This is our third article in a series of articles on Exploring Ooty. To read from the first article,click here.

After reliving my childhood dream of travelling in a Toy Train and enthralling views of the Ketti Valley – the second largest valley in the world , I was eagerly anticipating my next destination- Coonoor a hill station known for its tea and coffee plantations in the Nilgiris.


Tea Plantations at Conoor
Tea Plantations at Conoor
We had earlier asked our cab driver to arrive at the Coonoor railway station , so the cab was waiting for us as soon as we reached the railway station. We straightaway headed towards the tea estates in Coonoor. The tea estates are privately managed gardens owned by companies like Tata. These tea plantations form an important source of income of this region making it one of the richest districts in India.
 Despite the plantations not coming under the banner of government tourist corporation, tourists visit them whenever they visit this part of the town because of the scenic beauty and soothing sights and smells that they offer. The owners have also restricted few entry places for the tourists and few are open to them.



A Tea Factory
A Tea Factory
Tea Leaves

As soon as we entered the tea plantation ,one could easily guess that tea is cultivated here just by breathing in the air and smelling it. The plantation offered gorgeous sights of lush green tea and coffee plantations and teakwood trees. The tea and coffee plantations were being cultivated in the form of “terrace farming” on mild slopes.

Tea Garden
Tea Garden
We even went inside the open tea factory just adjacent to the garden we were in. There one can get an idea of how the tea bags are packed starting from picking of tea leaves.

Inside Tea Factory
Inside Tea Factory
Tea Manufacturing Machines
Tea Manufacturing Machines

While we were moving through the beautiful tea gardens, we were told that the road leads to the famous view-point  “Dolphin’s Nose”. Around 10 km from Coonoor, the view point is an enormous rock formation that is entirely unique and resembles a dophin’s nose, hence the name. Dolphin’s nose viewpoint not only provides a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the Nilgiri Hills but also of Catherine falls.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUrGuCz0XwRwG5U0Q13cQsQL2kKplkRjZW4do1nW7M8GNUhZ-FGOKwzoHw7Q5aoa2WwGvuzQ7hXq7z7ahSqBl5tMraGeBP3SrOmNZaVa4OSMyllBT6vom6UPZv3m0X5ugn4kMyu8PYA/s800/
Catherine Falls

When we reached there, we already had a company-Monkeys. But they were not mischievous and seemed like they were themselves enjoying the view that the site offered. And taking about the site, the view was enthralling. 

The forest covered Nilgiri hills was soothing to the senses .And from one of these hills we can easily see Catherine Falls which was magnifying the scenic beauty of the landscape. To be honest, the description about the place was true; it is indeed the “Kashmir of the South”.  

View From Dolphin's Nose
  
Unfortunately we could not stay there long as the clouds were playing hide and seek with us and it seemed it could rain any moment. Thus, we then decided to move back to hotel for the day. We bought the famous Nilgiri tea on the way to our hotel.
Coonoor is a place for eco-tourism. The sight of the lush green tea plantations and the smell of the teak remain imbibed in your memories for quite some days. The Dolphin’s nose viewpoint and the tea plantations that are on the way provide a perfect shot to the photographers.

After calmness of the tea plantations, I was going to get a bit “rocky” with my next stop-Dodabetta Peak ,the highest peak in the Nilgiris range . We will visit Dodabetta peak in the next article.



To book a customised tour to Ooty and Conoor, feel free to get in touch with us.

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Readers please share your feedback in the comment section below. Thank you :-)

To read the next article, click here.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

What a lovely article...!!! And awesome pictures.... :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Rohit! Keep visiting the blog for other articles! :)

Unknown said...

spectacular view of the tea plantations

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

The pictures are breathtakingly beautiful! :O :D

Richa said...

You people are really doing very well,another impressive article...
And hats off to the photographer,lovely pics (y)

Unknown said...

Ayush - Yes it was even simply breathtaking when we were there.
Himank - Thanks for the appreciation! :)
Kavya - The live scenes were even more amazing! My advice to you would be to keep calm sit back and wait for the next article! It will sweep you off your feet! ;)
Richa - Thanks for such wonderful compliments! We are sure we won't disappoint you!

Diksha Jain said...

wow!! mesmerising pics with breathtaking views! :)

sarthak said...

This place is such a heaven. Here you ca realize why tea ceremony is so important in Chinese civilization. The smell of tea leaves when it is just dropped in boiled water. Just imagine the feeling one will get when tea leaves are of second flush........

Unknown said...

Sarthak: Yes buddy , you do get that feeling there! :)

Unknown said...

Conoor is indeed Kashmir of South - the huge tea gardens there reminds me of huge baghs of Kashmir. Being the second largest hill station in Nilgiri hills after Ooty,it has so much to offer. With Sim's park, Dolphin's Nose, Catherine falls, Hidden Valley etc. it is the perfect honeymoon place to visit in India. Your pics are so fresh ,that I can feel the aroma to tea gardens sitting in my office. ;-)

Shubhopriyo Basu said...

Descriptive... Feels like being there!

Bharat Taxi said...

Wonderful Pictures!! Very nice post, There are many places to visit in Kashmir, all places are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this information.
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