Coonoor Tour Packages from Coimbatore

What are the best places to visit in Coonoor?

The Coonoor tourist places that fill one day are Sim's Park, Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose and a tea estate. Coonoor places to visit are spread along one road, so the order matters, and Coonoor sightseeing is easiest with a driver who knows the ghat road. Coonoor visiting places are close enough to cover in a day. Among the places to see in Coonoor, the viewpoints are the strongest, and tourist places in Coonoor with gardens, such as Sim's Park, suit families. Other places in Coonoor include the railway station and the tea estates. For the Coonoor best places to visit, start with Dolphin's Nose and Lamb's Rock. Anyone looking for places to visit Coonoor has beyond these can add Ooty or Kotagiri, and the Coonoor sightseeing places are listed with distances on this page.

Coonoor has five stops that fill a day: Sim's Park, Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose, the tea estates and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway station. The Nilgiris district site gives distances from the Coonoor bus stand, so you can plan the order of the day.

Sim's Park

Sim's Park sits in a ravine north of Coonoor railway station, about 3 km from the bus stand, at roughly 1,770 to 1,800 m. It covers about 12 hectares and holds more than 1,000 plant species, many of them temperate trees and shrubs from around the world. It is named after J. D. Sim, secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. An annual fruit show is held here in May.

Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose

Lamb's Rock is about 8 km from the bus stand, in Burliar village, on the road to Dolphin's Nose. It is a sheer drop into the jungle with a large ravine on one side and views of the plains around Coimbatore. Dolphin's Nose is about 12 km from the bus stand. The rock juts out from the hillside, and you can see St Catherine's Falls across the valley on one side. The walk down to the point is short but steep, so wear shoes with grip.

Tea estates

Tea estates cover the slopes around Coonoor. Driving through them is free. Factory visits depend on the estate, so we confirm access before you go.

Can you ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Coonoor to Ooty?

Yes. The line runs 46 km from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam (Ooty), and Coonoor is its main intermediate station. The stretch between Coonoor and Ooty is about 18 km. The railway joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005 as an extension of Mountain Railways of India, and it uses a rack and pinion section between Kallar and Coonoor. Train times and seat availability change, so check the current timetable. Train tickets are extra and are not part of our one price. If you want a train leg, tell us when you ask for the quote and we plan the day around it.

What is special about the Nilgiri Mountain Railway at Coonoor?

The line has 13 stations on a metre gauge track. Uphill from Mettupalayam the full journey takes about 290 minutes, and downhill about 215 minutes. The steepest section reaches a gradient of 1 in 12, and Wikipedia describes it as the only rack railway in India. Coonoor station sits near the locomotive workshops and the top of the rack section. Four trains run each way between Coonoor and Ooty daily, according to Wikipedia, but the timetable has changed in the past, so check it before you plan.

What should you know about Sim's Park, Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose?

The Nilgiris district site describes Sim's Park as home to the Rudraksha tree and a Queensland pine, and says it holds the largest repository of temperate plants in India. At Lamb's Rock the ravine on the right is about 5,000 feet deep, and the Coonoor stream can be heard at the bottom. At Dolphin's Nose, the Coonoor stream and the Kotagiri stream meet in the valley and feed the Bhavani river. Coonoor itself is at about 1,850 m, which is why it stays cooler than Coimbatore by a wide margin.

How do you get from Coimbatore to Coonoor?

Coonoor is about 85 km from Coimbatore, a drive of around 2 hours, via Mettupalayam and the ghat road. Ooty is another 19 km up the same road. Our trips start and end in Coimbatore, with pickup from your home or hotel, so you do not need a separate Coimbatore to Coonoor taxi. The vehicle and driver stay with you for the whole trip. See Coimbatore for more local plans.

Is Coonoor better than Ooty for a quiet stay?

Coonoor is lower than Ooty, at about 1,850 m against Ooty's 2,240 m. Most visitors use it as a base for the viewpoints and tea estates, and use Ooty for the lake and the botanical garden. If you want a night in the hills without the Ooty traffic, the Kotagiri Coonoor 3 day package spends two nights on the quieter ridge towns. Tell us your group size and we advise on room and vehicle.

Which Coonoor tour package fits you?

For one day in Coonoor, start early, see Sim's Park, then Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose, and finish at a tea estate. A second night lets you add Ooty. Most families pick the 3 day Ooty and Coonoor plan, which keeps Coonoor on the way up and the way down.

What is the best time to visit Coonoor?

March to June and September to November are the best months. The May fruit show at Sim's Park falls in the first window. July and August are rainy, and December to February is cold in the mornings and evenings. Mist can hide the views at Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose at any time of year, so start early and be flexible.

Can you combine Coonoor with Ooty and other hill stations?

Yes. Coonoor is the usual first stop before Ooty, and Kotagiri sits on the same ridge. Wildlife lovers can add Masinagudi. Our Ooty Mudumalai 4 day package and Mysore Ooty 4 day package both run through Coonoor on the way up or down. One price covers the AC vehicle, driver, fuel, toll, parking and the hotel. Meals, entry tickets and personal expenses are extra. Call or WhatsApp +91 93426 62373 for a quote.