COONOOR

Coonoor is the largest of the 3 hill stations of the nilgiris. It stands on a lower ridge of the main plateau at an altitude of 1858 metres (6100 feet). It has a pleasant and relatively milder climate throughout the year than that of Ooty. Coonoor is a railway station on the Mettupalayam - Ooty narrow gauge section and is 69 km. from Coimbatore, 21 km. from Kotagiri and 32 km. from Mettupalayam.

Accommodation: (* Hotels approved by the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of India.)

*Taj Garden Retreat***** Rs.1700-2350/- Rs.2200-3800/-

Church Road, Tel: 230021/42. Fax: 232775.

The Monarch Ritz Hotel, Ritz Road, Tel: 230484, 230084 Rs. 980-1500/-

Blue Hills Hotel, Mount Road, Tel: 20103/20174 Rs. 550-1000/-

Hotel Wellington, Appelby Road,Tel:20523. Rs.1000-1300/- Hampton Manor Hotel , Tel: 26244, 26961, (Rs.350 -800/-); Sri Lakshmi Tourist Home, Tel: 21022 (Rs.250 -400/-); Vivek Tourist Home,Tel: 21929 (Rs.250 -350/-) ; Venkateshwara Lodge,Tel: 22309, (Rs.250 -350/-).Other Accommodation Season Off Season

Hotel Tamil Nadu(TTDC) Dbl. Rs.300-500/- Rs.250-350/-

Mount Pleasant Road, Tel:32813.

Y.M.C.A., P.W.D. Inspection Bungalow, Tourist Bungalow, Rest House.

Places of Interest in and around Coonoor

Pasteur Institute: Famous for the research done on rabies, it also manufactures Polio vaccine. Visitors allowed only on Saturdays.

Pomological Gardens: One of the three experimental fruit gardens in the Nilgiris.

Sim's Park: Many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty are grown here. The park is at an elevation of between 1768 mt. to 1880 mt. The annual fruit and vegetable show is held here in May;

Lamb's Rock (8 Km.): It is a sheer precipice of several hundred metres and commands a good view of the Coimbatore plains;

Dolphin's Nose (10 Km.): A promontory overlooking the plains. The Catherine Falls can be seen from here;

Rallia Dam (11 Km.): The dam is the source of water supply to Coonoor town.

The Droog (13 Km.): The peak is about 1,917 metres (6294 feet) high. The ruins of an old fort, built and used as a look out post of Tipu Sultan, are situated here;

Law's Falls (15 Km.): The falls are near the junction of Kateri and Coonoor rivers. Buses are available from Coonoor upto Wenlock Bridge from where it is about 1 km. on foot.

Tea and Coffee Plantations: For a visit to these plantations around Coonoor, contact United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI), "Glen View", Coonoor.

Other scenic spots around Coonoor are Lady Canning's Seat, Tiger Hill, Walker's Hill, Brookland's Road, etc.

Pykara (21 Km.): Boasts of well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, undisturbed grassy meadows, wildlife habitat and a dam and reservoir. There is a forest Rest House at Pykara;

Avalanche (28 Km.): A beautiful lake surrounded by thick shola. It has some interesting treks and the streams and rivulets here are rich in trout and carp fishes.

Kotagiri (29 Km.): Kotagiri at an altitude 1,982 metres, is another popular hill station in the Nilgiris. It is 19 km. from Coonoor and is reputed to be the first spot developed in the Nilgiris as a summer resort. Kotagiri has a climatic advantage over Ooty as it is shielded by the Doddabetta ranges from the onslaught of the monsoons. Places of interest include the Kodanad View Point (20 km.), Rangaswamy Peak and Pillar (19 km.) and St. Catherine's Falls (8 km.).

The Mukurthi Peak and Mukurthi National Park (40 Km.): The Mukurthi National Park is located on the South Eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau. The area contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar (Hamitragus hilocrius). The Kallaribetta and the Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks around. The area is chained by innumerable beautiful and perennial little streams, which falls into Bhavani Puzha. The silent Valley in the Western Ghat is located on the western side of these ranges. A facinating feature of the Mukurthi Sancutary is its endemism and relationship with Himalayan flora and fauna. The Park can be visited only with prior permission from the Forest Department.

Mettupalayam (51 Km.): Toy train services to Ooty starts and terminates here. The Black Thunder Resort, located 3Km. from Mettupalayam has a Water Park spread over an area of 63 acres. Accommodation: The Black Thunder Resort, Mettupalayam, Tel: 4254-26632-40, Fax: 25740. E-mail: btresort@satyam.net.in Tariff: (Rs. 1400-2500/-)

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (64 Km.) : Lying in the Nilgiris District abutting Kerala and Karnataka State, it extends over an area of 321 sq. kms. The Wildlife includes elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse, wild bear, porcupine etc. The avifauna is varied with minivets, Hornbills, fairy blue birds, jungle fowls etc. The reptillions are represented by python, monitor lizard, flying lizard. Accom:Hotel Tamil Nadu (TTDC),Tel: (0423)56249, Dbl: Room Rs.150/- Family Room Rs.270-350/-;The Monarch Safari Park, Bokkapuram, Tel: 526343, Dbl Room:Rs.1200-1400/-.

TREKKING

For Trekking in and around Ooty, prior permission is required from 1) Wildlife Warden, Mahalingam Building, Coonoor Road, Ooty, Tel:444098, 2) District Forest Officer, North & South Division, Ooty, Tel: 443968, 444083.