Coonoor Tourism

At an elevation of 1,850 metres above sea level, Coonoor is a magnificent hill station in Tamil Nadu. Located on the western border of the state with Kerala, Coonoor is a sleepy town with vast tea estates, holiday mansions, and colonial charm. Beyond this, a few viewpoints and waterfalls add to the appeal of Coonoor tourism.   

As far as size goes, Coonoor is placed after Ooty but, it is just as rewarding as any other hill station in South India. One of the major draws of visiting Coonoor is that it remains less crowded than Ooty, even in the peak tourist season in Tamil Nadu. A one-hour drive or a toy train ride from Coonoor to Ooty, full of sharp hairpin bends, allows a breath-taking view of verdant slopes of Nilgiri Mountains.

A nature lover’s delight, Sim's Park in Coonoor is a Japanese-style botanical garden featuring native and other plants and flowers. This beautiful park in Coonoor has a glass house with medicinal plant and there is a rose garden with vibrant bloom. One of the main tourist attractions in Coonoor, Highfield Tea Estate is a 50-year-old tea factory where tourists can watch the tea-making process independently and also buy tea, herbal oils, and souvenirs from the shop here. This tea plantation is an ideal place to spend half-day to learn about the history of tea making in Tamil Nadu.   

After taking a tour of tea estates in Coonoor, take a scenic drive through the Nilgiri Hills. Two popular viewpoints in Coonoor – Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s Nose – are the best natural places to visit in Coonoor. While Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint allows visitors to check out the 250-feet-high drop of Catherine Waterfalls, Lamb’s Rock is an ideal place to enjoy a picnic with loved ones while enjoying sunset views. Trekking and nature walks are one of the most rewarding activities to do in Coonoor.

Go through this destination-wise guide of Coonoor sightseeing places to enjoy a memorable trip to Tamil Nadu.

While visiting this beautiful hill station in Tamil Nadu, make sure to carry a map of Coonoor with all major tourist places and activities to enjoy on a holiday. The Nilgiri Hills around Coonoor are ideal for its horticulture and floriculture industries. There is a lush Gymkhana Club in Coonoor where tourists can enjoy golfing. It’s a great alternative for those trekking or other outdoor excursions are too exhausting. Trekking in Coonoor allows great opportunities for bird watching and exploring tea plantations and forested valleys.

The weather in Coonoor, for being a hill station, remains ideal for holiday throughout the year. There is no specific season for rainfall in Coonoor. April through June and December through February is the best time to visit Coonoor. Travellers can take a train from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam and then board the toy train to Coonoor, known as the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Taking a government bus from Coimbatore or hiring a taxi is another option to reach Coonoor.