Coonoor!

We took the Toy train to Coonoor.The entire route gives some breathtaking views of the Nilgiris.The Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu is the second largest mountain range in India after the Himalayas. The Nilgiri hills have a history going back a good many centuries. It is not known why they were called the Blue Mountains. Several sources cite the reason as the smoky haze enveloping the area, while other sources say it is because of the kurunji flower, which blooms every twelve years giving the slopes a bluish tinge.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a railway in Tamil Nadu, India, built by the British in 1908,and was initially operated by the Madras Railway. 

 In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the site then became known as "Mountain Railways of India."

The journey is quite picturesque; here are a few pictures taken on the way to Coonoor.



Coonoor Station

We took a half day tour of Coonoor.The package inculded the following sights -Dolphins Nose,Lambs Rock,Tea Gardens,Sims park.The cab driver quoted a price of 750INR and settled for 600INR.You can travel by autos as well they would charge you some 400 INR.
 We skipped Sims Park as it has not much to offer as told by I².

Tea Garden

Ooty and Coonoor are characterised by miles and miles of rolling hills of tea estates.
There are photographers on the way whol would click your pictures like one of these workers and give you an instant picture for 50Rs.I² got one clicked.

Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint is a tourist spot in Coonoor, The Nilgiris District. Dolphin's Nose is well over 1,000 feet above sea level, 10 km from Coonoor and is a spectacular spot to visit.The tip of the peak resembles like a Dolphin Nose and so it is named as Dolphin's Nose. Best part of spot are the hairpin turns and tea plantations and monkeys on the way.

Dolphin's nose

Catherine fall is a double-cascaded waterfall and It is also a major tourist spot in Kotagiri. The upper fall drops to the floor, and is the second highest in the Nilgiri mountains.The waters from the upper stream of the Kallar river are crossed by the invisible Mettupalyam-Ooty road beyond the mountains in the south-west. The height of water falls is about 250 ft.Catherine Falls is named after the wife of M.D. Cockburn, believed to have introduced the coffee plantation to Kotagiri. The native name of the Catherine Falls is Geddhehaada Halla, meaning "Foothills Dale River". It is also possible to take a road to the top of the falls.

Catherine Falls viewed from Dolphins nose!

The Nilgiri tea and spices are very famous too apart from the Niligiri oil.
We picked up a lot of spices and oil too.

The Spices!

On the way,one gets to see Sleeping beauty.It is a range of hills in which the face, nose, lips, long flowing hair and other contours of a sleeping woman are clearly delineated. The view is clearer coming down from Dolphins Nose than on the way up and can be seen from more than one place.

Sleeping beauty!



After enjoying the beauty of Coonoor we headed to have some coffee..And like the CCD at Ooty this one turned it to be pretty awesome too.




CCD @ Coonoor

We headed to Coonoor station to enjoy our Toy train ride back to Ooty.

 

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