Introduction
Ooty, also formally known as Udhagamandalam is known as the “Queen of the hills”. It is a beautiful hill station in the Western Ghats. Ooty’s natural splendor might make one wonder whether this is paradise. A chain of fog covered hills, covered with lush greenery decorate the beautiful background of this beautiful hill station.
Ooty mainly gained popularity during the period when the British still ruled major parts of India. Ooty was named as “India’s Switzerland” by John Sullivan, the then collector of Coimbatore, who had penned down in his journal the spectacular wonders of Ooty.
After India’s independence, a lot of developments were made to make Ooty a major tourist destination. Due to its natural beauty, the abundant local flora and fauna, cool and soothing climate and scenic gardens, this place is a paradise, a respite from overcrowded and dusty city life.
Where is Ooty
Situated in the heart of the Nilgiri hills, Ooty is famous for its rolling green hills, scenic valleys and calm and soothing ambiance that is seen to be a respite from the hectic city life. Tea plantations, in the form of step farming, are also a gorgeous sight to see, and tourists also return from this place, their hands full with the most fresh tea leaves they can get.
Ooty is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve which is also reputed for its fragile and rare ecosystem. Ooty has been developed to offer an insight into the rest of the reserve, which cannot be seen by tourists as it is out of bound for conservation efforts.
Botanical Gargen in Ooty
The Government Botanical Garden is a mesmerizing display of the flora that adorn this gorgeous hill station. Spread over an area of fifty five acres, it was first established by the Marquis of Tweedale in 1897.
Situated above 2500 meters above sea level, the Botanical Garden has more than six hundred species of plant species that are cultivated here in the form of a natural museum. It also offers amazing views of the great Doddabeta peak.
Some of the rare attractions here include the cork tree, one the last remaining of its kind in India, the monkey puzzle tree, the paperbark tree and the great 20 million year old fossilized tree trunk. The exquisite Italian pool garden was built by the Italian prisoners of war from the First World War.
Ooty Lake
The beautiful Ooty lake consists of amazing views, surrounded by picturesque views and lush green forests and the water having a turquoise hue.
Surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees and dotted with green bushes, the lake spans over an area of sixty five acres. Originally constructed for fishing by John Sullivan, it was transformed into a tourist spot in 1973.
Boating is very popular on Ooty lake, with paddle boats, motor boats and rowing boats available for hire. Boating races and such pageantry are also held here during the summer festival.
Ooty toy Train
The Ooty Toy Train, constructed in 1908, is famous for the breathtaking views that it offers of the Nilgiri hills. The landscape consists of rolling green hills, misty views of green mountains and gorgeous views of tea plantations running through the countryside. The train covers a distance of 46 km, with stations that are Mettupalayam, Wellington, Arvankadu, Ketti, Lovedale, Coonoor and Ooty. Realizing its cultural importance, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005.
The train ride takes over 4.5 hours and passes through sixteen tunnels, two hundred and fifty bridges and two hundred and eight tunnels, giving insight into views that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Blessed with amazing fauna, the Deer Park in Ooty spreads over twenty two acres and is teeming with a beautiful deer population. Although it is named deer park, it is not exclusive to deers. The fauna also consists of many birds and rabbits. The Sambal and Cheetal species of deer can be found easily in this park. Although located at a high altitude, this Park is easily accessible by roads.
Hidden away in the depth of nilgiri jungles is the beautifully picturesque Avalanche Lake. with beautiful blue waters shimmering in the sunlight, it is only twenty kilometers away from Ooty.
The Lake is surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills. this lake is almost always surrounded by a mystifying looking fog that adds to its beauty. It hold some of the most gorgeous views of the Western ghats and is immaculately maintained by the locals.
Deer Park
The deer park of Ooty is rich with beautiful local flora. This includes birds, rabbits, and of course, deers. The two main species of deers found are Sambar deer and Chital deers. Spread across more than twenty two acres of lush green forests, the deer park was established in 1986. It is also a wildlife conservatory, protected by the government of India to conserve this fragile ecosystem.
Doddabetta peak
Located at an altitude above 2623 meters above sea level, the Doddabetta peak is the highest mountain peak in the Nilgiri hills. it is Located at the junction of the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats. this peak is covered with dense green forests, this peak a favorite amongst trekkers. The view from the top is absolutely splendid, and there is a telescope house with two telescopes which offer the most breathtaking views of the Nilgiris.
Kalhatti Waterfall
The Kalhatti Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls that guests and tourists might encounter in Ooty. A thirteen kilometer drive on the Ooty-Mysore road will lead to this mighty waterfall. Locals hold the belief that the great Hindu saint Agastya once lived here.
Conclusion
A trip to Ooty is not complete without visiting the Botanical Garden, the Ooty Lake, and the Rose Garden. The Botanical Garden is home to a variety of plants, some of which are unique to the Nilgiri Hills. The Ooty Lake is a popular spot for boating and fishing. the Rose Garden offers a stunning array of flowers. Other attractions include the Wax World, the Wax Museum, and the Government Museum.
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