Tamil Nadu · India
Coonoor Ghat
NH181Mettupalayam to Coonoor
The Coonoor Ghat climbs from the plains at Mettupalayam to the Nilgiri tea country across 14 numbered hairpins, sharing its valley the whole way with the UNESCO Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
From Mettupalayam the road enters the Kallar valley and climbs through dry forest, the rack-and-pinion toy train visible across the river then crossing over the road. Each of the 14 hairpins is numbered on stone markers; the Kallar viewpoint looks back over road and railway. Coffee and cardamom estates give way to tea terraces approaching Coonoor at 1,800 m. Continue to Ooty for the full Nilgiri plateau.
Coonoor Ghat on the map20.1 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 9Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%297.6 – 1,719.8 mPoints of interest2 stops
- BurliarVillage partway up the ghat, home to a long-running fruit research station and a marker of progress on the climb9.2 mi in
- Lamb’s RockCliff-edge viewpoint looking out over the Coimbatore plains and the Nilgiri foothills near the top of the ghat10 mi in
Hazards
- Heavy bus and lorry traffic
- Fog above 1,500 m
- Narrow sections near railway crossings
Sources
“The Coonoor Ghat has 14 numbered hairpin bends and is part of National Highway 181.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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