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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 km away from Coimbatore.
The height of the hills in the Nilgiri range varies
between 2280 and 2290 metres, the highest peak being
Doddabetta at a height of 2623 metres.
The Tea
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. Visit Ooty
during this festival, when tea lovers from all over the
world converge. An occasion not to be missed!
Prime Attractions of Ooty
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 - Ooty
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.
Excursions:
Though Ooty in itself can keep you occupied for many
days, but if you can never have enough of greenery and
scenic beauty, than you can visit numerous place around
Ooty, such as Coonnoor and Kotagiri, which are also
quite popular with tourists.
Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a
distance of 67kms from Ooty. If you are in town for a
couple of days, then a visit to the Wildlife sanctuary
would be a great way to spend a day. The Wildlife
Sanctuary boasts of very rich flora and fauna, and is
home to many endangered species. Though tigers and
Leopards are only seen by the fortunate few, elephants,
giant squirrels, sambhar, chital, barking deer and
flying squirrels are a common sight. The Sanctuary is
also a great place to see many kinds of birds, including
colorful parakeets, black woodpecker, Malabar trogon and
crested hawk eagle. If you have children with you or you
yourself are simply fond of the majestic elephants then,
you might like to visit the elephant camp within the
sanctuary, Theppakkadu.
Kotagiri:
East of Ooty, is a little village of kotagiri, which is
about 28km from the popular hill station. Kotagiri is
the oldest one of the three hill stations in the
Nilgiris. It is not as popular as the other two, Ooty
and Coonoor, yet it is said that it probably has the
most pleasant weather among the three of them. It is a
beautiful hill resort that has wonderful tea estates and
is definitely worth a visit.
Kalhatty Waterfalls:
The beautiful Kolhatty waterfalls are about 100 feet in
height and are located on the kalhatty slopes. The falls
are about 13kms from the city, so anyone on a tour of
Ooty can easily check out the falls and the beautiful
area surrounding it. Besides, obviously looking at the
waterfalls, you can explore the kalhatty-Masinagudi
slopes, that are home to many wild species, including
panthers, sambhar, bison and wild buffaloes.
Sim's park:
The Sim's Park is spread over an area of 12 hectares and
is situated in Upper Coonoor. The park it is believed
has more than 1000 plant species, including many
flowering plants, pines, ferns and shrubs. If you are
visiting in May, then you can attend the fruit and
vegetable show, which is a tradition and is held
annually.
Dolphin's Nose:
If the name is not amusing enough for you, you can come
down to this very Dolphin's nose and have a good time,
enjoying games and an outdoor picnic. The Dolphin's nose
is a great vantage point that offers a panoramic view of
the surrounding areas. If it is clear day, you can even
see the Catherine falls from here. Mukurthi. About 36 km
from Ooty is Mukurthi. Here you can take a look at the
imposing Mukurthi peak. According to the Todas, the
indigenous people of this locale, the souls of the dead
move on to the next world from this very sacred place.
It is an interesting place for the skeptics as the flora
and fauna of this pace bears a striking resemblance to
that found in Himalayan region. You can also visit the
Mukurthi lake which is close to the peak and is worth a
closer look.
Avalanche:
Avalanche lies 28 km from Ooty. Unlike it's name, which
conjures up images of destruction and devastation, the
place is a nature lover's paradise. It is a lake, which
is ideal for fishing, though one has to obtain
permission before hand. It is also the perfect place to
enjoy bird watching and a quiet afternoon.
Coonnoor:
Coonoor is a famous hill station that is 17 kms from
ooty. It is probably the second most popular hill
station in the Nilgiris. The hill station stands at a
height of 1839 meters and is known for its great picnic
spots and picturesque surroundings.
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