Coonoor

State: Tamil Nadu

Main languages: Tamil and English

 

History:

 

The town of Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. This beautiful town is surrounded by tea plantations. It is one of the most popular spots in this state and has a pleasant weather through out the year.

 

Geography:

 

Coonoor is located at an altitude of 1839 meters. The climate here is milder than Ooty and it very near to Coimbatore. It is located in the Nilgiri Hills and is 19 km from Ooty. There are a variety of wildflowers and birds here amongst the various natural splendours of the region. Coonoor is situated at 11.35° N 76.82° E and has an average elevation of 1502 meters or 4927 feet.

 

Demographics:

 

As per the 2001 census of India, Coonoor had a population of 50,079. This constituted about 49% males and 51% females. The average literacy rate here is 82%.

 

Tourism and culture:

 

The town is an ideal weekend getaway for those living in and near Coimbatore. The town has various activities like trekking and hiking. There are various tea plantations here. The town is famous for its festivals, and especially during summer the town is flocked with holidaymakers. It has also been a popular locale for filmmakers from Hollywood and Bollywood. A Passage to India (1984) had been shot here. There is also a toy-train line between Mettupalayam, which is about 28 km away, and Ooty. Bird watching is a popular activity here. Sim's Park, a small botanical garden, is a major attraction here and it has several varieties of plants. The Coonoor bazaar near the clock tower is also popular with tourists. The town has a multi-religious population with many languages and cultures. There are various tourists who prefer to retire here. 

 

Economy:

 

The economy of Coonoor is mainly dependent on the seasonal tourist traffic during the summer months. Another major industry here is tea production which is done through out the year. The local population survives here on these tea plantation jobs. There are some other industries also located here like Pasteur Institute which produces rabies vaccines, Sericulture farm which is operated by the Government and the Floriculture and strawberry cultivations.

 

Education:

 

The city has various popular schools and hostels. These include Indian Army's regimental headquarters and Staff College, Wellington Cantonment, and the local boarding schools. Some of these boarding schools here were made by the British and are some of the most expensive schools in the country.

 

Transportation:

 

One of the best ways to reach Coonoor is the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which is also one of the oldest mountain railways in India. This railway was declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2005 and connects Coonoor to the town of Mettupalayam at the bottom of the hills. Coonoor can also be reached by road through the State Highway 15. The nearest airport from Coonoor is about 80 km away by road in Coimbatore. This airport also serves international airlines to Singapore and Sharjah.