By: Travel and Food Network

set amid the lap of the Western Ghats, Coimbatore serves as a gateway to some of the most appealing hill stations in South India. With its pleasant climate and scenic terrains, Coimbatore beckons guests to embark on rejuvenating weekend getaways. Within the myriad choices, Ooty, Coonoor, and Yercaud stand out as timeless gems, each featuring a unusual blend of quietity and adventure.

Ooty, the queen of hills, is a small settlement situated 100 kilometres north of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, attracting footfall from across the world for its calm appeal, lush slopes and unspoiled settings. This used to be a summer resort under the British Raj and now it is one of the top picks for a southern weekend gateway. Besides guests, this place is regarded to have attracted the filmmakers of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Raja Hindustani and Golmaal 4. Ooty, with its winding roads, dense green jungle tracts and monkey-laden sidewalks is a paradise for bikers. As soon as you catch a whiff of the wet woodland intermingled with flowers and fruits, the smell of the town wears off, which is why it is too called the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. With its lush green slopes filled with tea plantations, cliffs with long trees and yet preserved and monitored ancient built form, a getaway here presents scenic hikes of the Nilgiris, a perfumed rose garden, quaint waterfalls and locally produced shawls, tea, and essential oils. Being nestled atop 7,349 feet boasting a -10 degrees temperature, area food is what comes to the rescue with its bakery fare and classic biscuits like buns, cakes, pies, fruit-nut chocolates, brownies, and bread. Ooty had a great climate all year round but the best time to visit is in the summer months between March and June.