildflowers and birds. It is also popular for activities like trekking and hiking. Coonoor is also talked about for its tea plantations and festivals. A toy train connects Coonoor with some of the other hill stations of the Nilgiris. Situated at an altitude of 1850 m above the sea level, the weather of Coonoor remains very pleasant throughout the year.

Accommodation and Connectivity

Coonoor is well connected through a network of roads with Ooty, Coimbatore and Kotagiri. Although the place has no airport, it is connected with a toy train with the hill station of Ooty and Mettupalayam. Many tourists cherish this joyride greatly.

Apart from star category hotels, guest houses and lodges are also fast developing in this hill station.


Tourist attractions

A Paradise for Bird Watchers

Coonoor provides the traveler with the panoramic view of the lush green Nilgiri hills, with its ravines, valleys, and waterfalls. Bird watching has become a very popular pastime in Coonoor. A breathtaking variety of bird species like pipits, thrushes, cormorants, parakeets and skylarks flutter and fly to the delight of bird lovers.

The Sim's Park

The Sim Park spread over an area of 12-hectare has an amazing collection of 1,000 plant species. This includes magnolia, pines and camellia.

Nilgiris and the tea gardens. The Nilgiris and tea gardens of Coonoor together complete the splendid landscape of Coonoor. As the Nilgiris radiate blue and tea gardens the colour green, Coonoor is the hill station reflecting the true colours of nature.


Excursion Delights

The Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint

Located at a distance of some 10 kms from Coonoor, it provides a panoramic view of a vast part of the Nilgiri hills. The Lamb's Rock, another viewpoint lies at a distance of 5 kms from Coonoor.

Ooty

Ooty, one of the more famous hill stations of Tamil Nadu is at a distance of just 19 kms from Coonoor. Infact, most tourists to Ooty love to come to Coonoor in the toy train that connects the two hill stations.

With a view to promote tourism in Coonoor, a fruit and vegetable show is held in the month of May. A tea festival and another tourism festival is held every winter. In conclusion, it may be admitted that Coonoor has still not been able to come out of the shadows of Ooty, which obviously draws more tourists. However, the serene ambience of Coonoor may become a boon for the hill station in the times to come.