Area
: 30.67 sq km
Altitude : 2286 m above sea level
Annual Rainfall : 991 mm Max
Climate : Temperature 24.3°C MiniTemperature 4.8°C
Languages : Tamil, English
STD Code : 0423
History Of Ooty
The earliest that is known of the history of Ooty, is that it was ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala King, from 1104 to 1141 AD. Later, after many years, it came under the rule of the British East India Company, after the company signed a treaty with the brave Tipu Sultan in 1799. This is when John Sullivan started the development of the hill station and promoted it as an ideal summer retreat. Lots of cottages, clubs and other buildings were built to house and provide recreational facilities to the British officials. Soon enough, the hill station was growing tea for its inhabitants, who considered high tea to be an integral part of their day. Now, these tea estates not only produce the favorite drink of millions of Indians but also add to the charm and the beauty of the hill resort of Ooty India.
Over view of Ooty
The summer getaway of Britishers, Ooty is presently one of the most popular hill stations in South India. For all those who want to beat the heat, this Queen of Hill Stations stands with extended arms to gift all with a very memorable vacation. A trip to Ooty is coveted not just by mountain lovers but all those who seek few moments of solitude away from the hustle and bustle of city life in the lap of mesmerizing nature. In addition to the impressive mountain range of the Nilgiris, the lush green grasslands, the tea gardens, there are several other Tourist Places in Ooty that are all well worth a visit when on a tour to Ooty.
One of the major tourist attractions is the Botanical Gardens in Ooty. Covering an extensive area of 50 acres, the Botanical Garden lies at the lower slopes of the Dodabetta Peak in Ooty and is home to an amazing variety of flora. Bird lovers will also love visiting the gardens because there are several resident as well as migratory birds in it. Incidentally the Dodabetta Peak is the highest point in Ooty and commands an absolutely spell binding view of the surrounding landscape.
If you can make it to the top, you are sure to be impressed by the beautiful views. The serene stretch of the Ooty Lake has a very tranquilizing effect on the minds of the visitors. Built by John Sullivan, this artificial lake is a must see when on a tour to Ooty. Engage yourself in the fun filled activities of Boating and Fishing at this lake. Ooty Boat House
When you are on a holiday in Ooty, you can easily plan a picnic at Lamb's Rock in Ooty. This picturesque spot also offers great views of the plains of Coimbatore and the tea estates on the mountain slopes. Take a camera to capture nature at its charming best.
When on a sight seeing trip in Ooty, make sure to visit the Kodanadu's View Point in Ooty. It is one of the most impressive of all the Tourist Places in Ooty. Positioned at the eastern range of the Nilgiri Mountains, it offers a view of the River Moyar. An added attraction is the watch tower from where one can also see the Rangaswamy Peak. All the Tourist Places in Ooty are worth seeing and any tourist is sure to regret missing out on any. So make it a point to visit all the Tourist Places in Ooty.
Sightseeing in Ooty
Botanical Garden - Ooty
Located inside the limits of Ooty, it is the most famous tourist attraction in Ooty. This garden was laid out in 1848 and is currently maintained by the Horticulture department of Tamil Nadu. There is a beautiful green lawn where one can realx with friends and family. There are trees collected from different parts of the world. Shrubs and hedges are cut to resemble animals and look really beautiful. During the month of May, there is an annual summer festival inside the Garden where there are flower shows and various cultural programs that showcase the talent of the locals people. I have been to this place during summer and winter and I found the place beautiful in both the seasons but it was very crowded during summers and there was too much of noise inside the garden, which you hardly expect in such a place.
The garden is divided into six different sections:
1. Lower Garden
2. New Garden
3. Italian Garden
4. Conservatory
5. Fountain Terrace 6. Nurseries
Ooty Lake
This 2 KMs long OOty lake has become another major tourist attraction. One can go for boat riding, both pedal and motor boats and it starts from morning 8 and is there till 6 in the evening. During the month of May there are boat races that have become a major crowd puller. Adjacent to lake there are a lot of the other places of interest for tourist that have come up. To mention few - Toy train ride, 3-D shows, Tora-tora ride, Car rides (something similar to go-carting). Outside lake there are ponnies available for rides. The Ooty Lake is located behind the railway station ( 1-2KMs from the station). Best thing to do would be park the car in the railway station, though parking is available near the lake) and walk to the lake ( along the lake) and enjoy the view and on the way back take a ponny ride till the parking. DeshStar- Ooty India
Centenary Rose Garden
2KMs from the main crossing of the Ooty, the Charring Cross, is this 10acres of land on the hill slop that has been converted into Rose garden. It has more than 1000 varieties of roses ranging from Yellow to Pink to Red. Locals say that they have seen black rose also but I could not find one. May be because I went there during the off-season ( December).
Pykara The Pykara is the largest river in the District. It is considered very sacred by the Todas. The Pykara river rises at Mukurthi peak. It passes through hilly tract, generally
keeping to North and turns to West after reaching the Plateau's edge. It gets down majestically in a series of cascades; and the last two falls of 55 meters and 61 meters are known as Pykara falls. They are about 20 kms from Ooty.
The Pykara Lake is about 21 kms from Ooty on the Ooty-Mysore road. Boating on the Pykara lake is enjoyable. A restaurant is also available. Wenlock Downs, a vast Expanse of grassy meadow on way to Pykara, is a favorite picnic location and is very popular with the movie makers of this country.
Travel 28 kms from Ooty town past the Emerald Lake surrounded by undisturbed forest and you have reached Avalanche. It is on the way to Upper-Bhavani from Ooty via Emerald Camp. The gorgeous scenery at every turn is an experience of wonder and delight. The views from the top of the hill at Avalanche give a magnificent sight of the Avalanche Valley and reservoir In many places here, the shoals are so thick that even sunlight cannot penetrate. Avalanche is home to a wide variety of birds in great abundance. Spotting and identifying them can be a very rewarding experience for bird lovers. It is also popular with angling enthusiasts for trouts. The shoals here are a heaven for rare temperate Orchids.
The Honey & Bee Museum
"The Honey & Bee Museum" is a novel project at Ooty by the NGO, Keystone Foundation. It depicts information on indigenous honey bees and traditional indigenous tribal people who harvest them. It also has a children’s activity room and a small knowledge resource unit on bees, environment and people. The Bee Museum is first of its kind focusing on traditional knowledge and practices. The museum aims to be a vibrant space with live demonstration units of bees, specimens and tools – both traditional and modern used in beekeeping and honey gathering.
Doddabetta
At 2,623 mts above MSL, Doddabetta is the highest Peak in the Tamil Nadu and is about 10 kms. from Ooty bus stand. The name Doddabetta literally means 'Big mountain' in the Badugu Language, which is so in reality. It is at the junction of Western and Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of Nilgiri Hills range. It is surrounded by dense Sholas. One can have a magnificent panoramic view of landscape and the whole of the District and even beyond through the Telescope House run by T.T.D.C., which is an added attraction . The Sunset is spectacular from this view point.
How to Reach Ooty
The hill station of Ooty, is a very popular hill station, so getting there is no problem. You can either travel by road, air or rail.
By Air : The nearest airport to Ooty is at a distance of about 88kms and is located in Coimbatore. There one can take Indian Airline flights to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai.
By Rail : The Ooty railway station is merely 2kms from the City Center and the other railway station is 46km away at Mettupalayam. There is also a toy train that connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor, another famous hill station. Though it is not really the fastest way to get there, but the guests can enjoy scenic beauty all along the way.
By Road : Traveling by road is a not a bad idea either, since Tamil Nadu has a very good road network. The state has many highways that connect distant places and make traveling much easier.
Wild Life Parks