Amazing Hill Stations near Coimbatore

Known For : Sim's Park Dolphin's Nose Ketti Valley

One of the three beautiful Nilgiri hill stations, Coonoor is the second largest hill station of the Western Ghats. It is situated at an altitude of 1930 meters. With slopes of tea plantations, dotted with many attractions and blessed with chilly weather throughout the year, this place is a perfect summer retreat. 

Coonoor is a delightful location to have a panoramic view of the Nilgiri Hills and Catherine Falls. It is a dreamy destination for its rich greenery, manicured hills, Colonial culture and amazing sceneries. Coonoor also has some heritage homes and guesthouses amidts the hills that are perfect for a vacation or a staycation. 

Distance from Coimbatore: 68 km

Best Time: October to March

17 Coonoor Attractions

Known For : Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty Lake Emerald Lake, Ooty

The Blue Mountains have always been shrouded in mysticism, and Ooty is no exception to that. For every mountain lover, the very idea of travelling to the city known as the Queen of the Hills holds an allure like no other. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company (and for a very good reason), Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station near Coimbatore.

It serves as a very popular tourist destination for anyone looking for a picturesque place to relax and unwind. Ooty is nestled amidst the Nilgiri hills at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level and enjoys a favourable climate all year round.

Distance from Coimbatore: 84 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

43 Ooty Attractions

Known For : Emerald Lake, Yercaud Pagoda Point Botanical Garden, Yercaud

Nestled in the Shivaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats steeped in abundant greenery. Commonly called ‘Ooty of the Poor’, this region has a history dating back to the time of the British. Located at an altitude of 4970 feet, Yercaud is known for its vast expanses of coffee plantations and great weather all year round.

Yercaud lake is the main point of attraction of the region. One of the many highlights is the summer festival that takes place in May. It is dedicated to Lord Servarayan, the supreme god of the ranges and gives visitors a glimpse into the rich heritage of this region.

Distance from Coimbatore: 194 km

Best Time: October to June

20 Yercaud Attractions

Known For : Elk Falls Longwood Shola Trekking

Snuggled in the Nilgiris District, Kotagiri is a gorgeous hill station frequented by tourists from different parts of the country. It is one of the oldest hill stations in the Nilgiris and rests at an altitude of 5882 feet. Steeped in vast expanses of greenery and rolling hills, Kotagiri offers plenty of trekking and hiking opportunities for adventure lovers. 

 Home to the famed Kota tribe, Kotagiri is commonly known as the ‘mountains of the Kotas’. It is packed with European style houses and has a history dating back to British rule in India. The 8 kilometres long trek to the Catherine Falls is one of the many highlights of this hill station. With a jagged terrain backed by a peaceful setting, this region is also ideal for rock climbing.

Distance from Coimbatore: 64 km

Best Time: December to May

7 Kotagiri Attractions

Bellikkal is a small village in the south of Sigur Plateau in Tamil Nadu. This small and elusive hill station is as beautiful as those in the Himalayas and has yet managed to retain its old-world charm.

Distance from Coimbatore: 97 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

Known For : Green Valley View (Suicide Point) Kodaikanal Lake Bear Shola Falls

Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is one of the most famous romantic destinations in India. When you think of Kodaikanal, you think of a wonderful climate, cliffs covered in mist, cloud-capped mountains and beautiful lakes and valleys, and once you visit this hill station, you will find that every bit of what you have imagined it to be is true. Nestled amidst the rolling slopes of the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round. Kodaikanal means the gift of the forests.

Distance from Coimbatore: 177 km

Best Time: September to May

35 Kodaikanal Attractions

Known For : Munnar Tea Plantations Atukkad Waterfalls Rose Garden Munnar

The idyllic hill station Munnar - famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks, is located in the Western Ghats, in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.

Distance from Coimbatore: 162 km

Best Time: September to May

48 Munnar Attractions

Known For : BRT Wildlife Sanctuary Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Adventure Activities

BR Hills, also known as Billigiriranga Hills, is a hill range and one of the most popular road trips from Bangalore. BR Hills is an abode to Billigiri Rangaaswamy Temple and BRT Wildlife sanctuary. This range of hills is a deific conjuncture for the Eastern and the Western Ghats, thus opening myriad opportunities for forest adventures and sports. 

BRT Wildlife Sanctuary is truly an upland paradise for wildlife lovers and photographers with its rich biodiversity. The Billigiri Rangaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Ranganathan is situated at the topmost point of the hills and offers a spectacular bird’s eye view of the entire region. 

Distance from Coimbatore: 177 km

Best Time: April to October

5 BR Hills Attractions

Situated at 1500m above sea level in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, Valparai is an obscure yet tranquil hill station in the Anamalai Hills. Its alluring combination of grassy knolls, clean air, and picturesque sights entice tourists from all over the country and beyond, rendering it one of the most sought-after destinations in the southern region of the Western Ghats.

Propelled by an economy that comprises largely of coffee and tea estates, this idyllic hill station also flourishes because of its thriving tourism industry. Yet it also inheres a rich heritage for those with an appreciation for history and culture. Its monuments and temples stand out as major attractions in this regard.

Distance from Coimbatore: 113 km

Known For : Hill View Park Kulamavu Dam Idukki Arch Dam

With remains of the Chera dynasty, Vembolinad Kingdom, and European plantations in the later years, this rugged hill station near Coimbatore is best known for its wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations and forests.

Idukki's speciality lies in a 650 feet long and 550 feet high arch dam across the Kuravan Kurathi mountain, which is the largest in the country. Anamudi, which is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas, is also located in Idukki

Distance from Coimbatore: 279 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

37 Idukki Attractions

Known For : Madumalai National Park The Jungle Safari Theppakadu Elephant Camp

Mudumalai National Park is a part of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, located at a distance of 150 kilometres from Coimbatore, in the Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu. It connects the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats and owes its popularity to the fact that it’s home to many vulnerable and endangered animal and bird species. The neighbouring states of Kerala and Karnataka both have their borders adjacent to the park. The Ooty-Mysore highway passes through the forest, curving around the Moyar river which separates Mudumalai and the Bandipur National Park.

Distance from Coimbatore: 123 km

Best Time: December to June

3 Madumalai Attractions

Known For : Devi Lake Pallivasal Falls Thoovanam Falls

This quaint little hill station located at an altitude 1800 m above sea level is best known for its mythical Sita Devi Lake, rolling hills, waterfalls and innumerable tea and spice plantations. The Sita Devi Lake which is the prime attraction in the area is said to have been bathed in by Goddess Sita and hence assumes immense religious importance. Other than the lush green surroundings and breathtaking views, the Palivasal Waterfalls, Thoovanam falls and the tea plantations are places to visit.

Distance from Coimbatore: 186 km

Best Time: November to May

4 Devikulam Attractions

Known For : Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembara peak Soochipara Falls

62 kms off Kozhikode is Vythiri, a popular resort town famous for its old-world charm of cottages, log huts & treehouse accommodations cosily nestled in the forests of Wayanad. Situated at an altitude of 700 metres, Vythiri in Wayanad comprises 18 villages.

Vythiri is an ideal tourist destination with little cottages and resorts ornamenting its pleasant surroundings. It is the place to be in if one wants to step back a little into the past and experience the simpler cottage life while having the urban and modern facilities available on-demand to create a truly enjoyable experience. 

Distance from Coimbatore: 212 km

Best Time: October to Apr

5 Vythiri Attractions

Known For : Banasura Sagar Dam Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Chembra Peak

Replete with waterfalls, historical caves, comfortable resorts and homestays, Wayanad in Kerala is famous for its spice plantations and wildlife. Walking through the sprawling spice plantations, trekking to the pre-historic caves and experiencing a resort holiday are some of the many things you can do to get a taste of Wayanad.

Wayanad is best known for the Wayanad wildlife reserve which is home to an exquisite variety of flora and fauna. This reserve is an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve peacefully located amidst the serene hills of Western Ghats. Wayanad is home to a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, leopards, and bears.

Distance from Coimbatore: 199 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

34 Wayanad Attractions

Known For : Baba Budangiri Mullayanagiri Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

If you love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the mornings, you are going to love Chikmagalur, which has a perpetual fragrance of coffee lingering in the air. Very famously known as the ‘Coffee Land of Karnataka’, Chikmagalur is situated in the foothills of the Mullayangiri Range in Karnataka and stands at an altitude of 3400 feet. Famous for its tall mountains, lush green forests and its tranquil environment (apart from its coffee production), Chikmagalur is a very popular tourist destination and is a quaint getaway from the busy life of the city.

Distance from Coimbatore: 370 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

22 Chikmagalur Attractions

Known For : Gingee Fort Sathanur Dam Annamalaiyar Temple

A town that offers a significant history adorned in its countless temples and ashrams, Thiruvannamalai is where Hindu Mythology takes the form of stunning architecture. Perched on top of the Malai hill, Thiruvannamalai is a holy town, most famous for its Arunachala temple among numerous other temples and ashrams dedicated to saints of olden times. Sri Ramana Ashram, Sathanur Dam, Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram are some of the important tourist spots as well as significant areas for followers. A colourful side of the area is seen during the days of the Arunachaleswarat temple festival.

Distance from Coimbatore: 329 km

Best Time: October to March

9 Thiruvannamalai Attractions

Known For : Abbey Falls Raja's Seat Coffee Plantations in Coorg

Located amidst imposing mountains in Karnataka with a perpetually misty landscape, Coorg is the place to be for all nature lovers.  This popular coffee producing hill station is not only popular for its beautiful green hills and the streams cutting right through them. It also stands as a popular destination because of its culture and people. The Kodavas, a local clan specialising in martial arts, are especially notable for their keen hospitality.

Distance from Coimbatore: 316 km

Best Time: October to March

35 Coorg Attractions

Known For : Hoysala Temples at Mosale Shettihalli Church Bhagwan Bahubali Statue

Known as the temple-architecture capital of Karnataka the city derives its name from its presiding deity Goddess Hassanamba which in the Kannada language mean 'Smiling mother'. Hassan saw its development as a major seat of the Hoysala Empire that ruled major parts of South India. An example of the ancient glory of Hassan is the Shettyhalli Church which was built in the 18th century. 

Hassan is mainly popular for its Jain Temples and the Hassanamba Temple. But apart from this, the city has a very well connected transport system. Hence making this the point to many other tourist hubs in Karnataka.

Distance from Coimbatore: 323 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

22 Hassan Attractions

Known For : Punganur Lake Nature Park Jalagamparai Falls

A quaint little hill station near Coimbatore, Yelagiri is a perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. Spread a little over 30 square kilometres, and at a height of over 1100 metres above sea level, Yelagiri offers its tourists some beautiful places like the Jalagamparai falls, sweeping orchards and rose garden, among others. The ideal destination for nature lovers, Yelagiri is a town that is completely off the beaten tourist trail, lending it a quieter and much more peaceful vibe compared to other more famous hill stations nearby.

Originally belonging to the Zamindar family of Yelagiri, the hill station began to gain popularity since the colonial rule, when it was used by the British as a summer getaway. Ever since then, it has been one of the hidden gems of South India, replete with rocky hills and natural scenic beauty, making it the perfect place to take a break from the fast-paced city life.

Distance from Coimbatore: 339 km

Best Time: November to February

13 Yelagiri Attractions

Known For : Kodachadri Jog Falls Agumbe

With nature in its full bloom, the town of Shimoga has been home to several great dynasties and kingdoms. Packed with several marvels of nature in the form of picturesque landscape, gorgeous waterfalls, mystical temples and lush green surroundings, its raw beauty will leave you absolutely enchanted.

Blessed with swaying palms and verdant paddy fields, the place has earned itself the nickname of rice bowl as well as the breadbasket of Karnataka. Pleasant weather, beautiful rolling hills, a profusion of areca nuts and an endless list of attractions has made this place a must for enthusiastic vacation makers.

Distance from Coimbatore: 443 km

Best Time: July to December

37 Shimoga Attractions