Ooty
City Travel Guide -
Tamil Nadu
General Information Of Ooty
 Area
30.67 sq. km -
Population 81,763
-
Altitude 2,286 metres
above sea level
-
Languages Tamil, English
-
STD Code 0423
Best time to visit February–May and September–November
|
 |
Introduction to city Ooty - In
Tamil Nadu
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.
Sightseeing : Places to visit in
destination - Ooty
Move around the town and revel in the scenic surroundings.
The Botanical Garden is an ideal tourist spot besides being
a source of information about the region’s flora. For those who
like to enjoy boat rides and fishing, a visit to the
Ooty Lake
is a must. Besides these, there are various view points like
Lamb’s Rock, Kodanadu and
Dodabetta Peak
that offer fascinating views of the surrounding plains and
hills.
Ooty Sightseeing : Places
to visit in destination Ooty
|
|
Places to visit in the city Ooty |
|
BOTANICAL GARDEN - Ooty
|
|
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. |
|
|
OOTY
LAKE - Ooty
|
|
Built in 1825, the 2.5-km-long Ooty 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 - Ooty
|
|
At a height of 2,623 metres, 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 Ooty. 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 - Ooty
|
|
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 VIEW POINT - Ooty
|
|
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. |
Excursions : Places
nearby city - Ooty
Excursions around Ooty prove to be an equally interesting
experience. A visit to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
gives you an idea of the region’s fauna and fauna. The trip to
hill stations of Kotagiri and Coonor complement the visit
to Ooty. Some of the other places you can go out for excursion
are Kalhatty Waterfalls, Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, Mukurthi,
and Avalanche.
Ooty Excursion : Places
nearby Ooty - Tamil Nadu
|
|
Places to visit nearby destination - Ooty |
|
Avalanche
|
|
At about 28 km from Ooty 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 from Ooty. 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 Ooty and 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 from Ooty. 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
|
|
While in Ooty one should not miss a visit to Mukurthi,
which situated at a distance of 36 km from Ooty. 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.
|
|
|
