Coonoor weekend destination from Cochin

Coonoor in Tamil Nadu is famous for its blue kurinji flower, which is said to bloom once every 12 years, giving the Blue Mountains its colour and moniker. But according to the locals the kurinji hasn’t bloomed for a year now. The perfect weekend destination from Cochin, Coonoor is famous for leisurely trips to the nearby tourist spots, trek in the shoal forests of the blue mountains and of course, down endless cups of Nilgiri grown tea or coffee.

Coonoor has the Sim’s Park which was laid back in 1874 in a deep ravine, with winding footpaths, pergolas, gazebos, a lily pond and a dense shoal skirting it. It has marvelous thousand species of trees like mahogany, birch, rudraksh and were brought from Mexico, Chile, China and Venezuela. It is a tree park however its rose garden is beautiful at the tome of season. In May a fruit and vegetable show is held. Opposite to the Sim’s Park there is the Pasteur Institute which is known for its path breaking research work on rabies. There are guided tours where one can watch the pasteurization of milk and experiments underway.

The Droog Fort was once used by Tipu Sultan which is 15km from Coonoor. Droog is also called Bakasura Malai as it is linked to the tale of a local demon, Bakasura. However the fort only has a wall which has survived but it is 6,000 ft above the plains so it gives the offers an awesome view.

About 8km from Coonoor is Lamb’s Rock which gives the view of Coimbatore plains. People take food and drinks and just rome and enjoy the picnic with their family and friends. Then there is the Dolphin’s Nose is huge a rock that resembles a dolphin’s nose. About 10km from Coonoor, this is a popular spot despite the bad road. On a clear day one can glimpse Catherine Falls from a top the nose. Law’s falls is another popular picnic spot.

Wellington is an army township to one side of Coonoor. Wellington golf course is hugely popular, not just with those who wander around its manicured greens wielding their irons, hordes of South Indian film crews also descend periodically to shoot song sequences. Also beyond the golf course lies the Hidden Valley which is a great trekking route.

Coonoor is famous for its Irish and Belgian table sets, handkerchiefs plus for its tea and coffee

Find Driving Directions from Cochin to Coonoor here..

Palampur, Darjeeling in Himachal

Palampur is in the Kangra Valley, criss crossed by streams and brooks which make Palampur pulum word for water in pahari, ideal for tea plantation. According to my guide the British were so obsessed by the aroma of the leaf of the Chinese origin that they began to plant tea bushes wherever land was suitable. The fame of Palampur lies in this British desire to have more tea than they could drink and export the rest back to a thirsting Europe.

While you enter Palampur you would come to know that it is surrounded by dense forest of oaks, pine and deodar making it ideal for those who enjoy long walks. For me the green valley also makes for enjoyable drives with my family and for those who are more adventurous, plugging off course to nearby destinations can be pretty rewarding.

Baijnath Temple also known as Kigram, was once the capital of the Kirat kings of Kangra as told by our guide. The early 13th century Shiva temple here is most unusual and looks as if it has been lifted from Puri in Orissa and dropped in the Kangra Valley.

The Tibetan monastery of Tashijong is one of the many built after the Dalai Lama settled in McLeodganj. We buyed carpets of delicate weave, Buddhist thanka paintings and other Tibetan arts and crafts, which were available here for our friends and relatives.

My destination was Neugal Khad close to the five centuries old temple of bundlamata. Also rising tall behind the chasm are the mighty Dhauladhars where we had a cup of tea at the HPTDC café nearby enjoying the views of chasm, temple and mountains all together as leisure.

Then there is a palace of the crescent moon Taragarh, heritage property build by Nawab of Bahawalpur and was named after the glass pleasure pavilion he built here which is now converted into a temple. However now it has been turned into Taragarh Palace Hotel.

Sherbing is a gigantic monastery also home to the pre- eminent Tal Sti Rimpoche. There are huge stupas and grandly conceived monastery in the middle of the forest. The Buddhist temple here contains an immense statue of Buddha. The Rimpoche allows the people between 2 and 4 in the afternoon; everyone is welcomed for the darshan.

We stayed at Hotel silver Oak, which offered us home-cooked food and horse rides, however there are many other hotels to stay like Hotel T- Bud, Sath Camps and many more. There is no dining choice in Palampur outside the hotels. Only Joy in town is famous for its veg food.