Location : In the
south Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
Tourist Attractions : Botanical Garden, Government
Museum, Hills and Views, Kalhatty Falls, Kandal Cross Shrine, Mini Garden
and Rose Garden, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Ooty Lake.
Best Buys : Exclusive Nilgiri products including Nilgiri
tea, fruits, natural oils like Eucalyptas, Toda embroideries, plant
nurseries.
Best Hangouts : Hills, lake, gardens, etc.
Best Activity : Stroll Around the hill resort.
Festivals : Summer Festival, Tea and Tourism Festival.
Nearby Tourist Destinations :Kodaikanal, Coimbatore,
Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Calicut, Coonoor.
When to Visit : September to May
About Ooty
Ooty or Udhagamandalam, the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known
as the "Queen of hill stations' among the tourist circuits. Situated at
a distance of 105 km away from Coimbatore, Ooty is a lovely place with lofty
mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles of tea gardens.
Situated at an altitude of 2,240 m above sea level, Ooty is a land of
picturesque picnic spots.
An added attraction for the tourists to Ooty / Udagamandalam is the
mountain train journey, which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and
wends its way
through
many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep
ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens.
One can notice a marvellous change in vegetation, as one goes from Kallar
to Coonoor. The establishment of numerous tea estates made Ooty famous.
Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of
tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism
Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers.
Major Attractions of Udagamandalam
Botanical Garden
Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty,
one of the most popular hill stations of India. They sprawl over 50-acres
and lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, which is the highest point in
Ooty.
Government Museum
The Government Museum At Ooty The government museum, Mysore Road, Ooty has
items of tribal objects, district's ecological details and representative
sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1989, with a view
to provide education benefits to the residing and visiting population of
Nilgiris district. Tourist Information Admission: Free Timings: 10.00 am to
1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Closed On: Fridays, Second Saturdays and
National Holidays Ooty The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (100-km). Ooty
on the narrow gauge railway is connected to Mettupalayam, which is directly
connected to Coimbatore and Chennai on the broad gauge. There are regular
bus services connecting Ooty to Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai,
Kanyakumari, Mysore, Calicut, Tirupati etc.
Hills and Views
Udhagamandalam (Ooty), the capital of Nilgiri district, is popularly known
as the "Queen of hill stations" among the tourist circuits. It is
situated at a distance of 105 kilometres from Coimbatore
Kalhatty Falls
The Kalhatty falls are located on the Kalhatty slopes at about 13-km from
Udhagamandalam on the Udhagamandalam - Mysore Kalhatty ghat road. Also known
as the "Kalahasti Falls", the water here cascades down a height of
122m.
Kandal Cross Shrine
Kandal cross, a Roman Catholic Shrine considered, as the Jerusalem of the
East is located in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Catholics
consider it as the "Calvary of Tamil Nadu".
Mini Garden and Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is situated about 3 to 4-km away from Charring Cross. Mini
garden is also situated on the way to the boathouse where the children
amusement park is housed.
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
The Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary is located where the Nilgiri Hills, the
offshoot of the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. The Mysore - Ooty
highway runs through the sanctuary, following the course of the Mayyar
River, which separates Mudumalai from Bandipur.
Ooty Lake
The beautiful Ooty Lake is a favourite haunt of tourists. It was
constructed in the year 1825, through the initiatives of Mr. John Sullivan,
the then Collector of Coimbatore. This lake was built in order to provide an
irrigation tank to the people.
Getting There
Air : Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport.
Rail : Ooty is on the narrow gauge railway, connected to
Mettupalayam (47 km), which is directly connected to Coimbatore and Chennai.
The famous toy train connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Road : A good network of roads and national highways connect Ooty
with all major towns and cities. There are regular bus services to and from
Coimbatore, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Mysore, Palghat,
Calicut, Tirupati and other important destinations in South India. Ooty is
also well connected with major cities of Kerala and Karnataka.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available at the luxurious and economy class hotels,
lodges, and resorts in Ooty. Both Indian and Western style accommodation and
food are available. Prior booking is advisable, especially during the summer
months.
