| Nestling on the south eastern side of Indian territory, the beautiful and culturally rich Tamil Nadu is bounded on the east by Bay of Bengal, in the south by the Indian ocean, in the west by the states of Kerala and Karnataka and in the North by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh |
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| A stroll through the clouds afloat, collect a handful of natural pleasure as a memoir, open the hands and they dissolve into oblivion. This pleasurable dream is not impossible on a hill station with the pleasant climate. With their dreamy and rejuvenating atmospheres, Ooty on the Nilgiri's and Kodaikanal on the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu are two favorite tourist spots.
Nilgiri (meaning 'blue mountain') hills at the concurrence of the Eastern and Western Ghats are enveloped by the blue haze of the clouds, making their name justified. Udhagamandalam, famously known as Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri hill stations, are all part of the lofty Nilgiri's. For its beauty, holiday options and reachability, Ooty is called the 'Queen of hill stations'. |
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| Ooty / udhagamandalam |
| Often Referred to as 'The Queen of Hill Stations', Udhagamandalam, known as Ooty, is one of the most scenic and visited hill stations of India. Nestling at a height of 2240 m in Nilgiri's, Ooty is situated at a distance of nearly 105 Km from the famous city of Coimbatore. The scenery is surely the main attracting factor for tourists, but the other major reason for the huge inflow of the tourists is the salubrious climate that remains throughout the year...MORE |
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| Yercaud |
| Popularly known as “Ooty of the poor”, Yercaud is a picturesque hill station of Tamil Nadu. Thanks to its extraordinary natural beauty and salubrious climate, Britishers has established this beautiful place as a summer resort during 19th century...MORE |
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| Yelagiri |
| If you are bored with hustle and bustle of city life and looking for some relaxation amidst the serene beauty of Nature, than you must head to Yelagiri hills in Tamil Nadu |
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| Perched at an altitude of 1, 410 m above the sea level, Yelagiri is one such picturesque place in the southern peninsula where you can see Mother Nature at her best. Bedecked with breathtaking scenic views and quaint villages, this hill station is an ideal summer gateway of India |
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| Unlike Ooty and Kodaikanal hill station of the state, Yelagiri is blessed with pleasant climate throughout the year. Temperature of this summer retreat never exceeds 38 degree centigrade during summer season and gradually lowers down to minimum of 12 degree centigrade during December andd January |
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| Also known as Javvadhu hills, Yelagiri has numerous charms which will surely captivate your attention at the very first glimpse. One of the least polluted vacation destinations of our country, Yelagiri is an ideal place to trekking and boating |
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| Kodaikanal |
| The place is Kodaikanal, secludedly situated 2100 meters above sea level, in the beautiful Palani Hills. Kodaikanal is 120 Kms from the bustling city of Madurai and at least tens and thousands of Kilometers from the mundane. Perhaps why those who visited this hill station have come back enchanted and thrilled...MORE |
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| Coonoor |
| The serene hill station of Coonoor lies in the arms of the Nilgiri Hills. In fact Coonoor is located at an altitude of 1800 m. Geographically speaking, Coonoor lies at the head of Hulikal ravine.This picturesque retreat is covered by grassy meadows, tea bushes, a profusion of sunflowers, marigolds and rhododendrons, all growing wild. Coonoor is essentially a small tea garden town where the weather remains pleasantly cool throughout the year |
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| Links with the world Coonoor does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is in Coimbatore. Coonoor is on the toy-train line between Mettupalayam (28 km) and Ooty. The toy train leaves Mettupalayam for Ooty at 7:45 am and arrives at Ooty at noon. The total time taken on the return trip back to Mettupalayam is about 3½ hours. However, this train service is often disrupted during the heavy monsoon season. Coonoor is well connected by bus with Ooty, Coimbatore, and Kotagiri |
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| Sim's Park : The Sim's Park is an important place to visit in Coonoor. It is a 12-hectare park, having a collection of over 1,000 plant species, including magnolia, pines, tree ferns, and camellia. The botanical garden developed partly in the Japanese style got its name after J. D. Sim, the secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. The key attraction of the park is the annual fruit and vegetable show held in May |
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| Kotagiri |
| In the serene setting of the Nilgiri Hills and just an hour's drive from Udhagamandalam, Kotagiri is a small resort set among the lush tea estates. Retaining the essence of hill magic and charm, the resort offers year round sylvan charm. Trips to Kodanad View Point, St. Catharine Falls and Rangaswamy Pillar and Peak are worthwhile.Kotagiri is a hiker's paradise, with endless trails and sufficient 'off beat ness'. It is the third largest and the oldest hill station in the Nilgiri's. Like all hill stations in India, this also has had strong presence of the British Raj. The town is fast becoming commercial, with many banks and shopping facilities coming up. It has a Kota temple in the middle of the town, even though the Kota tribes have long moved out, giving it an exotic tribal feel. Kotagiri has one of the best climates in the world. It is more temperate than Ooty, attributed to its altitude of 1984 metres above sea level |
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| Kodanaad View point : Otherwise called the Terminus Country, because of its location (perched on the eastern most edge of the Nilgiri's.) From here one can see an entire array of natural processes like rivers Moyar and Bhavani, the Mysore Plateau, Valleys, trenches and also paddy fields |
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| Elk falls : Even though dry for some months of the year, is worth visiting this place; reason being, it has the first European house built in Nilgris here. Now a ruin, but still is a captivating sight. Another reason is the Badaga settlement, on the road to the falls. Quaint and idyllic, this is a beautiful definition of a tribal village. Great place for anthropology |
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| Velliangiri Hills |
| The Siva Temple
Of all the mountain shrines in Kongunadu, the Siva temple of Velliangiri in the western boundary is considered to be the most famous. Known as Rajathagiri, Velliangiri, Dakshin Kailash or Bhoolok Kailash, this sacred spot, according to legend, is where Siva performed his cosmic dance on the request of his consort Umadevi. The five faces of Lord Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadasiva, are seen as Panchagiri and as Panchalingas pertaining to the panchabhutas, in Velliangiri. The hill ranges have abundant natural resources, which include rare herbs. Lord Panchalingesa and his Consort Manonmani Amman alias Parvathi, bestow their grace on the devotees who throng here annually between February and May |
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| 40 kms from Coimbatore, Famous for: Siva Temple, Altitude: 6000 ft |
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