Introduction to Ooty 
Nestled among the hills of Dodabetta, Snowdon, Elk Hill, and Club Hill in
the Nilgiri ranges, Ooty (also Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam) is the queen of
southern hill stations and a popular tourist destination of Tamil Nadu. The
history of Ooty goes back to about 900 years when it was ruled by Vishnu
Vardhana, the Hoysala king from AD 1104 to 1141. The city also finds mention
in the writing of Jacome Ferico, the first European to visit this place in
1603. In 1799, this hilly region came under the control of the British East
India Company. The British established Ooty to serve as the summer
headquarters of the Madras government. A government house was built and
keeping in tune with the English lifestyle, the British set up cottages and
clubs, with facilities for tennis, golf, and horse riding. With the
establishment of numerous tea estates in the subsequent years, Ooty made its
presence felt in the tourist map of India. With the maximum temperature
going up to 25°C, Ooty offers a pleasant climate throughout the year.
One can visit this picturesque hill station at any time of the year though
the ideal time is from February to May and September to November.
Places
of Interest Botanical Garden The Botanical
Garden of Ooty was established in 1848. The beautiful gardens maintained by
the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu have wide
variety of plants and include Italian and Japanese sections. Out here one
can have a look at different types of roses, imported shrubs, rare flowering
plants, eucalyptus trees and several old trees. One of the main attractions
here is the fossilized tree trunk, which is about 20 million years old.
During the month of May every year, a Summer Festival is held here. The
major attractions of the festival are flower shows, cultural programmes
relating to classical arts, and adventure sports like trekking.
The
Ooty Lake Built in 1825, the 2.5-km-long this Lake is a place
worth visiting. You can go for boating and fishing in this lake. However,
for fishing you need a prior permission. A racecourse is also located near
the lake. A mini-train takes the visitors around the lake.
Dodabetta
Peak At a height of 2,623 meters, Dodabetta Peak is the highest
point in the district. Situated at about 10 km from the Ooty town, it is one
of the most prominent view points around the city. The top of the peak remains
covered by mist most of the time but on a clear day, you can have a look at
the landscape as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau.
Lamb's Rock About nine kilometres from
Coonoor lies Lamb's Rock, a viewpoint on a high precipice. The point offers
stunning views of the Coimbatore plains and the coffee and tea estates on
the slopes.
Kodanadu On the eastern edges
of the Nilgiris, at about 16 km from Kotagiri, lies the Kodanadu View Point.
You can get a panoramic view of the tea estates and the Moyar River from
either side of the road. There is a watchtower from where you can view the
Rangasamy peak and pillar.
Excursion: Places nearby
Ooty Avalanche At about 28 km lies Avalanche, a nature lover's paradise. Here you can find a beautiful
lake that is home to a wide variety of birds.
Coonoor
Located at a distance of 17 km from Udhagamandalam, Coonoor is the
first of the three Nilgiri hill stations. Coonoor has an equable climate
that makes this small town a popular hill resort. The main attraction here
is the Sim's Park, a well-maintained botanical garden.
Kalhatty
Waterfalls About 100 feet in height, the Kalhatty falls are
located on the Kalhatty slopes at about 13 km. In addition to the
enchanting view presented by the falls, you can also have a look at wildlife
that exists in the Kalhatty-Masinagudi slopes. The wild species include
panthers, bison, wild buffaloes, wild dogs, spotted deer, sambhar, and
different types of hill birds.
Kotagiri
About 28 km east of Ooty lies the quiet village of Kotagiri, the oldest of
the three Nilgiri hill stations. The hill station is relatively calmer than
the neighbouring Coonoor. Kotagiri is surrounded by tea estates and
tribal Kota settlements.
Mudumalai Wildlife
Sanctuary One of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in South
India, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at about 67 km away. It is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve along with Bandipur
National Park in Karnataka and Wynad Sanctuary in Kerala. Wildlife in
Mudumalai is very similar to other sanctuaries in Nilgiris. The predominant
species in this region are bonnet macaque and common langur. Tigers and
leopards also reside here but are a rare sight. Other important species are
giant squirrels, flying squirrels, elephants, gaurs, sambhar, chital,
barking deer and mouse deer. The birds in the sanctuary include
racket-tailed drongo, black woodpecker, parakeets, barbets, mynas, cuckoos,
Malabar trogon, Malabar grey hornbill, crested hawk eagle, and crested
serpent eagle. An elephant camp called Theppakkadu is located within the
sanctuary where you can find a rest house. You can also find accommodation
at Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation's Youth Hostel and rest houses
in Masinagudi, Abhayaranayam and Kargudi and the Bamboo Banks Farm.
Mukurthi
one should not miss a visit to Mukurthi, which
situated at a distance of 36 km. Here you can have a look at the
majestic Mukurthi Peak. The flora and fauna of this area bear similarity
with that of Himalayas. It is believed by the local Todas here that the
souls of the dead and the sacrificed buffaloes move on to the next world
from this sacred place. The Mukurthi Lake, which is 6 km in circumference,
lies in the vicinity.