Coimbatore is Tamilnadu's second biggest city after Chennai, and is the gateway to the Nilgiris~ basically a mountain range which is part of the Western ghats. The rolling hills of the Nilgiris, with its tea and coffee plantations, is a carpet of soothing green, and a climate to match; making it a favored summer retreat.
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| Ooty, Coonoor 5 day holiday (a blog) |
Previous blog : Annamalai tiger reserve and Valparai tour
Day 1 > Break-journeys, trying something new!
Valparai --> Annamalai --> Pollachi --> Coimbatore (4/ 5 hours by road )
Even though break-journeys take a bit longer; I sometimes find it convenient! Hop into any short distance frequent buses, get down, stretch your legs, break for a snack and then hop on the next frequent bus.
Tamilnadu state-run buses are efficient, comfortable, affordable and round-the-clock. The roads are mostly smooth, and I could reach Coimbatore in 5 hours.
Day 2 > Coimbatore to Coonoor
Coonoor and Ooty are two important towns in the Nilgiris (Tamilnadu). The Todas are the original tribes who inhabited this region, until the British arrived here, to escape the heat of the surrounding lower plains. The signs of British legacy is evident from the names of places, colonial buildings at vantage locations, the tea estates not to mention the Nilgiri mountain railway.
WHERE TO STAY IN COONOOR
The YWCA Wyoming, Coonoor 📞0423-223-4426, where I stayed is a charming British style bungalow with an old-fashioned fireplace and dining area.
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| The sitting-area at YMCA Wyoming, Coonoor |
It was well-past lunchtime, so after a quick check-in and hot shower, I had a hearty delicious chef's special meal. My quaint room with its polished wooden beds, a small almirah and desk was just what I needed.
After a tiring journey, the garden was a great place to spend the rest of my day relaxing in the hammock with a good book in hand.
There are many other charming heritage guesthouses and hotels you can pick from.
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| A charming Dutch house at Kotagiri, Nilgiris |
Another day I stayed at a place, and got to know the previous owner was a Dutch lady who had many cats. The lady passed away, the house passed on to the new owners and eventually the poor cats 🐈 passed away too ( a case of drowning, they say). I particularly detested the way the story ended but what can one do?!
Day 3 > THINGS TO DO IN COONOOR
Find a Tour in Coonoor
Coonoor has a host of local sightseeing tour operators. Finding one that suits your convenience and budget, this will certainly save you time, effort and money. Some places of interest in Coonoor are :
a. Dolphin’s Nose viewpoint panoramic views of Nilgiris and the cascading Catherine Falls in the distance.
b. Lamb' rock ~ another viewpoint
c. Sim’s Park is a sprawling landscaped park and botanical garden which is open to the public. Plants like rhododendrons, roses and eucalyptus trees are lined on either sides of the walkways. All trees and plants are labelled making it informative for even amateurs to get an elementary course in botany. I found the green house collection of flowers and ornamental plants particularly interesting, as also the Rose 🌹 garden.
The Annual Fruit and Vegetable Festival is held here at Sim's Park, every year for 2 days in the month of May.
d. Highfield Tea Factory ~ walking through the tea plantations and where we could do some tea tasting.
e. The churches of Coonoor -Find peace at the St. Anthony's and All Saint's Church~ treasures from the colonial era.
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| tea plantations in the Nilgiris, Tamilnadu |
Day 4 > EXPERIENCE THE NILGIRIS
TREKKING TRAILS
The best way to experience the Nilgiris is to get in touch with an experienced local trekking guide who conducts treks to various trails in the hills.
Kotagiri trek is a 17 kms (to and fro) trail through tea and coffee plantations, with fantastic views of the misty valley and surrounding slopes. There are also many trekking group organizers from Bangalore and Chennai (Check online and Facebook groups).
CAMPING
If trekking is not your cup of tea, then have a fun time camping on the slopes of the Nilgiris tea plantations.
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| bison grazing, Kotagiri trek trail |
Day 5 > BOARD THE NILGIRIS MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS FROM COONOOR TO OOTY
Also known as the 'Ooty Toy Train', this railway line starting from Mettupalayam to Ooty, is a British legacy built in 1908. I boarded the train from Coonoor around 07.45.
The delightful train ride with its charming wooden coaches chugs its way along the verdant hills, through tunnels and over turrets offering fantastic views throughout its 1.30 hour ride. The stations with their British names and old-world charm made me feel like turning the pages of an Enid Blyton storybook.
THINGS TO DO IN OOTY
Ooty is far more commercialized than Coonoor and the sights towards the busy town areas can be quite an eyesore.
Tip :- I have found Ooty to be much colder than Coonoor. Do keep some woolens handy.
Ooty also has a good many local sightseeing tour operators that can show you the sights. These are group tours that cost much less. There are also taxi services which is a decent option for a family.
Top places to watch out for
¶ Rose garden
¶ Ooty lake
¶ Ooty Botanical gardens - Is a large landscaped garden and a nice place to pass some time in the evening.
¶ Doddabetta peak
The highest peak in the Nilgiris. There is an observatory here and on a clear day you can get great views. Do keep your woolens handy just in case, it can be quite cold here.
Cafes and Restaurants in the Nilgiris
Both Coonoor and Ooty offer a fair share of classy restaurants, cafes and pizza joints. Around the market area are some bakery / cafes that serve delectable pasteries, patties and apple crumble pies.
Shopping in the Nilgiris
From teas, gourmet cheese, chocolates and essential oils ~ both Coonoor and Ooty are great places to pick stuff that is otherwise hard to come by.
Enroute Kotagiri to Coonoor, we stopped by a big shopping centre that had a vast range of local products like teas, handmade soaps and perfumes, cheese, and special local snacks ( sadly, I don't remember the name), but there are many places to shop in Coonoor.
Also, do check out the Tibetan market near the Botanical gardens (Ooty) for woolens and junk jewelery.
Suggested Read : Kotagiri trek, Coonoor
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