Coonoor
The 2nd largest hill station in the Nilgiris
Situated in the Nilgiri District which lies in the Southwest corner of Tamil Nadu in India, the little town of Coonoor is a 20 km drive from Kotagiri. Coonoor has beautiful tea plantations, valleys, ravines and waterfalls all around.
If you are looking for a day tour from Kotagiri then a drive to Coonoor, the quieter cousin of otherwise famous and busier Ooty, would be a good option. The place was set up as a summer retreat and sanatorium to treat sick European patients during the early 19th century after being discovered by John Sullivan, who belonged to the East India Company. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was also set up to make travel to the hill station easier.
Altitude: 1,850 m (6,069 ft approx.)
Major Attractions at Coonoor
For a day’s Trip from Prakritilaya
Sim's Park
A botanist’s paradise situated in a deep ravine at an elevation of about 1,768 m . Sim’s park established in the year 1874. It is a treasure trove of vast varieties of indigenous and introduced trees. Apart from the flowers& trees, the garden also has manicured lawns and rockeries.
The annual fruit show festival is held here, in the month of May, usually during the 3rd weekend.
Dolphin’s Nose View Point
With a stunning 180 degree view of the surrounding beauty dolphin’s nose is another major attraction in Coonoor. Watching the sun rise or sun set from here is a memorable experience.
Lamb’s Rock View Point
If one intends to have views of Coimbatore plains and Nilgiri hills at one go, Lamb’s Rock is the best place to be. It is on the way to Dolphin’s Nose viewpoint.
Ralliah Dam
A 3 km detour from the Kotagiri – Coonoor road will take you to Ralliah Dam, which provides water to entire Coonoor. It can be accessed by trekking the last 1km stretch from the parking lot after an uphill drive.One can spot Malabar Squirrels and Indian Bisonshere if you are lucky.
