Things to Do
Coonoor is famous for its verdant environs and variety of wildflowers and birds. It provides a perfect setting for activities like trekking and hiking. It is also famous for its tea plantations and festivals.
The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) carpets these slopes in pale purple only once every 12 years, above 2,500 m.
The Biosphere, Counted
one of the richest ecosystems in the subcontinent
Fauna
Wildlife
Coonoor sits inside a living survey of over a hundred mammals. Its forests shelter big cats and giant squirrels alike — and hold the world’s largest populations of two endangered residents.
Notable mammals
Aves
Birdwatching
A birder’s paradise where you needn’t enter dense forest at all — some of the most stunning species show themselves right along the ridge-top viewpoints.
Watch for cormorants, pipits, thrushes, parakeets and skylarks, and keep an eye out for the endemics: the Nilgiri verditer, Nilgiri wood pigeon, and the black-and-orange flycatcher.
Best viewpoints
- Sim’s ParkBotanical, roadside
- Dolphin’s NoseCliff-edge lookout
- Lamb’s RockOver the plains
Flora
Flowers
The verdant slopes are famous for wildflowers, crowned by the Neelakurinji — whose once-in-twelve-years bloom helped earn this the recognition of India’s first biosphere.
IN BLOOM
Terrain
Trekking & Hiking
Treks here reward both nature lovers and thrill seekers — winding through tea and coffee estates to viewpoints, forts and waterfalls. The Dolphin’s Nose to Catherine Falls walk is best saved for the monsoon.
| Route | From Coonoor |
|---|---|
Lamb’s Rock Views over the Coimbatore plains and the tea & coffee estates. | 9 kmUpper Coonoor |
Lady Canning’s Seat → Dolphin’s Nose A viable full day trek along the ridge. | 12 kmDay trek |
Dolphin’s Nose → Catherine Falls A monsoon favourite when the falls run full. | SeasonalMonsoon |
Droog Fort · Katary Falls · Law’s Falls Further popular trekking attractions worth the detour. | —Explore |
Come for the tea. Stay for the twelve-year bloom.
Plan your visit
Best season · Oct–Mar
Nearest railhead · Mettupalayam
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