To perceive the captivating beauty of Niligiris, to be blessed with a perfect comforting weather at such a height and experience a refreshment that stays for long, Coonoor is a must visit. Coonoor was always in my bucket list and this time, without much thinking I and two of my friends went for it. The exquisite Tea Planting, lush green landscapes, rich and diverse flora, history of the place made it worth our time.

We home stayed at a cottage in Coonoor and to describe the cottage in one word – Amazing! It was a bungalow and had a serene atmosphere all over it. My host was an extremely congenial and amenable person. It was already evening so, we decided to take the day off and start off early the next day. We were served with Pongal, a local cuisines with rice and lentils, boiled together and served with ghee and cashew nuts.

Next day morning, we had a small breakfast and set out early with our pre-planned schedule. Our first stop was The Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint and then Lamb’s Rock and Tea Factory. The Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint is round about 12 km from Coonoor, and gives an extensive scenic bird’s eye view of the Nilgiri hills. It was a breathtaking view that we loved. We witnessed the enchanting view of Catherine Fall which is nearby. Next on the checklist was Lamb’s Rock. It had the horse riding as one of its premium attraction and the kind of enthusiast that we all were; we tried our hands at it too. It also gave us a wide view of the Coimbatore Plains. After horse riding, which is a great exercise, we had our tummies asking for food. And with the hunger pangs striking us hard, we settled for a thali, which comprised all the local cuisine. The delicacies were delightful and we also got the chance to taste almost everything available on the menu. After the scrumptious meal, we headed to the Brookfield Tea Factory. Well, my tea lover friend, Ajith was particularly keen about visiting this place and we saw the entire manufacturing process of tea.

We were back to our cottage by the time it was dark and the view of the cottage was simply great. Moreover, one could have a great view over the tea plantation, gardens, blue sky and enjoy the scenic beauty from the cottage itself!

Next day, we went for Sim’s Park which is located at Bredford Junction. Along with the rich diversity of flora, it has ages old trees with history written all over their trunks and a beautiful lake where we could enjoy boating. It is also one of the chief attractions of Coonoor.

Our host had told us about the Wellington and Gymkhana. So, we gave it a visit too. Apart from enjoying the beauty of the landscape, we enjoyed the delicious meals, the payasam, buns and cakes, Chettinad Chicken were all of impeccable taste.

We had a nice stay and enjoyed Coonoor thoroughly. For sure, it’s worth a visit in your lifetime.

Try a homestay the next time you are in Coonoor. For a suggestion visit Coonoor homestay.