Ooty is a famous hill station in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu. It is officially named Udhagamandalam. The hill station was once considered a summer resort for Britishers. It is a paradise for nature lovers. The lovely environment is irresistible, and you can create thousands of unforgettable memories here. The town offers so many experiences, from site exploration to thrilling adventures.
Ooty is 89km from Coimbatore and 2240 km above the sea level. The town is near the Western Ghats which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. This town is famous for its tea estates, picturesque views, plantation of English fruits and vegetables, forest reserves, colonial architecture, and the list goes on. It is a renowned tourist spot in the region, specifically a honeymoon spot.
Nilgiri Mountains
These mountains are in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. These mountain ranges are blue in color. They are covered with Strobilanthes Kunthiana species of flowers known as Neela Kurinji in Tamil. These flowers bloom every 12 years for three months starting from mid-July to October. Hence, the hills look blue as well as purple in color during this period. Nilgiri ranges are home to uncountable species of flora and fauna.
These mountain ranges are the blue stones of south India. These ranges are surrounded by the Annamalai Mountains in the north and the Palani Mountains in the south. These ranges are the parts of the Western Ghats, which is why many regions of these hills are counted among UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These hills are the most important part of South Indian history.
Top attractions in Ooty
- Toda Huts:- These huts are of the most famous Toda tribes of these hills. This is a must-visit location of the town situated in Toda village 15km from the main town. Here you can visit the ancient Toda temple which is a similar structure to the huts. Men are not allowed to visit this temple. In this village, you can see the lifestyle of this community with its food culture, and traditions.
- Stone House:- This was the first ever Bangalow in Ooty in 1822 during the colonial period. It is the place where you can learn about the history along with the old lifestyle of the town. it is a well-known museum displaying the wildlife, ancient history as well as the lifestyles of the different tribes living here.
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway:- It is the Toy Train Of Ooty where numerous movie scenes are shot. The toy train ride is must to do thing here as it lets you through the unbelievable views of the blue mountains. This train runs between Ooty via Coonoor to Mettupalayam. This route is 46km long and includes 250 bridges, 16 tunnels, and 208 curves.
Tourist Destinations
- Droog Fort:- This is the most historic location near Ooty in Coonoor. The fort was used in 1800 by Tipu Sultan as his army outpost. This is a mesmerizing hiking location in the Western Ghats, from here can have a spontaneous view of the lush mountains along the Western Ghats. The fort is partially ruined due to natural destruction only a wall is left in the fort, but can visit here to learn the old history of Tipu Sultan.
- Doddabetta Peak:- This is the highest peak of Nilgiri Hills and the second largest Hill of South India. The word DoddaBetta literally means big hill. This hill is 8606 ft. high above the sea level. From the telescope house of this hill, you can have a panoramic view of the town along with its surrounding areas. This is the most loved trekking spot here with a wide variety of flora and fauna.
- Murugan Temple:- It is a beautiful temple of Lord Kartikye the warrior god commonly named as Murugan in the south. This temple is a mesmerizing Hindu retreat on the top of Elk Hill, surrounded by dense forest. It has a 40ft. tall statue of Murugan standing outside the temple attracting visitors from far away. Furthermore, this statue is a copy of Kartikye’s in the Batu caves of Malaysia.
Mesmerizing Parks in Ooty
- Tea Garden:- This garden is the main attraction here as the town is famous for its wide variety of tea plantations. The garden is one acre long near the Doddabetta Peak. Here you can enjoy various flavours of tea as well as trail between the tea fields. Tourists can also witness the formation of tea in the Tea factory here. However, they can also explore the tea formation and evaluation.
- Botanic Garden:- This garden is the most beautiful garden of the town. It is spread across an area of 55 acres and has many varieties of flowers. This is a perfect place to enjoy with your family and have fun. The garden is divided into five segments and the major attraction of this garden is the Fossil Tree Trunk which is more than 20 million years old.
- Mukurthi National Park:- The national park is situated in the Nilgiri hills and was founded in 2001 to protect Nilgiri Tahr. It is a glorious location covered with mountain grass and shrubs. This park is a paradise for wildlife as well as nature lovers. The park is home to big reserves of flora and fauna, especially the Bengal Tigers and Asian Elephants. The park is spread over an area of 78.64 sq. km.
Glorious lakes and waterfalls
- Avalanche Lake:- It is a naturally formed lake here, formed due to heavy landslides in the mountains. This has very alluring views along with a peaceful environment. This is the least crowded tourist spot in the town. The place is famous for fishing as well as for the picturesque views of the lush mountains.
- Ooty Lake:- This is to visit the location of Ooty, situated in the heart of town. It is an artificial lake Formed in 1824 by Mr. John Sullivan. The lake was founded for the purpose of fishing between the mesmerizing blue hills. Here you can enjoy boating at the lake park as well as cycle near the lake. This lake is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Catherine Falls:- This waterfall is the second largest as well as the most beautiful fall of the Nilgiri Mountains. It is in Kotagiri Hill on Kallar River formed from Geddhehaada Halla stream. This fall is surrounded by different tea plantations and charming trees. You can have the full view of the waterfall from Dolphin’s Nose Viewpoint, which is hardly 3-4 km from here.
- Kalhatty Waterfalls:- It is 14 km away from the main city in Kalhatty village on Kalhatty hills. This is one of the most astonishing locations in the town. This waterfall is approximately 121 ft. high. You can spot so many kinds of flora and fauna here with the angelic sounds of hill birds. Different spices such as rosewood, pepper, cloves, etc. can be found here. This is a beautiful trekking spot.
Thrilling Adventure of Ooty
In Ooty, you can also experience a wide range of adventure sports. It is a place where you can form uncountable memories. The hill station not only has astonishing views but also has thrilling experiences to offer to its visitors. The adventures here can calm your mind and kick your adrenaline rush. You can have the most thrilling experiences here along with the panoramic views of the valley.
Due to its perfect location in Nilgiri Hills, the town offers so many exciting adventures to its tourists. Adventures like trekking, camping, zip lining, cycling, boating, and fishing are some popular sports here. Tourists here come to explore these unexplored hills through trekking and hiking, as well as camping in the lush forests near the beautiful rivers and waterfalls. You can also go cycling in the grassland of the town and on hills via tea plantations.
The best time to visit
There is no better time to visit Ooty because whenever you visit here you will forget your count on your memorable moments. This is a whole year and every season destination. The place is full of astonishing viewpoints along with numerous things to do. But to be specific people prefer to visit Ooty in summer from March to June. As in these months, the weather is pleasant and perfect for sightseeing. This is the peak period for tourist visit in the town.
Conclusion
Ooty is the Queen of hills in the southern part of the country. It is a fully defined holiday destination. The town is not an easy game to complete in one round, you will need at least 2-3 rounds to complete it. Because each corner of this town is breathtakingly beautiful as well as charming. The destination is very famous among honeymoon couples. This is the place where many movie scenes are shot. So, you can also recreate them here.
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