Coonoor

Sitting 1,850 metres above South India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu - Coonoor - the peaceful and timeless Raj-era hill station town, lies amongst the rolling forested Nilgiri Hills along with Ooty and Kotagiri. Although a little lower than the better known Ooty, Coonoor is easily reached via the miniature toy Blue Nilgiri Mountain Railway Train - the only track railway in India. Upper Coonoor spoils you with breathtaking mountain views with numerous picnic spots and heritage bungalows to enjoy (nearly as many as in Ooty town), which is why it was once the favoured summer escape for the colonial British living on the southern Indian plains.

Bracing walks such as Dolphin’s Nose would have been familiar to visitors in the 1920s, and today it is a vantage point with views of the cascading Catherine Falls. The cool climate and quiet environment makes the 12-hectare botanical garden Sim’s Park, at the top of the town, a joy to wander with it’s beautiful scenery of glorious roses and a sea of red-title rooftops of the bustling central below. Coonoor makes for a laid back adventure holiday, perfect for families looking to explore. Learn the methods behind India’s freshly made tea and essential oils at a tea factory or hike through the mysterious rain forests of Law’s Falls or Coonoor’s Hidden Valley. 

The best time to visit Coonoor, India is between the months of October and March, an ideal time for those looking to spend their visit during the cooler months. 

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson