Home > Hotels > Velan Hotel Coonoor > Sight Seeing Sight Seeing Pasteur Institute Located opposite the Sim's Park,and established in 1907,it is a famous Institute doing research on in rabies and treatment to of individuals bitten by rabid animals. One of the most important projects of this Institute is the manufacture of the polio vaccine. Pomological Station This is one of the three experimental fruit gardens in the Nilgris maintained by the Horticultural Department. The other two are Burliar and Kallar on the Coonoor - Mettupalayam Ghat Road. Apples, Plums, Peaches, Persimmons, Lemons, Apricots and Pomegranates are grown here for the purpose of research. Surplus fruits and fruit based jams are sold to the visitors Silk Rearing Station Adjoining the Pasteur Institute is a Silk Worm Rearing Station maintained by the Central Silk Board; learn about how silk is made. Laws Falls This is a beautiful picnic spot, situated on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam Road  about 7kms from Coonoor. The height of the falls is about 180 feet. There are vast stretches of undisturbed Sholas(Tropical Montane Forests)  a paradise for nature lovers. Lamb's Rock I About 8 kms from Coonoor on the way to Dolphin's Nose,provides a scenic view of the Coimbatore Plains and is a favorite tourists destination. Lady Canning’s Seat About 9 kms from Coonoor, the scenic spot is marked by a small house and commands a panoramic view of the tea estates and the plains. Dolphin's Nose A popular tourist destination about 10 kms from Coonoor, the Dolphin’s Nose is a unique rock so named because it resembles a Dolphin’s nose. The Droog Currently, a favorite tourist this encampment was once used by Tippu Sultan as an outpost. Located 15 kms from Coonoor the spot is at an elevation of about 6000 feet. The only way to access this spot is to hike 3 kilometers; no motorized vehicles are allowed.  OOTY About a half hours drive from Coonoor, Uthagamandalam or Ooty is also called the “Queen of the Hill Stations.” There are a number of places of tourist interest in and around Ooty, including the Botanical garden, the Ooty lake, Doddabetta, Mukkurthi Peak and National Park, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pykara.  Government Botanical Garden This garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale, the then Governor of Madras. This garden covers an area of 22 acres. A special attraction is the fossilized tree trunk dated to about 20 million years ago. The garden is laid out in six sections comprising displays of various tree species, grasses ferns, multi colored flowering plants,orchids and ornamental flower beds laid out in an Italianate style.  An annual flower show is held here each May. This garden is maintained by the Tamilnadu Horticulture Department and is open daily except holidays between 8 am and 6 pm.   OotyLake An artificial lake formed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan the then Collector of Coimbatore is Ooty’s most popular tourist destination. The Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation provides a number of facilities including boating on the lake. Doddabetta Doddabetta is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris and is about 10 kms from Ooty. It lies at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats and offers beautiful vistas of the Nilgiri Hill ranges. It is surrounded by dense Sholas (Tropical Montane Forests). Mukkurthi Peak and National Park The Mukkurthi Peak and National Park area is about 40 kms from Ooty. The Mukkurthi National Park is located on the southern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau and hosts a viable population of Nilgiri Thar (Hamitragus hilocrius). The Kollaribetta and Nilgiris Peak are other major peaks in the vicinity. The area has a number of perennial streams, which fall into the Bhavani Puzha. The Silent Valley area is located close by on the Western side of these ranges. A fascinating feature of the Mukkurthi Sanctuary is the relationship of the endemic flora and fauna with that of the Himalayas. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary This sanctuary lies at an elevation of 1140 mts at the junction of the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu and extends over an area of 321 sq.kms. A variety of habitats ranging from tropical evergreen forests, moist teak forests, secondary grass lands, and swamps are found. Fauna include the Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, and Porcupine. The avifauna is varied and includes Minivets, Hornbills, Fairy Blue Birds, and Jungle Fowl. The Reptilians are represented by the Python, Monitor Lizard, and the Flying Lizard among others. The sanctuary can be accessed from Ooty by road via two different routes; one, via Kalhatty 36 Kms from Ooty and the other route is via Gudulur which is 67 Kms from Ooty. Places of tourist interest within the sanctuary include the Moyar Waterfalls, Ombetta swamp, and Theppakad elephant camp. Pykara Pykara is situated about 21 kms from Ooty, on the Ooty-Mysore Road. The more important tourist attractions include a well protected fenced Shola forests, Toda settlements, undisturbed grassy meadows, and an excellent wildlife habitat. Pykara Dam, Falls, and Reservoir are also attractive places to visit.