THE STUNNING, OOTY

Welcome to Ooty

2008-09-08T10:40:00.001-07:00

Nestled in the brilliant green hills of the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam, is one of the favourite summer retreats of people in South India.Orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, and eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscape… a typical hill station in many ways.
Founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century, Ooty is home to many Britishers who have fallen in love with this hill station where they discovered a little bit of England. "…such beautiful English rain, such delicious English mud" is how Lord Lytton-Viceroy of India from 1876-1880 described Ooty to his wife! The British influence is visible in the handrolled cigars, chocolate and cheese one enjoys here. You also have the popular derby, and 'hunt' held annually. A hill station with a landscape perpetually enveloped in mist, Ooty's beauty has a timeless appeal.

History of Ooty

2008-09-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

'Queen of the Hill Stations' - Ootacamund, popularly known as Ooty is Situated at the state of Tamil Nadu near the borders of Kerala and Karnataka. Tea and coffee plantations covers the most part of this 36 sq KMs of town. Ooty lies in the hills of Nilgiris at an altitude of 2240 metres and this is the point where the western and eastern ghats meet. Nilgirs - which mean Blue mountains, are probably the oldest mountains in India.

Todas' hut

The first inhabitants of this place were a tribe called Todas. These inhabitants had been living here long before the Britishers came in the early nineteenth century. The British made OOty the summer capital of the Madras Presidency and played a big role in the development of this beautiful place. The world famous nilgiri toy train was built by the Britishers only. The plan to lay the track for the asia's steepest railway track was made in 1854 and it took close to 40 years before the actual work begin. A Swiss inventor, Riggenback, worked on it and built up the initial line up to Coonoor by the year 1899. The track was later extended up to Ooty and Fernhill in 1908.

There are a lot of beatiful place to see in and around Ooty - Botanical garden, Ooty Lake, Dodabetta Peak, Rose garden and many more place. One definitely need 2-3 days to enjoy all the places. There are a lot of hotels in Ooty and of wide range of budget. It is advisable to book a room well in advance especially during peak season - summer holidays. One can take home made chocolates, spices, Nilgiri tea, and a lot of good photographs and memories back home as soveniors from Ooty.

On the whole a very relaxing place and a must visit.

How to reach in Ooty

2008-09-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

By Train

Trains connect Udhagamandalam indirectly to the rest of the country. One can take a train up to Coimbatore and then the enchanting Nilgiri Mountain Railway, better known as the toy train. It is one of the few remaining diesel engine trains and although it spits up huge dark clouds of pollution, it is a major tourist attraction and a reminder of the Indian railways' glorious beginning. The nearest broad-gauge railway head from Udhagamandalam is in the minor Mettupalayam, which is 46 km away. Mettupalayam is connected to Udhagamandalam by a four-hour journey on the Mountain Railway.
The major broad-gauge railway junction is Coimbatore. Coimbatore is connected with all major cities.

From Mumbai
You can catch the Kurla-Coimbatore Express (1013), leaving daily from Kurla station on the Central Railway in Mumbai.

From Bangalore
The Bangalore Kanyakumari Express (6526) leaves daily. For early risers, the Bangalore-Coimbatore Inter-City Express, another daily train, is a good bet.

From Chennai
The Chennai-Coimbatore-Kovai Express (2675) leaves daily.
Chennai-Mangalore West Coast Express (6627) also has a daily service. Chennai-Coimbatore Shatabdi Express (2023) leaves daily except on Wednesdays. This one's a chair car. Another daily is the Chennai-Mettupalayam Nilgiri Express (6605).

From Kochi
The Cochin-Guwahati Express (5623), which leaves on Tuesdays. A more frequent option is the Cochin Barauni Rapti Sagar Express (5011) which leaves every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

By Road

Ooty is well connected by good roads. It is 535 km from Chennai (via Salem), 89 km from Coimbatore, 18 km from Coonoor (via Gudalur), 155 km from Mysore, 187 km from Calicut, 290 km from Bangalore, 281 km from Kochi (via Coimbatore and Palakkad), 236 km from Kodaikanal (via Coimbatore and Palani).
There is a regular bus service from Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Calicut, Kanyakumari, Tanjavur, Tirupati and Cochin. Buses ply regularly to Mudhumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Doddabeta.

By Air

The nearest airport is in Coimbatore, 100 km away. You can catch a direct flight to Coimbatore from Chennai, Kozhikode, Bangalore and Mumbai. Indian Airlines flies Delhi-Kochi via Mumbai and Coimbatore.

Ooty Lake

2008-09-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

This artificial lake was constructed by John Sullivan, the first collector of Ooty. Originally intended to be an irrigation tank it was dredged out during the years, 1823-1825.

It is a very popular tourist spot in Ooty. You can go boating between 8 AM and 6 PM on all days in this lake. A wide range of boats are available at the Boat House to suit varied tastes and budgets. A Mini Garden with an amusement park for children and a toy train are added attractions here.

Mini Garden

2008-09-05T02:14:00.000-07:00

At about one kilometer distance Tourist can visit this mini garden (Children's Lake Garden) which is on the way to Boat House. Children's amusement park is housed here. A snack bar is also available. It is maintained by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited .

Botanical Garden

2008-09-05T02:11:00.000-07:00

This garden was laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale and is spread over 55 acres. Lush green well maintained lawns, rare tree species (like the cork tree which is probably the only such tree in India, the paper bark tree and the monkey puzzle tree - monkeys cannot climb this tree), a 20 million year old fossilized tree, an Italian-style garden bordering a clear pool, a vast variety of flowering bushes and plants in myriad hues (exotic and ornamental), fern house with a vast range of ferns and orchids, are some of the many highlights of this garden. A flower show along with an exhibition of rare plant species is held every year in the month of May at this garden.

The Garden is maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu and has a very wide variety of plants that include different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering plants etc.

The "Summer Festivals" is held each year during the month of May in the Botanical Garden and is an added attraction for tourists. The Flower Show is the pride of the festival .

To the east of the garden is the Toda mund (hill). The Todas are the native tribe. At the mund is a display highlighting the different aspects of their traditional culture.

St. Stephen’s Church

2008-09-04T03:41:00.000-07:00

St. Stephen’s Church is a small Gothic style structure. It was founded in the 1820"s and is one of Ooty’s first colonial structures.

The church was built on the site of a Toda temple. The wood used in the church was procured from Tipu Sultans palace at Srirangapatnam. It was hauled the entire distance of 120 km. by a team of elephants.

The cemetery attached to the church contains the grave of John Sullivan and other pioneers of Ooty.

Charing Cross

2008-09-04T03:40:00.001-07:00

Charing Cross is the focal point on the busy commercial street of Ooty. Here you can take in the smells and sounds of Ooty. The main shopping street and vegetable market are here. The Charing Cross is very much like the main square of an old English town.

Fernhill Palace

2008-09-04T03:38:00.000-07:00

Fernhill Palace is the erstwhile summer residence of the Maharaja of Mysore. The palace resembles a Swiss Chalet. Its carved wooden bargeboards and ornamental cast iron give it that characteristic appearance. The palace grounds accentuate the alpine look of the place with its manicured gardens, firs and cedars. There is an interesting church like indoor badminton court on the grounds.

The Fernhill Palace has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel by the same name.

Rose Garden

2008-09-04T03:30:00.001-07:00

Situated in the heart of Ooty town, this garden has been beautifully laid out in terraces with rose tunnels, pergolas and bowers with rose creepers. It was set up in the year 1995 to commemorate the 100th flower show of the Botanical garden. Today, this garden has the largest collection of roses in the country. Hybrid Tea Roses, miniature roses, Floribunda, Ramblers, roses of unusual colors like black and green are some of the more than 2,000 varieties of roses that will captivate your senses.

Kandal Cross

2008-09-04T03:29:00.001-07:00

This is a Roman Catholics 'Holy Shrine' of the Roman Catholics considered by the Nilgiri Catholics as the "CALVARY OF TAMILNADU" situated to the west of Udhagamandalam Railway Station. The distance is 3 kms. A relic of the true cross is here and it cures the sick, bestow heavenly blessings, peace and joy to the visiting pilgrims and tourists. Special Novena Prayers and Holy Masses are offered every Friday. The annual feast is on 3rd May every year.

Kamaraj Sagar

2008-09-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Kamaraj Sagar dam is a good picnic spot and can be reached via. Kandal amidst very old trees and green shrubs of various terrains and also via. Hindustan Photo films in Gudalur road. It is a very good picnic spot on the slopes of the Wenlock Sagar Downs. Apart from studying nature and the environment, fishing provides excellent game in Kamaraj as well as in Upper Bhavani and Avalanche, whose waters are especially rich in trout fish.

Wenlock Downs

2008-08-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

Also for the nature lover are the sprawling 20,000 acres of Wenlock Downs which was once the scene of the famous Udhagamandalam Hunt. Wenlock Downs is a region of extensive grasslands with shoals or gallery forests of eucalyptus. The Gymkhana Club, the factory of the Hindustan Photo Films Company, the Government Sheep Farm and the Golf Course are all in Wenlock Downs. It is about 8km.from Ooty on the Gudalur Road.

Dodabetta

2008-08-27T11:22:00.002-07:00

Among the viewpoints around Ooty are Elk Hill, Green Valley View and Snowden Peak but the most prominent is the Dodabetta Peak which is the highest point in the district at a height of 2623m. It is also the second highest mountain in the Western Ghats. Provided the day is clear, one can see as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau. It is around 10 km from Ooty, off the Kotagiri road.

Pykara

2008-08-27T11:22:00.001-07:00

Situated about 21kms on the Ooty-Mysore Road, Pykara boasts of well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, undistributed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara Dam, Pykara falls and the reservoir attracts many tourists. A boat house with Restaurant is available.There is a power plant too. A visit to the dam is a must for the breathtaking scenery that it has to offer. It is about 19km. from Ooty.

Avalanche

2008-08-27T11:21:00.002-07:00

Located at a distance of 28 kms from Ooty. A beautiful lake surrounded by a thick shola where even sunlight cannot penetrate and abundant with a wide variety of avifauna is a Nature Lover's Paradise. An avalanche which occurred in 1823 gives the valley its name.
The Avalanche valley is a nice place for splendid walks and fishing. It is around 24km. from Ooty town.

Upper Bhavani

2008-08-27T11:21:00.001-07:00

It is about 10 kms. from Korakundah and about 20 kms. from Avalanche. This is Naturalist's Paradise. Some of the best sholas like sholas lies enroute. The area is a rich and undisturbed wildlife habitat. From Bangithapal via. Sispara one can trek to silent valley. Forest Department's permission is necessary.

Glenmorgan

2008-08-27T11:20:00.001-07:00

It is about 17 kms. from Udhagamandalam an ecologically rich forestry spot. There from is an Electricity Board (E.B). Winch carries staff from Glenmorgan view point to power house at Singara. All the 4 kms. of the Winch track passes through undisturbed sholas and wildlife habitat. Prior permission of E. B. authorities should be obtained to enter the view point zone.

Ketti Valley View

2008-08-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Located on the road to Coonoor, this idyllic spot is a cluster of tiny villages that extend to the plains of Coimbatore and Mysore plateau.

Kotagiri

2008-08-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

It is 31 kms. from Udhagamandalam. The climate is very salubrious which is 6503 feet above sea level. Kotagiri is shielded by the Doddabetta ranges which receives much of its rain from north west monsoon. One can enjoy a pleasure ride on road flanked by green tea beds on either side.

Summer Season

2008-08-27T11:15:00.002-07:00

Held in the month of May, the festival is organized by the Government of Tamilnadu to capitalize on the peak tourist season. The prestigious annual flower show held in the Botanical gardens are a part of the celebrations.

There are also a number of cultural programs organized during the festival.

Horse Racing

2008-08-27T11:15:00.001-07:00

A very popular sport during the summer season. You can see thoroughbreds in action here. The race course, located in the heart of Ooty, is about 2.4 kms long and is one of the best courses in India. Ooty figures in the Indian horse racing circuit. The racing season which begins from April 15th. ends in June.

Boating

2008-08-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Boating on the lake is a favorite pass time for visitors. There are paddleboats, rowboats and even motorboats to choose from.

Fishing

2008-08-27T11:13:00.002-07:00

Trout fishing is available in Avalanche and Sandinalla lakes with prior permission from the Fisheries Department, located near the Ooty bus stand.

Billiards & Snooker

2008-08-27T11:13:00.001-07:00

Snooker was invented in the Nilgiris at the Ooty Club. Today, apart from the Ooty Club, Coonoor Club, Gymkhana Club, the Lawley Institute and the bigger hotels, there are quite a few snooker parlours in town offering good entertainment