City Info
How to get there:
By Airways:
Coimbatore, 105 km from Ooty, is the nearest airport from Ooty.
By Railways:
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.
By Roadways:
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.
By Other Means:
Taxis, tourist cabs, auto rickshaws are available in plenty. There are no standard rates except tourist cabs. Town buses are also available to all important places. Conducted sight seeing tours are arranged by the private operators and the Government Tourism Development Corporation.
Overview
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 history of Ooty goes back to about 800 years when it was ruled by the Hoysalas. Though much is not known of its early phase, there is mention of the place being ruled by Vishnu Vardhana, the Hoysala king, from AD 1104 to 1141. The local tribe called Todas was one of the earliest inhabitants of Ooty. Ooty also finds mention in the writing of Jacome Ferico, the first European to visit this place in the year 1603.
rose garden
This Nilgiri territory came into possession of the East India Company as part of the ceded lands, held by Tipu Sultan, by the treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1799. Rev. Jacome Forico, a priest was the first European who visited Nilgiris in 1603 and released his notes about the place and people of Nilgiris.
ooty natural beauty
There are several places of tourist attractions in 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 regions flora. For those who like to enjoy boat rides and fishing, a visit to the Ooty Lake is a must.
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. The waterfall is truly spectacular during the monsoon months and after.
water fall
Ooty Lake
The beautiful Ooty Lake is a favorite 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. Today the lake provides an opportunity for the visitors to have a leisurely boat ride across it’s length and breadth.
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Angling in the Lakes
Situated on a small hillock about 2 kms from Alagarkovil, this is one of the six abodes of Subbramanya.
Ooty boasts of several parks, gardens and nature reserves. A visit to these, is a sure way of invigorating your senses and mind.
ooty garden1
Botanical Garden
Botanical gardens are a major tourist attraction for those who visit Ooty, one of the most popular hill stations of India. The gardens lie on the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, the highest point in Ooty. Clipped bushes in the form of elephants, with raised trunks, and other animals greet the visitors, all over the Gardens. The garden boasts of more than a thousand different species of plants including thirty odd varieties of eucalyptus.
ooty garden2
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
Situated at a distance of 67 Km from Ooty, 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.
Temple
Murugan Temple, Elk Hill, Venkateswara Perumal Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Subramania Temple, Vittaba Temple, Muniswara Temple etc.
ooty temple
St Stephens Church
St. Stephens Church, Union Church, Holy Trinity Church, Sacred Heat Church, St. Marys Church, St. Therasas Church and Kandol Shrine. Situated in the hilly area on Club Road, St Stephens Church is said to be the oldest in the Nilgiris. The church was built in 1829 and consecrated in 1830. The beam of the church was taken from the palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam. The cemetery closes by houses the grave of John Sullivan, the founder of Ooty.
There are several places to see and visit near Ooty too. Excursions around Ooty prove to be an equally interesting experience. A visit to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary gives you an idea of the regions fauna and fauna. The trip to hill stations of Kotagiri and Coonor complement the visit to Ooty. Kalhatty Waterfalls apart from giving breathtaking views also offers rich flora and fauna in its surrounding area. Sims Park has more than 1,000 plant species; some of them are very rare. Dolphins Nose is a famous viewpoint not far from the city of Ooty. Mukurthi gives breathtaking sites of the Mukurthi peak and abounds in flora and fauna. Avalanche with its dam is a nature lovers paradise.
madumalai
Mudumulai Wildlife Sanctuaries
The most prominent of the wildlife sanctuaries in the state of Tamil Nadu, as well as one of the most important in the southern region, thickly forested Mudumalai borders the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and the Wyanad Sanctuary in Kerala. Apart from the wide range of animal and bird life, the rich fauna of this sanctuary has made Mudumalai very popular with wildlife enthusiasts.
Kotagiri
It is 31 kms. from Udhagamandalam. The climate is very salubrious which is 6503 feet above sea level. Kotagiri is shielded by the Doddabetta ranges which receive much of its rain from north west monsoon. One can enjoy a pleasure ride on road flanked by green tea beds on either side.
Coonoor
It is located in an area of 13.2 sq on the way from Coimbatore to Udhagamandalam. It is second largest hill station in the Nigiris. It stands on a lower ridge of the plateau at an altitude of 1858 mts. ( 6100 ft.) Population is 48003.
MukurthiPeak and MukurthiNationalPark
Mukurthi Peak is about 40 km from Ooty. The Mukurthi National Park is located on the South Eastern corner of the Nilgiris. The area contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar(Hamitragus hilocrius). The silent valley is located on the western side of these ranges. Fascinating feature of the Mukurthi Sanctuary is its variety and similarities to Himalayan Flora and Fauna.
Avalanche
Located at a distance of 28kms from Ooty. A beautiful lake surrounded by a thick shola where even sunlight cannot penetrate and abundant with a wide variety of avifauna is a Nature Lovers Paradise.
Masinagudi
The road to Coonoor is the same till Mudumalai and Masinagudi. It is another 35 km to Udhagamandalam, better known as Ooty and 18 more to Coonor. The drive beyond Masinagudi entails 35 hairpin bends and though these are very enjoyable drives, the trouble is, everyone else seems to think so too. Watch out therefore for maniacs coming tearing down from the opposite side. Masinagudi used to be an elephant corridor. So dont be too surprised if you do see some wild tuskers on the road. Apart from the scenic beauty of the road, the drive through Masinagudi is charming in itself.
The road between Ooty and Coonor is quite forested with hills looming in the distance. Again, there are blind turns and you have to be very careful around the corners. Coonor town seems as crowded as Ooty but, a little distance away from the centre of the city peace descends again. Coonor is more charming as it has quaint houses, old churches and not too many visitors as compared to its more famous neighbouring city. Ooty and its rolling hills give way to snarling traffic in the centre of twon which is thankfully bypassed for a smooth drive on the way to Coonor.