Coonoor Homestays

Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris, which forms part of the Western Ghats in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Coonoor is naturally divided into Upper and Lower Coonoor. Coonoor is just like any other bustling town, however in this case, surrounded on all sides by the rise of the majestic mountain ranges of the Nilgiris. Coonoor is blessed with several forest lands, a variety of flora and fauna as well as wild life.

With such an abundance of natural beauty, Coonoor has several delightful tourist spots, amongst them spectacular view points, gardens and lawns, waterfalls and historical monuments.

The careful lay out of Simm’s Park began in the late 1800’s. Situated in Upper Coonoor, the well kept gardens and lawns, the artistic ornamental beds lack no wealth of colour and variety. Soon after the Ooty flower show, the Coonoor fruit and vegetable show is held here and attracts thousands of visitors. The Rose Garden just below the Park is equally remarkable.

Around 5 kms from Coonoor and accessible by road, Lambs’s Rock is a remarkable sight, a sheer precipice of jagged rock that drops down several hundred feet into the luxuriant jungles below. A great picnic spot, Lamb’s Rock is en route to Dolphin’s Nose, around 12 kms from Coonoor. This unique rock formation of tremendous proportions juts out of the face of the hillside in a form which its name suggests.

About 5 kms below Coonoor, the Loz falls are famous for their unique rock formations, visible through the falls. Katery falls is one of the highest falls in the Nilgiris and situated off the Mettupalayam road to Coonoor. This sheer wall of water falling from great heights is a sight to behold.

The Ralliah Dam is at a considerable height, just off the Coonoor – Kotagiri road. One of the main sources of water supply for Coonoor, the dam also houses an 800 acre forest sanctuary, home to a variety of wildlife like deer, wild bison, monkeys and a variety of birds.

The Droog point is of historical importance, and the ruins of the fort at this location is said to have been the outpost of Tipu Sultan back in the 1600’s. A 3 kms trek will bring you to the Droog. The peak is at an elevation of 6000 feet, with an almost perpendicular drop to the plains below.

Practical Information

• The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, 71 kms away. You can catch a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Coonoor is a 2 to 3 hour drive from Coimbatore, depending upon traffic and weather conditions. Most of the route offers breathtakingly beautiful scenery, and a chance to get up close and personal with the inhabitants. Bison and monkeys are a common but delightful sight.
• The nearest station is at Coonoor and the nearest broad gauge railway head is Mettupalayam (34 kms). The major broad gauge railway junction is Coimbatore. It is connected with all major cities.
• Mettupalayam to Coonoor is connected by a Mountain Railway which is a scenic 3 hour journey. The 'Nilgiri toy train' connects these two destinations, at the foot of the Nilgiris.
• Coonoor lies also on the Nagapattinam – Mysore NH Road. The nearest bus stand is Mettupalayam and Ooty which can be reached either from Bangalore via Ooty or from Coimbatore via Mettupalayam.
• City Bus, Taxi and Call Taxi Auto available forms of local transport.
• At an elevation of 6000 feet above sea level, Coonoor enjoys pleasant weather all year round, from around 8C in winter to not more than 25C in the summer months. In short, never too cold in winter and never too warm in summer!
• The favourite local dish is ‘Raagi’ – a type of porridge made out of pulses and lentils and said to be extremely nutritious. The South Indian cuisine style called ‘Chettinad’ (from the district of the same name) is also popular, involving the use of several Indian spices, coconut and tamarind.
• Coonoor is known for its range of fine teas and health benefiting oils and essences.
• Apart from the usual national level celebrations during festivals like Christmas and Diwali, the surrounding villages and tribes celebrate their own festivals, especially during the months from January to April. The Badaga festivals commence from January onwards. The famous ‘car’ festival happens in the month of April. All local festivals revolve around famous Gods and Goddesses, and are marked with sound, colour and gaiety.