Coonoor (Tamil Nadu, India)

Coonoor has attracted the holidaymakers, nature lovers, adventure seekers, film directors et al alike. The rich flora and fauna add to the beauty of the hill resort. The other famous hill resort of the Nilgiris is that of Ooty/ Udhagamandalam/ Ootacamund. Besides nature spots Coonoor offers opportunities for adventure sports like trekking and hiking too. In the summer months the hill resort is crowded with refugees from the hot and dusty plains. Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. It stands on a lower ridge of the main plateau at an altitude of 1839 metres. Its climate is milder than Ooty. Surrounding the town are many picnic spots. In the heart of Coonoor is "Sims Park". It is a park cum botanical garden. Many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty, are grown here. It is at an elevation of 1880 mts. and occupies 12 hectares of land. Coonoor is located in the western part of the state of Tamilnadu, in the southern region of India, at the head of theHulikal ravine at an altitude of 1850 m above sea level. It is 19 km from Ooty. The weather in Coonoor is pleasant. Summers (April-June) are mild, while winters (November-February) are cool. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. Pomological Station is the fruit research station maintained by the State Agricultural Department. Law's Falls is the great attraction in Coonoor. The famous hill resort of Coonoor lies in the lap of the Niligiri Hills. In fact Coonoor is located is an altitude of 1800 m. Geographically speaking, Coonoor lies at the head of Hulikal ravine.

Sightseeing:

Dolphin's Nose:
Dolphin’s Nose around 10 km. away from Coonoor is an excellent viewpoint. It encompasses the Catherine Falls. Lambs nose is another point on the way to Dolphins Nose that too exposes a vast panorama.

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.

Manu Temple:
Manu Temple just near the Hadimba temple flows the Manalsu River, that culminates in the main Beas river. Across the Manalsu river is the original village of Manali, that houses the ancient temple of the sage Manu. Manali itself is named after Manu, who is said to have dwelt here.