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.

Mettupalayam is a small town located at the foot of the Nilgiri Hills in the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu state. Being the railhead for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway that connects Mettupalayam to the popular hill stations of Coonoor and Ooty, the town receives a fair amount of tourists throughout the year. Mettupalayam also serves as the interchange for passengers from the Nilgiri Mountain Railway sub-line to the broad gauge railway that connects it to the rest of India.

Furthermore, Mettupalayam is the starting point for the two of the major roadways in the Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu known as the Ghat Roads. As the major transportation hub into the Nilgiri Hills, Mettupalayam has established itself as a trade center for fresh produce from the hills.


Mettupalayam is surrounded by extensive rice fields that thrive in the region. Lush rice fields turn the region emerald green when in season. Most of the rice fields here still use the manual labor of man and animals to grow and harvest rice.

Pollachi to Valparai Road

An adventure by itself, the journey to Valparai from Pollachi features no less than 40 tight hairpin turns as the road it winds its way around the Annamalai Hills. Breathtaking sights and hair-raising curves are familiar sight in this memorable journey. The 65 km trip takes more than three hours to complete as seasoned drivers maneuver the narrow, challenging road into the hills. There are numerous spots along the way to stop and take in the sights and sounds, which inevitably adds to the duration of the trip.

Sleepy Valparai

The town of Valparai itself is a sleepy town that exists merely as the commercial center for the numerous tea plantations around the area as well as a base for tourists. Bullock carts and tea shops are the mainstay of the quiet, little town where time seems to have slowed down. The natural beauty of this region, is however, simply spectacular.

The tea plantations and the wildlife sanctuaries that border Valparai are very popular tourist destinations, and the misty, cool climate adds to the attraction of the place. Located at 3500 ft above sea level, Valparai is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests that are home to many species of animals and plants.

Pollachi, Tamil Nadu

Pollachi is peaceful agricultural town located near the Western Ghats on Tamil Nadu’s border with Kerala. Bestowed with a pleasant climate throughout the year due to its proximity to the mountains, Pollachi is surrounded by lush rice farms that stretch to the horizon. It is also one of India’s biggest producers of coconut.

Settled since ancient times, Pollachi has been a quiet, serene settlement that has remained largely unchanged by modern technology. Gifted with exceptional natural beauty, the region around Pollachi has been designated into several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, including the Indira Gandhi National Park in the Anaimalai Hills as well as the Eravikulam National Park.

Pollachi remains the transportation hub into these natural reserves as well as into neighboring Kerala. The Pollachi area is also a popular shooting location for the film industries of Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.