Into the Blue Mountains - Ooty

View of the hill town

Traveling, an act of going to different places in search of moments that inscribe a permanent romantic impact in our memory cells. These memory cells provides the much needed energy and motivation when your esteem and strength goes extremely low. If you appreciate your motherland, then you will find beauty in many romantic aspects of our country, and hills have always been a target of many tourists that finds these places a facet of romantic escapes. In India, impressive mountainous destinations are recognized in Himalayas, the Vindhychals, the Aravalis, the coastal ghats and many other destinations. 

 

Let's walk into the Blue mountains ... 

Udagamandalam or Ooty is one of the most beautiful hill station in our country. It is located in Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu. The hills are known for their local tribes the "Toda", whose settlements and villages are still in existence. It is one of the most famed summer destination from British times. The word Nilgiri means "Blue Mountains", and is the name given because of the seasonal blooms of the "Neelakurunji" flowers, which beautifies the valley every 12 years. Ooty is also famous for its fantastic Tea estates and Nilgiri Tea is accepted internationally for its fragrance and aromatic feel. The hills are also famous for UNESCO World heritage railways, "Nilgiri Mountain Railways".

 

Things to Explore

I. Lakes around the area:

 

1. Ooty Lake:

The one image from Ooty that is most seen in travelogues, movies, and visited by almost everyone in Ooty is the Ooty Lake. It is beautiful lake covering 65 acres, famous for boating and is developed with all travel comfort like gardens, children park, food stalls etc. It gets extremely crowded during seasons. The place was initially developed by John Sullivan in 1824. 

 

Ooty Lake and boating zone

2. Pykara Falls and Lake: 

Pykara is a sacred river for the Todas, which is a local tribe of Nilgiri hills. It originates in the Murkurti area and travels through gaps and valleys. It forms two falls of 55m and 61m. The place is around 21 km from Ooty town.  The river is dammed and the reservoir formed is well developed as boating spot. 

 

Dam on Pykara River and reservior

 

3. Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is located in the silent valley area,about 25 km from the Ooty. The lake is important tourist and picnic spot in the region.The lake is famous for variety of fishes and birds, and notable for the scenic sun rise and sun set views.

 

Emerald lake area

4. Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake is located 28km from Ooty. It is said that the area got formed due to a landslide in 1800's. The area is famous for orchids, and other flowering landscape and Trout fishing. 

 

Avalanche Lake views from hill

5. Kamraj Sagar Dam and Sandynalla Lake

It is located 10km from Ooty. It is a favorite for the tourists and a wonderful picnic spot. An ideal place to go and chill with your family, it is often frequented by a lot of bird watchers.

II. Valleys and Gardens

 

1. Ooty Botanical Garden

Established in 1848, the garden with terrace type layout is developed on the slopes of Dodabetta Hill. It is one of the most popular spots for tourists. Many unique tree species are available here, with most popular attraction is the Fossil Tree Trunk that is said to be around 20 million years old.

 

A beautiful area in Botanical Garden

2. Deer Park

A beautiful garden by the lake which has a lot of caged and semi-caged Deers. The visitors can walk around the area and have a playful time with deers, but should be done with respect.

 

Area around the Deer Park

 

3. Ooty Rose Garden

Established in 1995, The Government Rose Garden is situated on the slopes of the Elk Hill at an altitude of 2200 meters. The flowers are arranged in five curving terraces covering four hectares. It has large collection of roses.   

 

Gardens of Rose Garden

 

4. Wenlock Downs 9th Mile Shooting Point.

The meadows offers excellent views for the visitors. The place is open during day time, with a small entry fee. Many activities are available for visitors, like hiking, horse riding. The location was a hunting site during British rule.

 

Wenlock Meadows

 

5. Dodabetta Peak and View Point

The name signifies "Big Mountain" in local Badaga language. There are 24 main peaks in the Nilgiris, whereas Doddabetta is the highest peak at a height of 2637 meters. The summit area is flat, allowing travelers to sit and enjoy the relaxing ambience and nature’s green gift. Tourists move up to the summit to enjoy the inspiring sunrise and sunset.Visitors can avail use of telescopes in the Telescope House maintained by Tourism Development since 18 June 1983 to gaze over the ideal town of Ooty. 

 

Over the peak and by the edge - Dodabetta

III. Heritage Buildings

 

1. St. Stephan Church
The building was established in 1830, with beautiful stained-glass windows, depicting beautiful painting representing the scenes of the Last Supper.

 

Outside the church

2. Ooty Stone House

It is said to be the first construction in Ooty valley, by John Sullivan in 1822. The locals used to term it as Kal Bungalow. The land was purchased from Toda tribes. It has an antique and ghostly feel, which stones which are dark, but the structure is intact. There are many stuffed skins and models of animals hunted by Sullivan.

From outside the house of John Sullivan

 

3. The Post Office, Ooty

In 1826, postal services got started in Ooty. The services were carried on Government bungalow, Ooty until 1833 when the services were shifted to Mount Road. The office that houses the Head Post office of Ooty is identified as a heritage building and can be seen in picture below. This office serves as collection centre for other seven branches of the area.

 

The beautiful Late evening snap of Head Post-office of Ooty

There are many other colonial building, heritage houses, colonial style guest houses that beautifies the whole city of Ooty and gives it an old British lookout feels.

 

Experiences in Ooty

 

1. Nilgiri Mountain Railways

The romance of Nilgiri toy train started in 1899, and it has been in the hearts of visitors ever since. This quaint journey was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.  It covers a distance of 46 km in 5 hours. It chugs from Mettupalayam, drives along flat planes for 5km initially, then ascends rapidly in the next 12 km to a height of 4,363 ft. It makes it way through dark and winding tunnels, sepia feel forests, gorgeous slopes. It crosses few charming locations like Kellar, Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and finally makes its stop at Udhagamandalam. The lovely feel cannot be exxplained in words, but can only be experienced. The station of Ooty is itself a tourist spot with small museum, photography area and garden.

My Say: Just have a ride through Nilgiri Toy Train. You can skip the visit to city. No regret.

Train at station

The chugging train through valley

 

 

2. The Tea Factory and Tea Museum

The good portion of the Ooty and Conoor valley is covered with Tea plantation. Tea of Ooty is deliciously fragrant and exquisitely aromatic tea, with high tones of delicate floral and golden yellow liquor. The place will provide a lovely experience for Tea lovers. A visit to Tea Industry is recommended.  A Tea Factory and Museum is operated by many factory owners, and is a well managed tourist visit which engages the visitors to enjoy a walk amidst Tea plantations, experience the processing of Tea leaves, and can enjoy the Tea tasting opportunity at  Factory outlet.

 

 

Tea Factory and Processing area

How to reach

Ooty is a hill station which can be reached from either Tamil Nadu via the Coimbatore route of 85km or from Karnataka via the Mysore route of 125km. Wildlife lovers prefer the Mysore route as it takes you through Bandipur National park. Both Coimbatore and Mysore have good connectivity through railways and airways. 

If traveling from Coimbatore side, reach Mettupalayam, a suburban railway station in outer Coimbatore, which is the origin of  Nilgiri Mountain Railways. The journey costs Rs 145 (2nd Class) and Rs 470 (1st Class). Unreserved seats are available in some trains costing Rs 75. Do check the timetable when you are traveling.

Where to Stay

Ooty is a well developed hill station with numerous options of stays and resorts. Depending on your pocket capacity, you can have stays of Rs 1500 to sky limit. For better experience, book your stay a little outside the city which may cost Rs 3000 per night. Few good once like King's Cliff, Sterling Ooty Elk Hill, Woodberry are good but can cost you 4000-6000/- but well to do.

Who should Visit

No choices here, anyone can visit. A perfect family destination.

Number of Days

Ooty has lots of activities to experience. So, a minimum 2-day visit is required. But for a comfortable stay, 3-4 days can be planned which can include a day at nearby Coonoor. 

 

 

Hill stations offers a visitor with an escape plan, if you choose to accept it by giving you an opportunity to leave behind every thought, every moment of stress and let you indulge in a tranquil moment decorated amidst nature with a little salt from human architecture. Ooty is not a regular tourism destination. It is complex blend on natural escape, a lot of colonial setup, an urban outdoor in between high hills with all required facilities, making this place a suited spot for minds of all desires. If you have the courage to get it out of the hills, it can deliver you with plentiful options. 

 

 

 

I always say this in most of my blogs, Hills, Beaches, Valleys, and other scenic areas are mesmerizing due to the 100% involvement of nature, and any interference in the ration will damage its pristine value. So, whenever you put your steps on such outstanding environment, do take utmost care that you don't leave your marks behind. Let nature Nurture it and maintain it for you to have a revisit ! 

Keep Traveling.. and Built Memories !