Hill stations in India fall into two broad categories - those that have been fathered by the English, and those that haven't. The ones in the Nilgiris fall distinctly in the former category. These stations cropped up for one of two reasons - as a summer getaway for the un-tropicalised English, or a township developed around estates or public schools.

Kodaikanal : A charming hill resort, Kodaikanal stands amidst tranquil picture postcard beauty on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai.

Attractions : Kodaikanal Lake- 5 kms, Coaker's Walk- 1 km, Astrophysical Observatory- 3.2 kms, Fairy Falls- 4.8 kms, Kurinji Andavar Temple- 3.2 kms, Shenbaganur Museum- 5.6 kms, Pilar Rocks- 7.2 kms, Green Valley View- 6.4 kms.

Coonoor : Picturesquely dotted along the south--eastern flanks of the Doddabetta ranges it is towered in by the Hulikal ravine in the southwest and the winding ridges leading to Kotagiri in the northeast, Coonoor provides the traveler with the panoramic view of the lush green Nilgiri hills, with its ravines, valleys, and waterfalls. Bird watching is a popular pastime in Coonoor, as the area boasts of a large variety of species like cormorants, pipits, thrushes, parakeets, skylarks, Nilgiri verditer, etc. 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, which include magnolia, pines, tree ferns, and camellia. Travelers can take a walk through the tea gardens. There are number of trekking and hiking trails around Coonoor.



Ooty : Nestled among some of the most spectacular mountains in Southern India, Ooty is a relic of the British Raj. The towns general appearance is an unlikely combination of Southern England and Australia, with single -storey stone cottages surrounded by trees, fenced flower gardens scattered along leafy, winding lanes with tall eucalypti stands covering the otherwise barren hilltops. The other main reminders of the British period are the stone Churches and the huge boy's school with its landscaped gardens at the bottom of Ooty's famous lake There is also the terraced and very English Botanical Gardens, in which the Government House stands on the lower slopes of Doddabetta (2623m), the highest peak in Tamil Nadu. From the top of Doddabeta you can see Connor, Wellington, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam and, on a clear day, as far as Mysore.



Munnar (1600Mtrs) : A hill station on the Western Ghats and with its lakes, reservoirs, forests and tea estates is the Nature-Lover's Paradise, Munnar is beautifully situated at the confluence of three rivers & is a major center of Kerala's tea industry. Munnar offers several possibilities; Anaimudi (2694 m), the highest peak in the southern India is nearby and the views from here are incredible. Munnar offers some great possibility for nature walks and visits to nearby tribal villages where people, though poor are extremely friendly, charming and hospitable. The ethnic lifestyles, traditional homes and the traditional occupation with ethnic tools and implements provides an incredible experience. A visit to Munnar's tea gardens is a must. These are among the highest in the world. It would be fascinating to witness the plucking of leaves by women carrying bamboo baskets on their back to store the plucked leaves. If one seek a sense of peace, a desire to communicate with nature and most importantly participate in a journey through a living museum, Munnar is the place that seeks to provide all this in a heavenly setting.

Just off the coast of Kerala, Lakshadeep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. There are 10 inhabited islands and 17 uninhabited islands with a total geographical area of 32 sq. kms. The islanders have lifestyles and occupations that revolve around coconut cultivation, coir matting and fishing Four of the inhabited islands (Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Minicoy and Kadmath) are open to Indian tourists and Bangaram, an uninhabited island, which is open to both domestic and foreign tourists have facilities & equipment for water sports, as each of the islands are surrounded by a coral reef providing large areas of crystal clear water for everything from snorkeling to wind surfing as well as swimming, fishing, sailing in glass - bottomed boats which give enchanting views of the coral below, and yachting. Wood - carving in the Ujra Mosque at Kavaratti, the tomb of Hazrat Ubaidullah at Andrott, the Buddhist archaeological remains at Andrott, and the famous light house at Minicoy, are some of the places worth visiting. Lakshadweep is the perfect holiday for those who want to get away from the artifices of the world and enjoy a few days in simple yet stunningly beautiful surroundings.

Floating in splendid isolation, east of the Indian mainland is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands, isles and rocks known as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory stretches over a length of more than 700 kms. from North to South with 36 inhabited islands. Once a hill range extending from Myanmar to Indonesia, these undulating islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of exotic flora and fauna. The topography of the islands is hilly and abounds in evergreen forests. The sandy beaches on the edge of meandering coastline are fringed with coconut palms that sway to the rhythm of the sea. The sea around the islands offers excellent scope for adventure water sports. The rare flora & fauna, underwater marine life and corals, crystal clear water and mangrove-lined creeks, offer a dream-view of the rare gifts of nature. The clean and unpolluted air attracts any nature-lover who seeks absolute peace and tranquility in the lap of Mother Nature. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving etc., are the major attractions here. A visit to these islands is a memorable lifetime experience.