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HILL
STATIONS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA |
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COONOOR
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The tranquil hill resort of Coonoor, standing at the head
of the Hulikal ravine, 27 km north of Mettupalayam and 19
kms south of Ooty, at an altitude of 1,858 metres, on the
south eastern side of the Dodabetta mountains is the second
largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills. The profoundity
in which different varieties of flowers are found in Coonoor
fascinates the tourists. Sunflowers, marigolds and rhododendrons
are some of the flowers growing wildly here. The vast extending
tea bushes are pleasing sights to see. The weather is pleasant
and soothing.
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Places
to visit |
Coonoor's many hillocks and
mounds are perfect for trekking. A popular pastime is bird
watching, as an extensive variety of birds can be spotted
at the Nilgiris. Apart from the varied species of vultures,
eagles and owls, song birds like bulbuls, thrushes, babblers,
larks cuckoos, robins and several others are a treat to urbanites
who are affected by noise pollution. |
Sim's Park is a well planned
park cum botanical garden on the slopes of a ravine
with hundreds of rose varieties. A fruit and vegetable
show is held every year in May.
The Lamb's Rock ( 5.5 km ) offers a spectacular view
of the Coimbatore planes. The cliff sinks hundreds
of metres into the heart of dense jungle. |
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Dolphin's Nose ( 12 Km ) has
spectacular views onto St. Catherine's Falls on one side and
Coonoor and Kotagiri streams, tributaries of the Bhavani,
on the other.
A Tea and Tourism Festival is held in Coonoor every winter.
To visit a Tea or Coffee plantation, contact UPASI (United
Planters' Association of Southern India), "Glenview",
Coonoor.
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YERUCAD
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Is situated in the Shevaray Hills at a height of 1,515
metres from the real-level. Coffee plantations and verdant
locations shelter the calm hill station of Yercaud.
Some people believe that these hills were part of the ancient
megalith-builders' domain which stretched from Cornwall
through Brittany and Iberia to India. Clearly visitors have
been streaming into Yercaud from well before recorded history.
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Around Yercaud : Enroute to
Yercaud, you will come across the textile town of Salem. Ethnic
handloom fabrics will be available at half the price, you
would pay elsewhere.
Brightly coloured idols catch the right of the travelers,
situated at the left side of the road just before the road
begins to climb the mountains. There guardian deities, unique
to Tamil Nadu only, are worshipped as protectors of villages
and are often known as Aiyanars.
On the way up the winding hill road with its 20 hairpin
bends, stop at a thatched wayside stall selling 'Fresh Garden
Produce': packets of cloves and pepper. Then come the coffee
plantations before entering cottage-dotted Yercaud.
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You can amble around leisurely,
or do a tandem tour of the lake in a pedal boat, or hire a
taxi to 'do' the sights. 3 km away is the rocky escarpment
overlooking the plains. It is known as Lady's Seat and some
wag has named another viewpoint as Gent's Seat.
Pyramid point, 3 km away, has cairns of stones and was
once a Stone Age fortress shrine before the new temple was
built. 7 km from the lake is the Servaroyan Temple with
a modern, striped, facade leading to an old cave temple.
Once you get into this soothing, lake-centred, quiet and
undisturbed green place, you don't have to do anything but
unwind
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