Introduction:-
Udhagamandalam (Ooty) the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known as the “Queen
of hill stations”. The distance between Coimbatore to Ooty is 105 km , another major city of
Southern India. The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies between 2280 and 2290 meters.
Doddabetta is the highest peak and is at a height of 2623 meters.
Ooty is located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris which is also known as Blue
Mountains. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to
lows of 0°C during winter. Ooty became very popular because of its numerous tea gardens, lofty
mountains, dense forest and sprawling grasslands. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers. Kalhatty falls , Botanical Garden , Dodabetta Peak are among some of the best places in Ooty.
See:-
Ooty Lake:-
There are numerous places in Ooty which are wroth visit , Ooty lake is one of them .The
beautiful Ooty Lake is a favorite haunt of tourists. It was constructed in the year 1825, through
the initiatives of Mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. This lake was built in
order to provide an irrigation tank to the people. Another added attraction of the Ooty lake is
Mini Train and an amusement park .
Kalhatty Falls:-
The Kalhatty falls are located on the Kalhatty slopes at about 13-km from Ooty on the Ooty -
Mysore Kalhatty ghat road. Also known as the "Kalahasti Falls", the water here cascades down a
height of 122m.
Tea Factory:-
Several tea gardens and factories are among best places in Ooty. On the way you will get lots of
them. Most of the tea plantations are at a lower altitude and attract a large number of tourists by their picturesque nature.
Ooty Botanical Garden:-
If you are on a sightseeing tour to Ooty, you must go to visit the Government Botanical gardens,
which were laid out in 1847.The picturesque gardens are maintained by the Horticulture
department of the state, cover an area of about 22 hectares. The Gardens have well over 650
species of plants and trees, including a fossil of a tree, which is believed to be more than 20
million years old. The garden is very popular with nature lovers and those who long to walk
among greenery and see rare ferns and shrubs up close. If you are in Ooty in the month of May,
then you can also be a part of the summer festival, which is held here annually. The festival
holds flower shows and various cultural programs showcasing the talent of the locals and the
renowned artists.
Dodabetta Peak:-
The Dodabetta Peak stands at an altitude of approximately 2,600 meters. It is the highest point
in Ooty, making it possibly the best vantage point around Ooty. It is merely 10km from Ooty so
you can simply grab your camera and head straight to the peak, and click amazing pictures of the valley below. Many say that on a clear day, which is honestly not that often, one can see far off
areas, even the plains of Coimbatore and the flat highlands of Mysore.
Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary and National Park:-
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western
Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the sanctuary, following
the course of the Mayyar River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
How to reach (ooty):-
Ooty is well connected by road as well as by train.
Road:-
Ooty is situated on National Highway (NH- 67) and just 105 km from ( Coimbatore) another
major city of Southern India. Ooty, being the district capital, has frequent bus connections from
nearby towns in the district such as Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur. Direct buses to Ooty is also
available from other cities such as Mysore , Calicut and Bangalore.
Rail:-
Train to Ooty is available from Mettupalayam . Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway track and
connected to Mettupalayam (47 km), which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai.
The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Air:-
Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport.
Best Time to Visit:-
Summers (March- June) and winters (Nov-Feb) are the best time to visit Ooty. Maximum
temperature during summer is 20-25°C and minimum of 10-15°C.During winters the
temperature can go as low as 0°C.
Things to do:-
Visit a tea plantation and if possible a tea factory in Ooty.
Horse riding is popular there. In one hour you can go around the lake or longer rides you can
visit countryside around Ooty. Some knowledge of horses would be good as the guides are local men who don't speak too much english, teaching is minimal.Travel in the Railway. The charming Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), blue and cream with wooden coaches and large windows, is widely regarded as a marvel of engineering.Enjoy the weather and go for long walks and hikes.