the backdrop for David
Lean's movie A Passage
to India (1984) based on
E. M. Foster's novel.
Coonoor comes under the
Coimbatore-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty
circuit. Coonoor offers
panoramic views of the
lush green Nilgiri
hills, with its ravines,
valleys, and waterfalls.
One can take a walk
through the tea gardens.
Bird watching is a
popular pastime in
Coonoor, as the area
boasts of a large
variety of species like
cormorants, pipits,
thrushes, parakeets,
skylarks, Nilgiri
verditer, etc. One can
also enjoy the ride on
the toy train, which
connects Coonoor with
other hill stations in
the Nilgiri Hills. The
trip provides some
breathtaking views of
the Nilgiri hills in all
its natural glory.
Coonoor Travel
Information.
Sim's Park
The park is situated in
a deep ravine on the
Northern side of Coonoor
Railway Station at an
elevation of 1768 to
1798 mts. The park can
be divided into eight
major sections. The
natural shola with
winding footpaths all
over the higher slopes
of the park is the most
distinctive and
picturesque feature of
this park. This apart a
number of individual
tree specimens planted
in a scattered fashion
all over the place, lend
a special charm to the
park, specially when
they bloom in different
seasons throughout the
year.
Pasteur
Institute
Located opposite to the
Sim's Park, this
institute was
established in 1907. It
is a famous Institute
doing research on
Rabbies and giving
effective treatment to
persons bitten by a
rabid animals. One of
the most important
projects of this
Institute is the
manufacture of Polio
Vaccine.
Pomological
Station
This is one of the three
experimental fruit
gardens in the Nilgris
maintained by the
Horticultural
Department. The other
two are Burliar and
Kallar on the Coonoor -
Mettupalayam ghat road.
Apples, Plums, Peaches,
Persinments, Lemons,
Apricots and
Pomogranates are grown
here for the purpose of
research. Surplus fruits
and fruit based jams are
sold to the public.
Silk Rearing
Station
Adjoining the Pasteur
Institute there is a
Silk Rearing Station
maintained by the
Central Silk Board. The
Sericultural experts at
this station may be
contacted for special
assistance.
Laws Falls
The Place is a beautiful
picnic spot, situated at
Coonoor-Mettupalayam
Road at the distance of
7 Kms from Coonoor. The
height of the falls is
about 180 feet. There
are vast stretches of
undisturbed sholas and
it is a paradise for
Naturalists.
Lamb's Rock
It is 8 Kms from Coonoor
on the way to Dolphin's
Nose. It commands a
grand view of the
Coimbatore Plains. It is
a favourite place for
tourists.
Lady Caninng's
Seat
From Coonoor it is 9 Kms.
It is marked by a small
house and commands
panoramic view of the
tea estates and the
plains.
Dolphin's Nose
The view point is 10 Kms
from the town. The Nose
is a unique rock of
tremendous proportions
which looks like a
Dolphin.
The Droog
This is also a picnic
spot which is used by
Tippu Sultan as an
outpost. It is 15 Kms
from Coonoor and stands
6000 feet high
overlooking the plains.
Three kilometers of
trekking has to be done
to reach the point
Masinagudi
Masinagudi is 35 kms
from Ooty and 18 kms
from Coonoor. The drive
beyond Masinagudi
entails 35 hairpin bends
and though these are
very enjoyable drives,
the trouble is, everyone
else seems to think so
too. Watch out therefore
for maniacs coming
tearing down from the
opposite side.
Masinagudi used to be an
elephant corridor. So
don't be too surprised
if you do see some wild
tuskers on the road.
Apart from the scenic
beauty of the road, the
drive through Masinagudi
is charming in itself.
The road between Ooty
and Coonor is quite
forested with hills
looming in the distance.
Again, there are blind
turns and you have to be
very careful around the
corners. There are a
number of fabulous treks
in Masinagudi. For
refreshments, there are
a number of delightful
little tea and coffee
shacks at Masinagudi.
