Day 2 – Beautiful Coonoor

Date: 23-Aug-15

Our plan for the day was simple but exciting. We wanted to visit the Pine Forest in Ooty, explore the scenic attractions around Coonoor, and return to Ooty on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train in the evening.

Since the train was scheduled to depart from Coonoor at 4:30 PM, we had to complete all our sightseeing, including lunch, well before then.

A refreshing morning walk

Thilak, two of his friends, and I were ready by 7:00 AM, while the rest of the group was still getting ready. Since we had some time to spare, the four of us packed our bags and went for a short walk near the resort. The surroundings were beautiful. Vast carrot fields stretched across the landscape, and the cool morning air made the walk even more enjoyable.

We spent some time soaking in the peaceful atmosphere before returning to the resort. By then, everyone else was ready. We checked out at around 8:30 AM and set off for another day of exploring the Nilgiris.

Before heading to the Pine Forest, we stopped in Ooty town for an authentic South Indian breakfast at Durga Hotel.

A stroll through the Pine Forest

The Pine Forest is located around 10 km from Ooty, and we reached there at approximately 10:00 AM. Having visited the Pine Forest in Kodaikanal earlier, I couldn’t help comparing the two. While both were equally beautiful, Ooty’s Pine Forest had an added attraction—a large lake bordering one side of the forest. The combination of towering pine trees and the tranquil waters created a picturesque setting.

We spent a wonderful time walking among the trees, enjoying the cool weather, and relaxing near the lake. It was the perfect start to the day.

The road to Coonoor

At around 11:30 AM, we left the Pine Forest and began our journey towards Coonoor. Although Coonoor is only about 20 km from Ooty, it took us nearly an hour to reach. However, none of us minded because this turned out to be the most beautiful drive of the entire trip.

As we approached Coonoor, endless tea estates began appearing on both sides of the road. Floating clouds drifted across the hills, creating a dreamlike landscape. The views were so breathtaking that we simply had to stop and take it all in.

Visiting a tea estate was never part of our original itinerary, but some opportunities are too beautiful to ignore. The tea plantation we stopped at was vast, lush, and immaculately maintained. Rolling green slopes stretched as far as our eyes could see, while clouds drifted gently across the plantations, playing hide-and-seek with the landscape.

Nature was truly at its best. We spent quite some time admiring the scenery and taking photographs. There was also a small shop nearby where we sampled a few special varieties of tea before continuing our journey. Looking back, this unplanned stop became one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Through the heart of the tea country and towards Dolphin’s nose viewpoint

Our next destination was Dolphin’s Nose View Point, located around 10 km from the tea estate. The narrow winding roads made the journey slower, taking nearly 45 minutes. But every minute of that drive was worth it.

For one particularly memorable stretch, our Tempo Traveller seemed to be travelling right through the middle of endless tea plantations. Tea gardens surrounded us on all sides, creating a spectacular panorama that none of us wanted to end. The drive itself felt like an attraction.

When we arrived at Dolphin’s Nose, the viewpoint was completely covered by clouds. At first, visibility was almost zero, and we wondered if we would miss the views entirely. Fortunately, patience paid off. After some time, the clouds slowly drifted away, revealing the majestic Nilgiri Mountains, deep valleys, and the distant Catherine Falls cascading through the landscape.

The sight was breathtaking and easily justified the long drive. Watching the mountains emerge from the mist felt magical and became one of the most memorable moments of the day.

A brief stop at Lamb’s Rock

After Dolphin’s Nose, we headed towards Lamb’s Rock, located about 8 km from Coonoor town. Unfortunately, this was one place where time wasn’t on our side.

The clouds remained stubbornly in place, and unlike Dolphin’s Nose, we could not afford to wait for them to clear. By then, it was already 3:00 PM, and we still needed to have lunch and reach the railway station before the toy train departure. Although we couldn’t enjoy the full views, the journey itself remained beautiful.

A memorable ride on the Nilgiri toy train

With the clock ticking, we quickly had lunch at Orchid Square and left for Coonoor Railway Station at around 3:45 PM. The station was only about 3 km away, and we arrived comfortably by 4:00 PM. The toy train was already waiting on the platform when we reached. Excitement instantly filled the group as we clicked photographs around the train and eagerly discussed the upcoming journey.

The one-hour toy train ride from Coonoor to Ooty was something all of us had been looking forward to. Before boarding, we requested our Tempo Traveller driver to proceed directly to Ooty and wait for us near the railway station. The train was pleasantly uncrowded, allowing our entire group to sit together in the same compartment.

Right on schedule, the train departed at 4:30 PM. The journey was every bit as enchanting as we had imagined. The train slowly wound its way through the hills, offering spectacular views of tea estates, valleys, forests, mountains, and stretches of lush green countryside. The cool weather added to the charm, and everyone spent most of the journey admiring the scenery rather than talking. It was the perfect ending to our Ooty adventure.

The train reached Ooty Railway Station at around 5:30 PM, and we began our return journey towards Bangalore shortly afterward.

The long journey home

One important concern was crossing Bandipur before the forest gates closed at 9:00 PM. Fortunately, everything went according to plan, and we reached the Bandipur check post at around 8:30 PM. After a quick tea break near the gate, we continued our journey.

By the time we reached Mysore, it was already around 10:45 PM, and most restaurants had closed for the night. Luckily, we found Guru Residency still open and stopped there for dinner. After dinner, the driver maintained a steady pace, and we finally reached Bangalore at around 3:00 AM.

Travel snapshot

This trip was much more than a visit to Ooty and Coonoor. It gave me the opportunity to make new friends, explore some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Nilgiris, and experience memorable moments that were never part of the original plan. From the misty tea estates and mountain viewpoints to the charming toy train ride, every day brought something special.

The best journeys are often remembered not only for the places visited but also for the people who shared them. This trip gave me both.

• Route Travelled: Silent Valley Resort > Pine Forest (Ooty) > Coonoor > Tea Estate in Coonoor > Dolphin’s Nose (Coonoor) > Lamb’s Rock (Coonoor) > Coonoor Railway Station > Ooty Railway Station > Bandipur > Mysore > Bangalore

See also:

• Ooty
• Day 1 – Doddabetta Peak and Botanical Garden

Route Map