The
beautiful little hill station of Ooty is situated in the Nilgiri
region in the state of Tamil Nadu. Also known as Udhagamandalam,
the city is blessed by picturesque views with coffee and tea plantations
and trees like conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle dotted all
over the place. The area was discovered by the British in the early
19th century and developed by John Sullivan as a summer retreat
for the British officers in Madras. Some of the main tourist attractions
of the city are Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Doddabetta Park and
Pykara Falls. Ooty is nestled in the verdant hills of the Niligris.
The beautiful hill resort is situated at an altitude of 2,268 m
and is part of Tamil Nadu.
»Tourist
Destinations
The Botanical Garden is one of the main tourist attractions in
the city. Spread over an area of 55 acres, the lush green lawns
contain a wide variety of flowers, plants, ferns, orchids and
rare tree species including the paper bark tree and the monkey
puzzle tree (named so because monkey's can not climb it). A flower
show and an exhibition of rare plants is held here in the month
of may each year, displaying different type of roses, imported
shrubs and rare plants. A main tourist attraction of the place
is a 20 million year old fossilized tree.
The lake, situated just behind the main bus stand, is a popular
picnic spot and a major tourist attraction of the city. Tourists
can enjoy boating in different kinds of boats available in the
boat house from eight in the morning till six in the evening.
A children's park with a Toy Train, Deer Park and Mini Garden
are other places to hang out. In recent years, the lake has been
a venue for boat races, which are held here in the month of May
drawing huge crowds.
Ooty-Sites Nearby
The Doddabetta Peak, situated about 10 kms from Ooty, is one of
the most popular view points in the region. The peak, situated
at an altitude of 2,623 metres from the sea level, offers the
tourist some of the most picturesque views of the natural beauty
of the area.
The Pykara Falls are situated at a distance of about 19 km from
Ooty. The falls and the area surrounding it offer amazing scenery
and picturesque views. The best time to visit the place is during
the month of July. The river also has the added tourist attractions
of a dam and a power plant.
» How
to reach Ooty
By
Air : Coimbatore is the nearest airport to Ooty, which is 105 kilometres
from Ooty.
By Rail : Those who want to enjoy a train ride
can choose the Swiss Vintage Hill train that runs from Mettupalayam
via Coonoor.
By Road : Ooty is also well connected by road to
other parts of the country.
