Still relatively untouched by the unbridled commercialism that has somewhat reduced the charm of more popular hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal, Coonoor warrants its fair share of attention from tourists, offering stunning scenery, cascading waterfalls, and lush green forests high up in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Coonoor is on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway route between Mettupalayam and Ooty and is a beautiful small town surrounded by tea plantations and exudes all the charm of a colonial era hill station.

History of Coonoor

Coonoor was first explored by Europeans in the early 19th century and quickly became a holiday destination for British officers during the hot summer months. The climate and soil of the region was found to be suitable for planting tea, and plantations rapidly cropped up. Tea and tourism remain the dominant industries in Coonoor, and in fact much of the Nilgiris. Coonoor can be reached through the Nilgiri Mountain Railway or the Nilgiri Ghat Roads that run across the hills.

Coonoor is located at an altitude of 1839 m and is about 17 km from Ooty. The natural beauty of Coonoor has been much the subject of many books and movies. The majestic hills around Coonoor was used as the backdrop for the 1984 David Lean movie ‘A Passage to India,’ which itself was based on E.M. Forster’s book of the same name. Local movie studios also often shoot in the Coonoor area of southern India.

Exploring Coonoor

The centre of Coonoor town is a bustling hive of activity, with cars, autos, buses and bullock carts all sharing the narrow, steep lanes. Taxis are the best way to get around the place, while autos are an option for those with a more adventurous disposition. There are a number of tourist attractions in and around Coonoor that helps one get a feel for the splendor of the hills.

The Sim’s Park botanical garden has a highly regarded collection of trees and plants native to the region. The park itself was designed along the undulating contours of the land more than a century ago, and has various shrubs, creepers, flowering plants as well as one of the largest repository of temperate plants in India. Ornamental trees have also been introduced to the park from different regions of the world and add to the diversity of the flora in the park. The annual ‘Fruit Show’ is also held at the park in the summer.

Located in the Tiger Hills about 12 km from Coonoor is a unique rock formation known as Dolphin’s Nose that juts out of the face of a hill. Offering spectacular views of the Nilgiri Hills and its lush forests, Dolphin’s Nose also allows visitors to see the magnificent 250 foot high St Catherine Falls. Lamb’s Rock, located on the way to Dolphin’s Nose is another is another viewing spot and commands an excellent sight of the Coimbatore plains. Also worth exploring is the 180 feet high Laws Falls.


Hiking and trekking opportunities abound in Coonoor, with the pleasant temperature and stunning scenery making them worthwhile excursions. Tribal villages and the numerous tea plantations are attractive hiking destinations. Also popular in Coonoor is bird-watching, given the numerous species of birds that inhabit the region, including cormorants, pipits, thrushes, parakeets, skylarks and the Nilgiri verditer.

The idyllic hill station of Coonoor is an excellent setting to experience the splendor of the Nilgiri Hills in all its glory. A quaint little town with little more than tourists and tea plantations to support itself, Coonoor is the perfect place to escape from the drudgery of daily life and refresh the spirit.

Marudamalai Murugan Temple

Marudamalai, one of the most popular abodes of Lord Muruga, is next in importance only to the Aru Padai Veedugal of the south Indian deity. Situated on a scenic hill in the Western Ghats, Marudamalai is about 15 km to the industrial city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India.

At least 1200 years old, the Marudamalai Murugan temple has been mentioned in the works of the Hindu saint Arunagirinathar. Lord Muruga is enshrined as Dhandayutapani in the Marudamalai Temple. The area around Marudamalai is a lush hilly landscape that is home to some tribal peoples and is also famous for various medicinal herbs that are native to the forests here.

Valparai and its Tea Plantations

Almost every rolling slope in Valparai is covered by tea plantations, and those that are not have been left in this natural, forested state because they were deemed unsuitable for tea plants. There is the occasional coffee or cardamom estate, but tea rules supreme in this quaint corner of Tamil Nadu, situated high in Annamalai range of the Western Ghats.

The cool climate, good rainfall, and gentle slopes in Valparai – because they prevent water stagnation in the earth – are perfect for tea. Almost all suitable real estate in the region has been tea plantations for more than a century. Surrounded by the majestic Annamalai Hills, an offshoot of the Western Ghats near the Tamil Nadu border with Kerala, the tea plantations of Valparai enhance the lush landscape.

Forests and Plantations in Valparai

The tea plantations are a sight to behold, especially early in the mornings when the mostly women laborers with net sacks strung on their backs go to work plucking tea leaves. They complete their work in the mornings before the sun climbs too high in the sky. The sea of tea plants around Valparai is punctuated here and there by forests that were left untouched because they were reckoned to be unfit for planting tea.

These forests shelter various forms of wildlife, some dangerous like the snakes and some harmless like the Malabar giant squirrel that is known to clear 50 ft expanses between trees. Elephants and bison survive in packs in these isolated woods which they prefer due to the shade, and occasionally traverse the tea plantations to get to nearby forests. These trespassing, especially those of the elephants which destroy tea plants, are not taken lightly by plantation owners and have led to confrontations, sometimes resulting in material and human losses.

Tea Estates around Valparai in Tamil Nadu

The tea plantations around Valparai are organized in separate estates hundreds of acres in size, and sometimes have accommodations for tourists, allowing them to experience life in these hills in close proximity. The sounds of nocturnal animals make the nights here truly unique. The hills around Valparai also present other priceless sights interspersed between the tea plantations. Various waterfalls and dams, including the Sholayar Dam, dot the area, as well as breathtaking views of the mountains from strategic vantage points.

Valparai is located about 64 km south of Pollachi in the western part of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Western Ghats that dominate the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula. The temperate climate and beautiful sights make this tea plantation-dominated town a unique experience.