Tamil Nadu · Tea estates · Viewpoints
Coonoor
Coonoor is a quieter Nilgiri hill town below Ooty, surrounded by tea estates and on the route of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. It is about 145 km from Mysuru, about 4 to 4.5 hours by road. Most visitors plan 1–2 days. Coonoor is mild all year, about 10-25°C.
Why travellers go
Its viewpoints and gardens are usually combined with Ooty.
- Suggested time
- 1–2 days
- State
- Tamil Nadu
- Good for
- Tea estates, Viewpoints
Best-known sights in Coonoor
- Sim's Park: A botanical garden of about 12 ha in a ravine north of Coonoor railway station, with more than 1,000 plant species and shola paths. It hosts the annual fruit and vegetable show. Good for birdwatching: bulbuls, babblers and robins.
- Dolphin's Nose: A rock viewpoint about 10-12 km from Coonoor, used for sunrise and sunset, with a view of Catherine Falls across the valley.
- Lamb's Rock: A picnic spot and viewpoint on the way to Dolphin's Nose, looking over the plantations and the Coimbatore plains. The final climb is strenuous; the road has steady big-vehicle traffic.
- Lady Canning's Seat: A viewpoint on the road to Dolphin's Nose; trekkers start from here to walk to Dolphin's Nose.
- Catherine Falls: A waterfall seen across the valley from Dolphin's Nose.
- Law's Falls: Falls of about 180 feet, about 7 km from Coonoor on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam road, set in shola forest; a popular picnic spot.
- Tiger Hill: A hill with an old cemetery, known locally as Coonoor's sunset point. Leave before full dark: the walk back to the paved road takes about 30 minutes, and gaur and leopards live in the area.
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway: The UNESCO-listed hill railway (2005); Coonoor station sits between Mettupalayam and Ooty, and the ride on to Ooty passes Wellington, Lovedale and Fernhill.
- Tea gardens: Tea plantations surround the town, and walks through them and the nearby villages are a simple way to spend a morning.
- Droog Fort: An old hill fort near Coonoor, listed by Tamil Nadu Tourism as a landmark.
How many days do you need in Coonoor?
Plans for one, two or three days. A starting point only, not a Travel Trendzz package.
One day
- Sim's Park
- Lamb's Rock
- Dolphin's Nose, with a view of Catherine Falls
- Tea garden walk
Two days
- Day 1: Sim's Park, Tea garden walk, Tiger Hill at sunset
- Day 2: Lady Canning's Seat, Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose, with a view of Catherine Falls
Three days
- Day 1: Sim's Park, Tea garden walk, Tiger Hill at sunset
- Day 2: Lady Canning's Seat, Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose, with a view of Catherine Falls
- Day 3: Law's Falls, Nilgiri Mountain Railway ride from Coonoor to Ooty
How to reach Coonoor from Mysuru and Bengaluru
From Mysuru
- By road
- About 150 km, about 4 to 5 hours, via Gundlupet, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Ooty, then about 17-19 km from Ooty to Coonoor via Wellington. The highways through Bandipur are closed to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am.
- By train
- No direct train. Take a train to Coimbatore (about 71 km from Coonoor) or Mettupalayam, then the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which climbs from Mettupalayam to Coonoor on a rack section and goes on to Ooty.
- By bus
- Buses from Mysuru run to Ooty; continue to Coonoor by local bus or taxi.
- By air
- Coimbatore International Airport, about 71 km from Coonoor.
From Bengaluru
- By road
- About 300 km, about 7 to 8 hours, via Mysuru, Gundlupet, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Ooty. The same Bandipur night closure applies.
- By train
- Take a train to Coimbatore (the Island Express from Bengaluru stops there) or Mettupalayam, then go up by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway or by road.
- By bus
- A direct bus from Bengaluru is a convenient option, though the hill road has many bends.
- By air
- Fly from Bengaluru to Coimbatore, then about 71 km by road, about 2 hours, up the ghat road.
Road times are approximate; check current timings for trains and buses before you travel.
Best time to visit Coonoor
Coonoor is mild all year, about 10-25°C. Tamil Nadu Tourism suggests October to March; January to March is the driest stretch, and May brings the fruit show at Sim's Park. October and November are the wettest months, with heavy northeast monsoon rain.
| Month | Weather and what to know |
|---|---|
| Jan | Cool and mostly dry, about 10-21°C Nights are cold; carry a warm layer. |
| Feb | Cool and mostly dry, about 11-22°C |
| Mar | Mild, some showers, about 13-23°C |
| Apr | Mild, some showers, about 15-25°C |
| May | Warmest month, showers, about 16-25°C The annual fruit show is held at Sim's Park in May. |
| Jun | Mild, light rain, about 15-23°C |
| Jul | Mild, light rain, about 15-22°C |
| Aug | Mild, showers, about 15-22°C |
| Sep | Mild, rain increasing, about 15-22°C |
| Oct | Wet, about 14-21°C Average rain about 345 mm (IMD normals, Coonoor). |
| Nov | Wettest month, about 13-20°C Average rain about 375 mm; viewpoints may be misty. |
| Dec | Cool, rain easing, about 11-20°C |
Tips for visiting Coonoor
- The highways through Bandipur are closed to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am, so plan your drive from Mysuru in daylight.
- The road up from Coimbatore has 14 hairpin bends through forest; take it slowly if anyone gets car-sick.
- At Tiger Hill, start back before sunset; gaur and leopards live nearby.
- Nights drop to about 10-11°C from December to February, so pack warm layers.
Photos
Travel Trendzz packages that include Coonoor
Prices are given on request; the team sends a quote for your dates and group.
Questions about Coonoor
When is a good time to visit Coonoor?
October to March is the season Tamil Nadu Tourism suggests for Coonoor, and January to March is the driest part of it. Coonoor stays mild all year, about 10-25°C. October and November are the wettest months, with about 345-375 mm of rain each, so viewpoints can be misty.
How far is Coonoor from Mysuru and Bengaluru?
Coonoor is about 150 km from Mysuru, about 4 to 5 hours by road via Bandipur, Mudumalai and Ooty. From Bengaluru it is about 300 km on the same route. The Bandipur stretch is closed to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am, so plan to drive in daylight.
Can we take the toy train to Coonoor?
Yes. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway stops at Coonoor, between Mettupalayam and Ooty. The steep rack section climbs from Kallar to Coonoor. Many visitors ride the stretch from Coonoor up to Ooty. Reach Mettupalayam or Coimbatore by mainline train or road first, and check current timings.
How many days are enough for Coonoor?
Two days are enough for Coonoor. Spend one day at Sim's Park, the tea gardens and Tiger Hill, and the second on the Lady Canning's Seat, Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose viewpoints. A third day lets you add Law's Falls and a toy train ride to Ooty.
Does Travel Trendzz have a package for Coonoor?
Yes. Coorg, Ooty & Coimbatore Holiday (6 Nights / 7 Days), Ooty Getaway from Coimbatore (2 Nights / 3 Days), Coimbatore & Ooty Highlights (3 Nights / 4 Days), Coimbatore, Ooty & Kodaikanal Explorer (5 Nights / 6 Days) are published Travel Trendzz packages.
Places near Coonoor
Published packageOoty
Nilgiris · 2–3 days
Valparai
Tea estates · 1–2 days
Published packageMysuru
Palaces · 2–3 days
All Tamil Nadu destinations · All South India destinations · See all tour packages
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in November 2026. Rules such as entry passes, timings and road closures change, so check before you travel.
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