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Coonoor in Tamil Nadu
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Situated 1,858 metres above sea level Coonoor is a hill station 13 kms from Ooty. At a lower altitude than ooty it nevertheless commands its own brans of loyalists who prefer to holiday in the mild climate of this charming, more homely health resort than in the colder bustling city of Udaghamandalam. Due to the location of prominent public schools here a large number of parents fo come here.
Coonoor is located at an altitude of 1,800 m above sea level, and is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills. The verdant Coonoor is an ideal base for a number of trekking expeditions leading into the Nilgiris. You can trek to discover and explore the major tourist attractions that are located within the reach of Coonoor.
Places to see
Sim's Park
The Sim's Park is an important place to visit in Coonoor. Spread in an area of 12 ha, the park has a collection of over 1,000 plant species, including magnolia, pines, tree ferns, and camellia. The park encroached on the Badaga lands and segegerated their "guard- shrine" to the confines of a compound wall across the road.The adjacent Wellington Gymkhana Golf Links cost the Todas their grazing downs and uprooted their "mund" from the locality. The park lies in beautiful little ravine which contains some admirable patches of woodland and miniature lake has been formed at the bottom. An exquite stretch of turf and trees, the park has artificially laid out ornamental beds, variety of roses, and a profusion of remarkable species of plants, shrubs and fens. A pomological station, Silk Farm and the Pastours's Institute are situated closely.
Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint
The Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint is 10 km from Coonoor and is a spectacular spot to visit. It not only provides a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Nilgiri Hills but also of the famous Catherine Falls. A unique rock of tremendous proportions in the form of the nose of an uprushing dolphin, the view is Nature's tribute to the human sight and sense of marvel. The magnificance of the St. Catherine's falls, flowing dramatically acroos the canyon and the Badaga "hattis" perched above the chasm of the jostling cliffs, is breath-taking, to say the least. A hide and seek rendezvous at this spot with engirdling mist and clouds is not be ruled out altogether.
Lamb’s Rock
On way to Dolphin's Nose, about 5½ km from Coonoor, lies Lamb's Rock, another vantage point to view the fantastic landscape and the tea and coffee plantations. It is so named after one Capt. Lamb, who had gone much trouble and expenditure in originally opening up a path to thsi spot. Here the visitors are greeted by the yawning ravine of Burliar immediately below the view point. The rising ghats from the Mettupalayam plains enveloped in blue haze and lush vegetation are a treat to the eye and add grandeur to the perfectly precipitious rock.
Droog
At a distance of 13 km from Coonoor, Droog takes one into the past, with the ruins of a fort, which was once used by Tipu Sultan in the 16th century.
At 1890 m above M.S.L, the erected site appered to have occupied the whole of the crest of the bluff measuring about 1500' X 450'. An interesting place for the bird-watchers, the legendary surroundings are worth enjoying. The burst of panoramic view of the plains in the south, east and west is glorious. Sir Richard Burton wrote of this spot "....you can find no fault with the view, it has beauty, variety and sublimity to recemmend it."
Law's Falls
The majestic falls are 5 km from Coonoor, on the way to Mettupalayam. It is named after Col. G.V. Law who completed the construction of the present day ghat road to Mettupalyam in the year 1871. The copious waters of Coonoor river flow down the gorge here at the Law's Fall to meet the Kateri river along the ghat road. This is a charming spot commanding a prominent view.
Katary Falls
The main place of attraction is the power station which supplies a power of 1000KW of power every five hours and pumps water as a raw material to Cordite factory Aruvankadu which is the backbone of the Indian military weapons. It is the third highest falls in the Nilgiri's with a drop of 180 feet. The first-ever hydel power plant in the country, to run the coordite factory at Aranvankadu was established at the foot of these Falls (carrying the waters of Kateri) in the year 1902.
Lady Canning Seat
Lady Canning's is a couple of kms further on the road from Lamb's Rock. While her husband viceroy Lord Canning was busy mending the aftermath of the 1857 uprising against niches of Coonoor riding, sketching, painting and botanising and the enchanting crest of the commanding hills here was her seat.
Shouldered by the superbly rising hillsides, the gorgeous looking haunts below were used to be called "Butterfly country" by the tribals of bygone days.
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How to reach
By Air - The nearby airport is Coimbatore (69 kms)
By Train - Mettupalayam is the common mainline rail head for Ooty as well as Coonoor.
By Road - Buses coming from Coimbatore pass through on their way to Ooty and the visitor can alight enroute.
Chennai - Coonoor Road drive
Route - NH 181
Distance - 65 kms
Time - 1.5 hrs
Tamil Nadu
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Capital city - Chennai
Ideal time to Visit - October to March.
A large part of the state being on the coastal edge of the country, the weather is tropical and sultry for most part of the year. The summer months of April, May, June are hottest where temperature ranges to 40 degrees.
December and January are the peak months for Chennai. The temp ranges from 20-22 degrees. To avoid peak rush October is better. The weather in these months is pleasant and easy to bear the humidity.
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