Ooty – The Queen of Hills !!!

Ooty travel provides a tranquil retreat amidst the exquisite natural splendor of the pristine Nilgiri mountains. Ooty or Ootacumund is a tranquil hill station that is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. Ooty is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and is visited by thousands of travelers every year, who arrive from all corners of the world. Ooty is known for its verdant valleys covered with wild flowers and lush forests. The lovely tea plantations add to its scenic value.

The greatest attraction of Ooty is its breathtaking beauty and undisturbed calm, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. With green hills, resplendent brooks and cascading waterfalls, Ooty is a virtual paradise on earth. However, there are also a number of tourist spots that increase the charm of this South Indian hill station Ooty.

In the southern part of India, Ooty is a popular summer retreat. The original name of Ooty was, ‘Udhgamandalam’. But the British found it next to impossible to pronounce the word. Later the name reduced to an easygoing ‘Ooty’, which instantly became everyone’s favorite.

A travel to Ooty would take you to a lush green retreat nestled among the Blue Mountains that is the Nilgiris. The rolling green slopes lined with peaches, plums eucalyptus and pine have inspired many Bollywood movies.

Places to See in Ooty

·         Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are one of the primary Ooty tourist attractions. Covering an area of about 50 acres, this garden covers the slopes of the Doddabetta peak in Ooty.

• Doddabetta

The highest peak in the Hills of the Nilgiris, this place lies at the point of the Eastern and the Western Ghats and is definitely tops the list of Ooty tourist attractions.

• Government Museum

Set up in the year 1989, this museum is an Ooty tourist attraction specifically for its collection of tribal objects and artifacts.

• Hindustan Photo Films

This one of the most important Industrial units in Ooty. Spread over an area of about 300 acres, the Hindustan Photo Films is located at a distance of 5 Kilometers from the Railway station of Ooty.

• Kamraj Sagar Lake

Kamraj Sagar Lake is actually a dam which is located in the outskirts of Ooty. The woods and the greenery in this place, makes it a great picnic spot. The water is extremely cold and one can also have a good fishing experience in the place as fishing industry has flourished quite a lot in this region.

• Kandal Cross

Kandal Cross is a Roman Catholic Church. It is well known for making the wishes of people come true. The church is recognized for curing the ill and blessing the people making it a big pilgrim place where prayers are offered on every Friday evening.

• Lamb’s rock

This is a view point in Ooty from where one can get beautiful views of the vast lush green tea estates. It makes an excellent picnic spot. Named after Captain Lamb who tried to open a path to that point, the Lamb’s rock is an uneven cliff which drops down to the jungle below.

• Ooty Golf course

The golf course is located at the Old Pykara Road and has an elevation of 7200 ft. In 1891, Colonel Fane Sewell established this golf course which sprawls over an area of over 193 acres. The golf course has a full course of 18 holes. Playing golf at this altitude is completely different experience.

• Ooty Lake

The Lake in Ooty the center of tourist attraction. The lake adds an extra measure of glamour to the hill station. It covers an area of 65 acres and was constructed by John Sullivan in 1824. The Boat house alongside the lake offers boating facilities to tourists. In summers, boat races and pageantry are organized at the lake.

• Rose Garden

Rose garden is located on the slopes of Elk Hill. The over four hectares of land has got five terrace farming. The garden has over 2800 species of roses. The department of Horticulture does the maintenance of the garden. It is one of the best gardens in South Asia.

• St. Stephens Church

The oldest Church in the Nilgiri, St Stephen Church is located near the house of John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty. The Gothic structure still preserves its Victorian ambiance. The entire church is wonderfully built out of wood, its carvings and has stained glass windows giving it a different lure altogether.

• Tea Factory

The tea factory in Ooty showcases the art of tea making and there is also a tour facility available inside the tea processing factory. It is more like a museum and one will gain knowledge on the process of tea making and quality. It is located on the Doddabetta Road.

Shopping

Shopping in Ooty would be a nice experience for the passionate shopper. Although the region does not have any specialty handicraft of its own, there are many other things for shopping in Ooty.

On the slopes of the great Nilgiri range, the region grows some of the best qualities of coffee and tea in India. The sprawling plantations and the heady smell are feast to senses. You may choose to buy some coffee or tea while shopping in Ooty.

Hand made chocolates are also popular items for shopping in Ooty. Also pick up aromatic oils and spices while shopping in Ooty.

Besides, there is the wide variety of handicrafts of Tamil Nadu. The ace craftsmen of Tamil Nadu are skilled in making fantastic Jewelry, painting, pottery, and stone crafts. Look for such artifacts as you go on shopping in Ooty. You may also come across some tribal crafts in the shops. The local bazaars are replete with private shops and Government run emporia, where you can shop till you drop. Many hotels have shopping arcades where of course the price would be a bit on higher side.

How to Reach Ooty

By Air

The nearest airport to Ooty is located in Coimbatore. The hill station is at a distance of about 98 kilometers from the Coimbatore Airport. The airport is connected to Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Cochin by Indian Airlines flights. In order to reach Ooty from the airport, one has to hire a taxi or a bus to reach Ooty.

By Rail

The hill station of Ooty has a railway station of its own. It is called the Udhagamandalam railway station and can be reached by The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (a.k.a. Toy Train) from Mettupalayam. Though the toy train isn’t very fast but the scenic beauty of this route attracts many tourists. Mettupalayam is the nearest major railway station to Ooty. One can also hire a private taxi to reach Ooty here. The distance of Ooty from Mettupalayam is about 52 km.

By Road

Ooty is also connected to all the nearby towns and cities by good roads. The hill station connects to various other important cities of South India like Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, etc. The road to Ooty from Coimbatore is popular for its scenic beauty. As Ooty is located on NH 67 several tourist buses and taxis commute here without any hassle.

• Hinal Shah