Conoor is the first of the three hill
stations of the Nilgiris that provides the travellers with the panoramic
view of the lush green hills, vallleys and waterfalls. The place is located
at an altitude of 1839 metres and has a certain amount of untouched charm
linked to it. Great colour and moniker is provided to the blue mountains
when after every 12 years blue kurunji flower blooms. It is also said to be
a small tea garden town, where the very sight of the emerald green of the
tea bushes, purple morning glory and golden sunflowers will overshadow the
so called other pride possessions of your life.
Chief Draws Of Coonoor
Once you are in Coonoor, leave all your
worries aside and take leisurely trips to the nearby tourist gawk-spots.
However the best thing Coonoor has to offer is the beautiful-
Sim's Park - This park came in to being in 1874. The park
houses winding footpaths, pergolas, gazebos, a lily pond and a dense shola
skirting it. It has a treasure of marvellous trees as many as 1,000 species
including the Burma teak, the rudraksh, mahogany, birch, Spanish cherry. In
season the rose garden proves to be a great delight6 for our eyes. An annual
Fruit and Vegetable Show is held in the Sim's Park in May.
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.
Law's Falls - The height of the falls is about 180 ft and
is located on the Mettupalayam Road, 7 km from Coonoor.
Dolphin's Nose - This is a huge rock that resembles a
dolphin's nose. The place is also a great picnic spot.
Droog Fort - This fort, towering 6,000 ft above the
plains was once used by Tipu Sultan as an outpost. One can relish the
awesome views that the place offers. Droog is also called by name of
Bakasura Malai.
Delightful Treat
The toy train ride from Coonoor to Ooty gives
immense hour of joy and extreme pleasure to all the kids. The train journey
offer them endless vistas. Coonoor offers a perfect place for enjoying
adventure sports including trekking, hikking, mountaineering and rafting.
Take Aways
There is plenty to keep the shopper occupied and
pleased at the hill resort of Coonoor. All the shopping savvy people can
stock up exquisite house hold linen, handkerchiefs with petit point
embroidery, Irish and Belgian table sets and shadow- worked bed sheets. A
shop named Needlecraft offers lovely linen. There are certain stores like
the Fine Things boutique for a fine selection of Coimbatore, Mangalgiri and
other south cotton cloth. There are women in Coonoor who make bottle and
sell fruit nectars, mulberry, passion fruit, strawberry, peach and pear.
Fuel The Appetite
Restaurants like Kwality's and the Velan Hotel
Ritz serve multi- cuisine fare. Specialities of the place is rajma and the
ever -popular avare beans, which is sumptuous. There is also The Only Place
restaurant at Bedford Circle where one can relish fast food. The Laxmi Hotel
on Mount Road is also too good for south Indian meals and tiffin.
