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Tamil Nadu
Queen of hill stations
Places To Stay – Yercaud
Jul 23rd
Places To Stay
Accommodation is available at stations and luxury hotels in economy class, hostels and rest houses in Yercaud and Salem.
Climate
The hill station is the most favored by visitors from southern states during the summer and again in the fall. The coffee trees bloom in April and offers a spectacular view. The climate is also very nice, residents say with pride that never need to use a fan.
The climate of Yercaud is moderate. The winters are fairly mild, which starts in September and ends in December. During the winter, the hills are covered by mist and looks beautiful.
Summer
Max 30ºC, Min 16ºC.
Winter
Max 25ºC, Min 13º C
Rainfall
1,500 mm. Minimum ; 2,000mm. Maximum.Max 25ºC, Min 13ºC
General Information
STD Code: 04281
Altitude
1,500 metres.
Clothing
Cottons in summer and light woollen in winter.
Languages
Tamil and English.
Location
33-km From Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Best Time
The most popular stations from February to June and September-November, while in late November and December are often cold and foggy. Around April showers are nice, bringing together the coffee bushes in bloom. The monsoon season (June-August) is not the best time to visit as it rains heavily, hampering movement.
Population
3,6863 (1991 Census)
How To Get There – Yercaud
Jul 23rd
How To Get There
By Air
The nearest airport is Trichy, 163-km from Yercaud. Other options are Coimbatore or Bangalore for convenient air connections. Coimbatore is 190 miles away. Everyone is connected to Chennai, which has an international airport.
By Rail
Ideal would be to take the Yercaud Express from Chennai. Salem is the output 36-km from the city of Salem and Yercaud is situated at a distance of 33-km. From the Salem station is a junction, all southbound trains passing through Salem stop at Salem. Trains link Salem to Cochin, Erode, Trivandrum and Mangalore.
By Road
Yercaud 30-km and one hour drive from Salem can also be reached by bus or taxi. The layers are regular bus services from Chennai, Salem and other points. There are buses every half hour from Salem. Yercaud is well connected by road to Trichy, Madurai, Bangalore and Coimbatore. Buses, both private and state layers throughout the day to Salem. The private taxis are also available.
Tour to Yercaud – An Introduction
Jul 23rd
Introduction
Yercaud is a hill station less known compared to Ooty and Kodaikanal. Yercaud is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,920 feet), in the hills of Eastern Ghats Shevaroy. The high mountains are of extraordinary scenic beauty endowed with a healthy climate. Although close (: 33-km) to the bustling industrial city of Salem, Yercaud has a charm all its own spirit.
Yercaud is also called “Ooty of the poor” and is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. Yercaud is still comparatively more peaceful and cheaper than the major southern resorts of Ooty and Kodaikanal, but every year the influx from the plains is growing larger. The highest point in Yercaud is the Shevaroy temple, situated at a height of 5326.
Significance
Historical
Yercaud got its name from the Tamil words, yeri and kaadu, meaning lake and forest, respectively. The British discovered it in the 19th century. There are accounts of coffee plantations that were introduced by a British officer in the area in the second decade of the 19th century. Although the first house was built in 1840, the first paved roads were established only in the 20th century. The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries and established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for children. Schools like the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the brothers of Don Bosco, followed these
Leisure
Shopping
The Salem Cooperative Super Market Power and the Grand Bazaar are the main places to shop in Yercaud.
General Information – Tour to Kotagiri
Jul 22nd
General Information
Places To Stay
Accommodation is available in luxury and hotels and quaint inns and houses Coonoor. Upper Coonoor is highly recommended.
Location
16-km From Ooty, Tamil Nadu.
Altitude
1950m.
Evolution/ Origin
1819.
How To Get There – Kotagiri
Jul 22nd
How To Get There
By Rail
The nearest railway station is convenient in Ooty.
By Road
Kotagiri is connected to nearby places by road and there are regular bus services from Mettupalayam railway station, Ooty, Coonoor, Wellington and Kila Kotagiri.
By Air
The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (105-km).
Tour to Kotagiri – An Introduction
Jul 22nd
Tour to Kotagiri – An Introduction
Kotagiri is located 16-km from Ooty and is the oldest hill station of the Nilgiris. Kotagiri is situated at an altitude of 1950m, which was once a British hill resort, dating back to 1819 and is quieter than Ooty. Elk Falls, and Falls Kodan Catherine Mirador some places to visit.
Kotagiri enjoys a climatic advantage over Ooty, in the range Doddabetta protects it from attack by the southeast monsoon. There is a golf course more attractive, which is just a beautiful green leaf. There are some thick, deep impenetrable forests called “Shola”.
Tour to Coonoor – How to go
Jul 19th
How to Get There – Coonoor
By Air
The nearest airport is Coimbatore, which has daily flights to and from Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum.
By train
Coonoor is on the toy-train line between Mettupalayam (28 km) and Ooty. The toy train leaves Mettupalayam for Ooty early morning and reaches Ooty at noon. The total time on the trip back to Mettupalayam is about 3 hours. However, this train service is often disrupted during the monsoon season.
By road
Coonoor is well connected by road with major cities and towns in the state.
There are regular buses from Ooty, Coimbatore, and Kotagiri.
Places to Stay – Coonoor
Coonoor has its share of luxury hotels and budget to moderate accommodations and picturesque houses. Upper Coonoor is highly recommended.
Climate – Coonoor
Summer
Max 27ºC, Min 12ºC
Winter
Max: 22ºC, Min: 7ºC
General Information – Coonoor
STD Code: 0423
Languages
Tamil and English.
Area
14-sq-kms.
Population
48,000 (1991 Census).
Altitude
1,858 m.
Clothing
Light woollen in summer and heavy woollen in winter.
Best Time
November-February.
Location
19-km Away From Ooty, Tamil Nadu.
Main Attraction
Sim’s Park, Pasteur Institute, Pomological Station, Lamb’s Rock, Law Falls.
Tour to Coonoor – An introduction
Jul 19th
About Coonoor Hills
COONOOR – A SMALL TEA GARDEN TOWN
Coonoor is situated on the eastern side of the southern extremity of the range Doddabetta, at an altitude of 1,858 meters above sea level. It is the largest mountain resort of the Nilgiris. Coonoor is located 19-km from Ooty, a famous hill station of India. Coonoor was home to the Coon hill tribe.
Coonoor is the first of the three hill stations in the Nilgiris, Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor – that one is to leave behind the southern plains. grassy meadows, tea bushes and profusion of Sunflowers, marigolds and rhododendrons, all growing wild cover it. Coonoor is essentially a small tea garden town where the weather remains cool and pleasant throughout the year. The town is physically divided into upper and lower Coonoor.
Tour to Nilgiri Hills-How to go
Jul 19th
How To Get There
By road
A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty with all major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat, Calicut, Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is also well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.
Local Transportation
Coonoor and Kotagiri are also well connected by road with major cities and towns in the state. For local transportation, auto rickshaws and taxis are available.
By Air
Coimbatore, 105-km from Ooty, is the nearest airport. It has daily flights to and from Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum.
By train
Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway connected to Mettupalayam (47 km), which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai. The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Places to Stay
Accommodation is available in hotels, inns and cottages in the hill stations in the Nilgiris (Ooty and Coonoor). Coonoor has its share of luxury hotels accommodation and picturesque houses. Upper Coonoor is highly recommended.
In Ooty, varied accommodation options that range from luxurious and economy class hotels and resorts cabins are available. Both accommodation and West Indian style food is available. Prior booking is advisable, especially during the summer months. You can also get paid for hosting guests through haunting the corridors of the bus stop and train station.
Climate
Temperate and Most Equable.
Summer
Max 25ºC, Min 10ºC.
Winter
Max 21ºC, Min 5ºC.
Rainfall
1,960 mm.
General Information
STD Code: 0423
Area
2,459-sq-kms.
Population
7,10,210 (1991 Census).
Altitude
2,280 and 2,290 metres.
Clothing
Heavy woollen in winter and light woollen in summer.
Languages
Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and English.
Location
Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu.
Useful Information
Tourist Information Centres
Tourist Office, Government of Tamil Nadu
Supermarket Complex
Charring Cross
Udhagamandalam-1
Hospitals
Ooty:
Government Hospital
H.F.M. Sait Memorial Hospital (Govt.)
Vijaya Nursing Home, Ettins Road
S.M. Nursing Home, Coonoor Road
Coonoor:
Government Lawley Hospital, Mount Road
Sagayamatha Hospital
Jaya Nursing Home, Supply Depot Road
Nunkum Hospital
Kotagiri:
Government Hospital
Banks / Money Changers
Ooty:
State Bank Of India, Commissioner’s Road
State Bank Of Travancore, 102, Commercial Road
Syndicate Bank, Charring Cross
Canara Bank, 24, Commercial Road
Central Bank Of India, Charring Cross
Coonoor:
State Bank Of India, K.N.M. Compound
State Bank Of Travancore, Church Road
Syndicate Bank, Glen View
Canara Bank, Salam Road
Central Bank Of India, Mount Road
Kotagiri:
State Bank Of India, Kotagiri-down
Syndicate Bank
Canara Bank, Konavakarai
Central Bank
Tour to Nilgiri Hills- Other Attractions
Jul 19th
Other Attractions
Adventure and trekking in the Nilgiris
The Nilgiris are a paradise for hikers. Landscaped by nature, the hills abound in travel for nature lovers. There are walks and excursions in any direction, turn from any starting point. A trip may be full of thrill, excitement and adventure and a way of seeing and enjoying nature in all its beauty and splendor.
Trekking pamphlets are available with the Wildlife and Environment Association Nilgiri (NWLEA). There are guides who have good knowledge of certain areas. If necessary, their services can be hired. And for more details, contact the Tourist Office at Charing Cross, Ooty.
Fairs & Festivals
Flowers and Fruits Show
The annual Flower Show in Ooty and Coonoor Hall Fruits are important cultural events, deserving special mention.
Leisure
Shopping
Almost anything available in the cities can be had at Ooty with the lure of shopping in peace. Exclusive products like Nilgiri Nilgiri tea, fruits, natural oils like Eucalyptus, embroidered Toda, plant nurseries are easily available in the city. Cooperative Super Market and Municipal Market are some of the best places for shopping fruits and general groceries. Kairali of Kerala Handicrafts and Poompuhar Tamil Nadu Handicrafts have their showrooms near to Super Market Buildings carbonization of the Cross.
Eating Out
Blue hills
Chandan Vihar
Tandoor Mahal
Ooty Coffee House
Chinkos Chinese Restaurant
Hills Palace.
